A HELPING HAND
If you suffer from migraine or headache disorders, the pain can affect more than just your head— it can also hit your wallet. Over time, the cost of prescription drugs adds up, creating a huge burden for the uninsured and underinsured.
Patient assistance programs( PAPs) are services designed to help low-income individuals and families who can’ t afford their medication. Because many headache clinics don’ t accept Medicaid or Medicare, PAPs are a good way to minimize cost and get some help.
Nearly all of the major pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer, provide specific programs for their most popular drugs. But each program is different, and eligibility requirements vary.
If you need help paying for prescription drugs, visit the following NHF links:
NON-PROFIT PROGRAMS www. headaches. org / education / Tools _ for- Sufferers / Patient _ Assistance _ Programs
PHARMACEUTICAL-SPONSORED PROGRAMS www. headaches. org / education / Tools _ for _ Sufferers / Patient _ Assistance _ Programs- Sponsored
Rewrite History
One of the most complicated aspects of dealing with chronic migraine is navigating social situations. Just because your sister is having her wedding or your child is celebrating a birthday doesn’ t mean you won’ t have a migraine. That adds up to a lot of missed moments— and a lot of regrets.
To raise awareness about chronic migraine and its debilitating impact, the NHF is partnering with HealthyWomen, a website that focuses on women’ s health, and Allergan Inc. to launch the Rewrite Your Day campaign. As a nod to the 15 or more headache days a month experienced by people with chronic migraine, 15 people will win the opportunity to have a special moment they missed“ rewritten” by celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss.
The cornerstone of the campaign is www. Rewrite YourDay. com, a website on which people with chronic migraine can learn more about their condition and find a wealth of resources to help treat and prevent it. Visitors also can use the site to share stories of special moments they missed due to chronic migraine and detail how they would rewrite those days if given the chance. Weiss and an independent panel of health advocates will review the submissions and choose the winners. Approximately 3.2 million Americans suffer from chronic migraine. If you think you have chronic migraine, you should seek advice from a board-certified neurologist or headache specialist who is qualified to evaluate, diagnose and manage the condition. www. headwisemag. org | National Headache Foundation 47