The Vision Care Financial Assistance Information directory lists website addresses, contact information, and program summaries of organizations and services that provide financial assistance for eye and vision care.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology
EyeCare America® Program
P.O. Box 429098
San Francisco, CA 94142-9098
Phone: (877) 887-6327
Fax: (415) 561-8567
Email: [email protected]
EyeCare America provides eye care to US citizens and legal residents through volunteer ophthalmologists, often at no out-of-pocket cost to those who qualify. Visit aao.org/EyeCare-America to find out if you or someone you know qualifies for eye care. More than 90 percent of care provided is at no out-of-pocket cost to EyeCare America patients. Complete an online form to see if you or someone you know is eligible.
American Glaucoma Society Cares
American Glaucoma Society
655 Beach Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 561-8587
Fax: (415) 561-8531
Email: [email protected]
AmericanGlaucomaSociety.net/patients/ags-cares
AGS Cares is a public service program of the AGS Foundation that is dedicated to providing surgical glaucoma care at no cost to uninsured patients who qualify for such care. The glaucoma care is provided by members of a national network of volunteers comprising glaucoma surgeons who are AGS active or provisional members.
The Assistance Fund
8427 Southpark Circle,
Suite 100 Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: (855) 845-3663
Monday–Friday, 8am–7pm ET
The Assistance Fund’s (ATF) mission is to provide underinsured people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases access to critical treatment through financial assistance, education, and advocacy. Some vision conditions where assistance is provided are: inherited retinal disease, neurotrophic keratitis, thyroid eye disease (TED), and uveitis.
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
143 Rollins Ave #2046
Rockville, MD 20847
Phone: (301) 231-5944
Fax: (301) 770-1828
Many optometry schools offer low-cost care to people willing to be treated by supervised students. They may also provide free care to people who join research studies.
Eye Want 2 Know
As part of its commitment to the inherited retinal disease (IRD) community, Spark Therapeutics operates Eye Want 2 Know, a website aiming to provide those living with an IRD the knowledge and resources they need to get started with genetic testing to determine the genetic cause of their condition. Eye Want 2 Know also includes an enhanced ID YOUR IRD® gene testing initiative that tests for variants in approximately 250 genes known to cause IRDs and includes optional genetic counseling, both available at no charge.
Foundation Fighting Blindness: My Retina Tracker® Program
FightingBlindness.org/open-access-genetic-testing-program
The my Retina Tracker Program provides individuals affected by Inherited. Retinal Disease (IRD) to take part in this no-cost program offering access to high-coverage diagnostic testing, genetic counseling, and connection to a growing IRD registry.
Good Days
2611 Internet Blvd. Suite 105
Frisco, TX 75034
Toll-free Patient Info: (877) 968-7233
Main: (972) 608-7141
Good Days provides financial support by covering prohibitively costly co-pays for those with life-altering conditions, allowing them to receive treatment without destroying their finances.
The HealthWell Foundation
P.O. Box 489
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Phone: (800) 675-8416
Fax: (800) 282-7692
The HealthWell Foundation provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover co-insurance, co-payments, healthcare premiums and deductibles for certain treatments.
The Hill Burton Program
Health Resources and Services Administration
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10C-16
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: (800) 492-0359 (Maryland residents) or (800) 638-0742
hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/index.html
Participating hospitals and other healthcare facilities provide medical care for free, or at reduced cost, to those who meet eligibility requirements based on family size and income. Procedures covered vary from hospital to hospital. A list of assisting sites available in your state is located online.
InfantSEE
Optometry Cares
The Foundation of the American Optometric Association
243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Floor 1
St. Louis, MO 63141
Phone: (888) 396-EYES (3937)
Email: [email protected]
InfantSEE optometrists provide a no-cost comprehensive eye and vision assessment for infants between 6–12 months old regardless of a family’s income or access to insurance coverage.
Lions Clubs International
Phone: (630) 571-5466 or (800) 747-4448
Provides financial assistance to individuals for eye care through local clubs. On their website, go to “Find a Club” to locate your local club.
Medicaid
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
Toll-Free: (877) 267-2323
TTY Toll-Free: (800) 877-8339
Information and assistance can be found at the website and the individual state Medicaid websites (Go to the menu and select “Resources for States”). Generally, the best place to start is the Medicaid office of your particular state—most of the numbers listed here are for program issues and general questions and information.
Medicare
Medicare Contact Center Operations
Office of External Affairs
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244
Phone: (800) MEDICARE (633-4227)
Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and caregivers can visit the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare, for the latest information on Medicare enrollment, benefits, and other helpful tools.
