What is the Maryland MEDBANK Program?
What medications do patients in the program receive?
Who can the program help?
Who is the Maryland MEDBANK Program unable to help?
How do I enroll in the Maryland MEDBANK Program?
What happens if I am accepted?
How long does the application process take?

What is The Maryland MEDBANK Program?

• The Maryland MEDBANK Program helps low-income, chronically ill, uninsured and underinsured individuals get prescription medications at low or no cost. This is done by accessing patient assistance programs maintained by pharmaceutical companies. Not all companies have programs and not all pharmaceuticals are available from patient assistant programs.

What medications do patients in the program receive?

• Brand name medications for chronic illnesses are often available, but not all brand name medications are available. Click here for a list of brand name medications.

Who can the program help?

• The Maryland MEDBANK Program serves eligible low-income, chronically ill, underinsured and uninsured individuals in Maryland who meet certain financial criteria.
• Unfortunately, we are not able to take Medicare patients

Who is The Maryland MEDBANK Program unable to help?

• The Maryland MEDBANK Program cannot help individuals with prescription coverage or those who qualify for Medicaid or the Primary Adult Care Program (PAC).
   
• Individuals with prescription coverage:
  If a person has any prescription coverage at all, he/she will be denied by the pharmaceutical companies. The only exception is if the person had prescription coverage up to a certain dollar amount, which has been used. If this is the case, MEDBANK needs a letter from the insurance company explaining that the maximum allowed has been used, and will not be renewed within the next three months. Some pharmaceutical companies will also deny a patient if they have any insurance, even if it does not cover prescriptions.
   
• Individuals with prescription discount cards:
  An individual with a prescription discount card may still qualify for assistance from MEDBANK.
   
• Individuals outside of income guidelines:
  Patient must have a monthly income above the poverty line for Maryland. This is $926.00 for a single person and $1,070.00 for two people. This is gross income, not net income. Therefore the Medicare premium must be included when calculating the gross monthly income. Some companies also consider assets. If patients are below these income guidelines, they are referred to PAC at 1-800-266-2142. If the patient is denied by PAC, they may ask for help through MEDBANK
   
• Patients above the poverty line for Maryland must also be below certain income guidelines determined by the drug companies. Most drug companies list this as 200% above poverty. Exceptions do apply. Some companies also consider assets. Thus, someone who appears to qualify from an income guideline may be denied based on assets. On the other hand, some companies also consider out-of-pocket expenses, such as other prescription costs and lab fees. Thus, this may allow someone over the income guidelines to qualify.

How do I enroll in The Maryland MEDBANK Program?

• Contact the regional Maryland MEDBANK Program site to learn about the enrollment process for that site. See "Locations"
   
• Most programs provide a 90-day supply of medication that will be sent to the physician's office. Each company and program is different. Some programs give a one-year supply while other programs may give a one-month supply. Most of the prescriptions are free. Some require a co-pay of $5 or $10 per prescription.

What happens next?

MEDBANK gathers all of the required information from the patient and the physician and completes and sends applications to the drug companies for approval.  If the drug company approves the patient, in most cases they send a 3-month supply of medications directly to the doctor's office.  The patient picks up the medications at the doctor's office.  Almost all of the medications are free.  A few drug companies charge a $5 or $10 dispensing fee.

How long does the application process take?

• It can take 4-6 weeks from the time your applications reach the pharmaceutical company before you receive your medications the first time. This service is for chronic illnesses. The long wait comes from obtaining all the required information and signatures and the time it takes the pharmaceutical companies to process the applications.