Gap in Life Expectancy Widens for the Nation

Once more we are reminded of the healthcare crisis that we have here in the United States. In an article in the March 23, 2008 edition of The New York Times, the author states that: “New government research has found ‘large and growing’ disparities in life expectancy for richer and poorer Americans, paralleling the growth of income inequality in the last two decades.”

According to the article, from 1966 to 1980, the gap in life expectancy between rich and poor actually decreased. It is not surprising that this same period saw the creation of Medicaid and Medicare, the growth of community health centers, the “war on poverty,” and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

According to Dr. Singh, a demographer at the Department of Health and Human Resources, the wealthiest Americans could be expected to live 2.4 years longer than those in the most impoverished groups (75.8 years vs. 73 years). By 1998 to 2000, this gap had widened to 4.5 years (79.2 years vs. 74.7 years), and it continues to grow. Even more alarming, the contrast between certain groups was much wider. The difference between poor black men and affluent white women was 14 years (66.9 years vs. 81.1 years).

Several reasons were given for this wide difference in life expectancy between rich and poor. One of the reasons cited was that lower income people were less likely to have health insurance. This meant that they were less likely to receive checkups, diagnostic tests and screenings, prescriptions, and adequate treatment. It is not uncommon to hear stories of patients cutting their pills in half because they can’t afford their prescription medications.

This disparity in health care should not exist in a wealthy country like the United States. Not only has the cost of medical care, hospitalization, and prescription drugs risen steeply, but health insurance has become unaffordable unless you are either wealthy or work for a large company.

If you are either uninsured or underinsured, consider AmeriPlan. We have 4 different health plans to choose from: Dental Plus, Basic Health, Total Health, and Total Health Plus. For a low monthly fee, these plans save your family up to 80% on all health care services. For more information visit:

www.healthplansplus.net. If you are unable to afford your prescriptions and can qualify financially, you may be able to receive your medications for free with the AmeriPlan Prescription Advocacy Program. For more information visit: www.healthplansplus.net/APAP.html.

Prescription Advocacy - Frequently Asked Questions about Patient Assistance Programs

Patient assistance programs run by large pharmaceutical companies have been in existence for more than 15 years. A major problem is that few people know about the existence of these programs or understand the complicated application and approval process required to participate in a Prescription Assistance Program.

AmeriPlan USA, a discount health plans company, recently added a new program called AmeriPlan Prescription Advocacy Program (APAP). This program is available to all AmeriPlan dental and medical plan members who meet certain income eligibility requirements and have $90 or more in monthly prescription expenses. In many cases, members may have hundreds and even thousands of dollars in prescription expenses each month. The AmeriPlan Prescription Advocacy Plan can help patients navigate through the complicated application process so that they can receive their medications for free.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Patient Assistance Programs taken from the AmeriPlan website:

What is a Patient Assistance Program?

These programs are offered by the pharmaceutical industry to assist low income people who don’t have prescription drug coverage. These programs have been in existence for the past 15-20 years. So far PAPs have only reached a fraction of those who need them. APAP provides a real value to those who need expert advice, assistance and processing of needed prescriptions through PAPs.

Why do drug companies offer these programs?

PAPs are the philanthropic effort of the drug companies to reach out to those people who have low incomes and no drug coverage.

Where do these medications come from?

Medications are generally mailed directly from the pharmaceutical companies to the client’s home or in some cases, to the doctor’s office. APAP will notify the client in such cases.

Are PAPs a type of Rx discount plan?

No. Discount plans only provide patients a discount on their medication either at the pharmacy or through mail-order. PAPs provide access to free drug programs offered through the pharmaceutical industry. APAP provides a service to these consumers – taking the time and effort to apply and re-apply for these programs on their behalf.

How does AmeriPlan have access to these free prescriptions through PAPs?

APAP applies on behalf of the client to Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), which are offered by various pharmaceutical companies. For the average consumer, the application process of applying to multiple PAPs can be very challenging due to each pharmaceutical company’s individual eligibility requirements.

What are the elibility requirements to qualify for these programs?

A qualifying applicant needs to be within 2 times the federal poverty line and have no current coverage for specified medications.

For more information on the AmeriPlan Prescription Advocacy Program visit: www.healthplansplus.net/APAP.html and read my blog post: A Little Known Secret - Patient Assistance Programs.

A Little Known Secret - Patient Assistance Programs

With so many uninsured and underinsured people in the United States and the high cost of prescription drugs, you hear stories about people who have to make a decision about whether to pay for their groceries or their prescription medications. You also hear of people who cut their pills in half because they cannot afford their medications. Unfortunately, patients taking multiple medications or receiving treatment for conditions like Cancer, HIV-AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and other serious illnesses may face hundreds and even thousands of dollars in prescription costs each month.

For over 15 years, more than 200 pharmaceutical companies representing 1,100 brand-name drugs have been providing prescription medications to eligible individuals through Patient Assistance Programs. These programs assist eligible individuals who cannot afford their prescription medications due to limited income or other financial hardships.

A major problem is that few people know about the existence of these programs or understand the complicated application and approval process required to participate in a Prescription Assistance Program.

AmeriPlan®, a discount benefits company, has partnered with EZ Meds USA to help patients take advantage of these Patient Assistance Programs. The AmeriPlan® Prescription Advocacy Program (APAP) provides an easy, affordable way to obtain costly prescription medications.

Traditionally, participation in a Patient Assistance Program required a lengthy qualification, application and approval process for the patient for each medication. Now, with the AmeriPlan® Prescription Advocacy Program, all the legwork is done for you, allowing you to receive your medications at substantial savings ~ worry-free!

For a small monthly fee, AmeriPlan® does all of the legwork on the Member’s behalf, allowing the Member to enjoy a worry-free way to receive their medications at substantial savings.

These services include the following:

· Determine initial eligibility for the client
· Gather all the necessary documentation
· Complete the required application on the client’s behalf
· Send properly competed forms to the prescribing physicians for completion
· Send completed physician forms to the appropriate Patient Assistance Programs
· Monitoring every step of the process from initial application to medication delivery
· Medications come in 90 day supplies and all refills and renewals are handled automatically

For more information on this excellent program visit: http://healthplansplus.net/APAP.html