Medicare
Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs
ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/prescriptionhelp
Medicare beneficiaries can qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. For further assistance with the program, visit the PAN Foundation website.
Mission Cataract USA
Phone: (559) 797-1629
Coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeon’s Association, it is a program providing free cataract surgery to people of all ages who have no Medicare, Medicaid, third party insurance or any other means to pay for needed cataract surgery.
VSP® Eyes of Hope® Program
Phone: (800) 331-2020 x126
vspvision.com/eyes-of-hope.html
The VSP® Eyes of Hope® program provides adults and children in need (families’ income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level) with access to eye care and new glasses, if needed, at no cost through a VSP network doctor in their community. Contact your local Prevent Blindness affiliate or Prevent Blindness for more details.
Blink Health
Phone: (844) 265-6444
Email: [email protected]
Blink Health provides discounted prescription prices on over 15,000 medications. Pay online and pick up at any of their 35,000+ participating pharmacies nationwide, or get your Rx delivered right to your door. Online doctor visits are offered for select conditions.
Cost Plus Drug Company
Email: [email protected]
Cost Plus Drug Company offers hundreds of prescription medications at affordable prices. Find out if your medication is available by searching the name of the drug at costplusdrugs.com/medications.
GoodRX
GoodRx keeps up with changes in prescription prices across 70,000 pharmacies in the U.S., so you know you are always paying the best price either through GoodRx coupons, manufacturer copay cards, or insurance.
NeedyMeds, Inc.
50 Whittemore St.
Gloucester, MA 01930
Helpline: (800) 503-6897
Fax: (206) 260-8850
Email: [email protected]
NeedyMeds provides information obtained directly from the drug manufacturers regarding special programs to assist people who cannot afford to buy the drugs they need.
RxAssist
Email: [email protected]
RxAssist is an online resource center that provides information about free and low-cost medicine programs and other ways to manage your medication costs. Visit rxassist.org to print a prescription discount card and browse the database of patient assistance programs.
RxHope
RxHope provides help to people in need in obtaining critical medications that they would normally have trouble affording. RxHope acts as your advocate in making the patient assistance program journey easier and faster by supplying vital information and help.
Rx Outreach
Phone: (888) 796-1234
Rx Outreach offers more than 1,000 medications via mail order that cover most chronic diseases for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days at a time. Rx Outreach is available to qualifying individuals and families whose income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. Patients can quickly check their eligibility online. Patients can be on Medicare, Medicaid, or other health insurance and still qualify for Rx Outreach.
SingleCare
Phone: (844) 234-3057, 24/7 except major holidays
Email: [email protected]
SingleCare is a free-to-use prescription discount service. You can search for coupons for your medications, print a prescription discount card, or download the app.
New Eyes
PO Box 332
830 Morris TPKE, Suite 401
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Email: [email protected]
New Eyes provides a basic pair of single or lined bifocal lenses. A New Eyes voucher is for individuals who have no other resources with which to obtain a basic pair of eyeglasses. Applicants must have an eyeglasses prescription dated within the last 24 months, including their pupillary distance (PD) measurement.
OneSight’s Eyeglass Referral Program
Phone: (888) 935-4589
Through OneSight’s Eyeglass Referral Program, eligible patients can receive glasses free of charge. The patient should:
- Have their financial need verified by a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (such as a school, church, Lions Club, Prevent Blindness, Red Cross, or United Way).
- Obtain a referral letter from the nonprofit (letter should be on company letterhead and include the Tax ID# for the nonprofit).
- Take the referral letter and referral card issued by the nonprofit as well as a valid prescription to a participating Luxottica Retail Location (LensCrafters or Target Optical store) to receive a pair of glasses at no charge.
- If the patient does not already have a valid prescription (one that is less than 1 year old) he or she can be referred to Prevent Blindness for assistance.
ReSpectacle
Email: [email protected]
ReSpectacle is a nonprofit organization that offers quality, used eyeglasses to underserved communities worldwide. The glasses are free, but shipping & handling charges do apply. If you have a current prescription, you can browse available glasses and submit your order online.
ApellisAssist® (Syfovre)
Phone: (888) 273-5547 (888-APELLIS)
from 8am–8pm ET, Monday–Friday
Syfovre.com/resources-for-you/ApellisAssist
SyfovreTM is a prescription eye injection, used to treat geographic atrophy (GA), the dry advanced form of AMD. The ApellisAssist® program is designed to help SyfovreTM patients along their treatment journey by providing insurance support, financial assistance for eligible patients, disease education, and ongoing product support. A dedicated Apellis Care Educator (ACE) works together with the patient to ensure the support you receive is customized for you.
