NEWS RELEASE
September 21, 2022
News Highlights
- MedAssist is available to Santa Clara County residents who use private pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, including individuals and families with middle incomes.
- With the expansion to include all diabetes medications, more Santa Clara County residents will be eligible for this program.
- News conference to be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Pharmacy, 2500 California Street, Mountain View.
Santa Clara County— To help combat high prescription drug costs, all medications to treat diabetes are being added to the County’s MedAssist Program. People suffering from chronic diseases have a particularly difficult time, not only because of their health condition, but because of the rising cost of their medications. Some individuals may miss taking medications to make ends meet. These vital medications can be the difference between life and death for disorders like diabetes, asthma, and severe allergies, and now more residents of Santa Clara County can get their medications for no or lower costs through the MedAssist Program.
In Santa Clara County, approximately 119,000 adults have diabetes, with nearly 29%* of them taking insulin. With the inclusion of all medications for the treatment of diabetes, even more Santa Clara County residents may be eligible for this program. Any eligible resident can receive financial support, including people who fill their prescriptions at private pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens. Applicants do not have to be Santa Clara Valley Healthcare patients.
“Life-saving drugs cost too much. Unfortunately, too many folks don’t qualify for available subsidies, and end up paying an arm and a leg for their medication,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian, Chair of the Health and Hospital Committee. “MedAssist can help by cutting the high cost of co-pays. I encourage people to apply. Our goal here is to keep you well and cut your costs.”
“MedAssist may now help any individual with diabetes stay on their medications,” commented Nari Singh, Director, Pharmacy Services, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. “With financial support, they can get the medications they need and improve. People who live in Santa Clara County should take advantage of the MedAssist Program.”
*The American Diabetes Association estimates that 28.7% of adults with diabetes take insulin.
About MedAssist
This program provides eligible residents with a monthly grant to assist in paying for their life-saving medications. The eligibility criteria for this program are:
- 18 years or older
- reside in Santa Clara County
- have a valid prescription for an asthma inhaler, diabetes medications, or epinephrine auto-injector
- meet household out-of-pocket healthcare spending and annual gross household income requirements
The application process is quick and accessible to everyone. Log into the website at www.scvmc.org/medassist to apply online, or download the paper application and submit it to any SCVMC pharmacy locations. Staff will help guide a resident through the process to ensure it is seamless. Once accepted, participants receive a monthly check to assist in payment for these medications. Call 408-970-2001 for more information.