Help for the Uninsured

We know that taking medicines as prescribed is one of the most effective ways to manage chronic diseases--like asthma and diabetes--and prevent costlier complications and hospital visits.  Yet in this economy, we often hear about patients cutting pills or skipping doses to make prescriptions last longer, or not filling prescriptions at all.

This is dangerous both for patients and our healthcare budget.

With rising unemployment comes rising rates of uninsured Americans.  To help, Together Rx Access®, a prescription savings program sponsored by GSK and several other leading pharmaceutical companies, expanded the program's eligibility income levels.  The change was made to help more uninsured individuals and families save on the medicines they need to stay healthy and to manage chronic conditions. Almost 90 percent of uninsured Americans will be eligible for the Together Rx Access program. The expanded income levels for which individuals are eligible for the Together Rx Access program are now:

·         $45,000 for a single person (formerly $30,000)

·         $60,000 for a family of two (formerly $40,000)

·         $75,000 for a family of three (formerly $50,000)

·         $90,000 for a family of four (formerly $60,000)

·         $105,000 for a family of five (formerly $70,000)

"We want to do our part in these difficult economic times to ensure that patients have continued access to their prescription medicines," said Deirdre Connelly, GSK's President of U.S. Pharmaceuticals.  "If we can help patients--especially those with chronic diseases--to take their medicines as prescribed, we can improve their health and help lower overall medical spending by preventing complications and avoiding costly emergency care."

The Together Rx Access Card is free to get and free to use. Together Rx Access offers potential cardholders a simple enrollment process. Individuals have the option of enrolling online at www.TogetherRxAccess.com , calling a toll-free number 1-800-966-0407, or completing a short application and returning it by mail.

In addition to its participation in Together Rx, GSK offers a variety of programs to help patients obtain medicines for free or at reduced prices.  GSK's patient assistance programs provided help with prescriptions for almost 415,000 patients, with approximately 2.5 million 30-day prescriptions filled in 2008.  These programs are:

Bridges to Access is for patients with low incomes who may need help getting the medicines they need. Our program provides most of our non-cancer medicines with low co-payments at participating retail drug stores and free through mail order.

Commitment to Access is for cancer and specialty pharmacy medicines, works much like Bridges to Access. Patients with low income and limited prescription drug benefits can obtain these outpatient medicines at no cost.

GSK Access provides GSK  prescription medications at no cost to Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan enrollees who meet the eligibility requirements.

We need to do everyting that we can to keep people in control of their health--especially right now, as we look at reforming our healthcare system.