EYLEA4U®
Phone: (855) EYLEA4U (1-855-395-3248),
Option 4,
Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm ET
The EYLEA patient assistance program can help cover the cost of EYLEA HD and/or EYLEA (aflibercept) injection. To qualify, patients must be uninsured or not covered for EYLEA HD or EYLEA, be a US resident, be enrolled in EYLEA4U®, and show financial need. If approved, patients may be eligible for assistance for up to 1 year and must reapply annually. Patients with commercial insurance may also qualify for the EYLEA copay discount card. There is no annual income limit to participate in the discount card program.
Genentech Patient Support Services
Phone: (877) GENENTECH
or (877) 436-3683
6am–5pm PT,
Monday through Friday.
Gene.com/patients/patient-support-services
Genentech patient support services provide resources for people who have been prescribed a Genentech medicine:
- Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection)
- Susvimo™ (ranibizumab injection)
- Vabysmo™ (faricimab-svoa)
myAbbVie Assist
Phone: (800) 222-6885
abbvie.com/patients/patient-support/patient-assistance.html
The myAbbVie Assist program provides free medication to qualifying patients. To qualify, patients must live in the United States, have limited or no health insurance coverage, and demonstrate qualifying financial need. If approved, patients may be eligible for assistance for up to 1 year and must reapply for continued assistance.
NORD RareCare®
Thyroid Eye Disease Emergency Relief
Phone: (203) 275-0972
Monday–Thursday 8:30am–7:00pm EST
Friday 8:30am–6:00pm EST
Fax: 203.267.0386
E-mail: [email protected]
rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/financial-assistance/page/2/
NORD’s Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Emergency Relief Program offers financial assistance to eligible individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of Thyroid Eye Disease with the costs of unexpected or emergency non-medical expenses that they cannot afford without short term assistance. NORD recognizes the burden that managing a rare disease places on a patient and his/her family. This financial burden may impact a patient’s ability to afford unexpected or emergency essential (non-medical) expenses such as:
- Unexpected utility costs
- Cell phone bills
- Emergency repairs to car, furnace, home, or major appliances
- Missed rent or mortgage payment due to missed work days or other expenses
NORD’s Emergency Relief Programs are designed to assist eligible individuals with these challenges.
XALATAN Savings Card
1000 Mylan Boulevard
Canonsburg, PA 15317
Phone: (866) 562-6147
The XALATAN Savings Card allows eligible patients to receive brand-name XALATAN for free or for a reduced price. Patients must meet specific eligibility criteria, including insurance coverage and age requirements. Visit the website for more details on eligibility, and to activate the savings card.
BenefitsCheckUp®
BenefitsCheckUp® connects millions of older adults and people with disabilities with benefits programs that can help pay for health care, medicine, food, utilities, and more. See what’s available in your area by entering your ZIP code on the webpage.
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314
NFB works to improve social and economic conditions of blind persons by providing evaluations of present programs and assistance in establishing new ones; awards scholarships to blind persons; has a public education program including speakers’ bureau; and has several special interest divisions, including those for diabetics, educators, lawyers, parents of blind children, students and public employees. The National Federation of the Blind has affiliates in all fifty states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, and over seven hundred local chapters.
PAN Foundation
P.O. Box 30500
Bethesda, MD 20824
Phone: (866) 316-PANF (7263)
Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm ET
Fax: (866) 316-7261
Email: [email protected]
The Patient Access Network (PAN Foundation) is dedicated to helping people living with life-threatening, chronic and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications. PAN provides the underinsured population access to the healthcare treatments they need to best manage their conditions and focus on improving their quality of life.
Created by the PAN Foundation, FundFinder is a web-based app designed to help patients with life-threatening, chronic or rare diseases quickly find financial assistance.
Transportation Assistance
In addition, the PAN Foundation Transportation Assistance program provides financial support to patients with life-threatening, chronic, or rare conditions so they can access affordable and reliable transportation to and from their medical treatments and pharmacy. To learn more about the Transportation Assistance program, visit: panfoundation.org/funds/transportation
Patient Advocate Foundation’s Rare Disease CareLine
Phone: (800) 532-5274 (option 2)
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm ET
The Patient Advocate Foundation’s Rare Disease CareLine provides support and assistance to patients with chronic, debilitating diseases to help access care and treatment recommended by their doctor. Case managers can help patients navigate potential roadblocks to treatment such as problems with insurance coverage, transportation and nutritional needs, and financial challenges.
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Fund
Copays.org/funds/thyroid-eye-disease
Apply for assistance for thyroid eye disease (TED) expenses from:
- Co-pay, co-insurance, and deductibles
- Office visits and administration charges related to treatment
- Medical Insurance premiums
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