If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), prescription costs can add up quickly, particularly if you’re on dialysis. In addition to the medications you may already be taking to treat underlying conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, once you start dialysis your doctor may prescribe additional medicinal treatments for complications that can arise, such as anemia, fistula site wounds, leg cramps, and itchy skin. Here, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) provides some financial resources to help ease prescription costs when you have CKD.*

The Buzz Rx prescription discount card

The Buzz Rx prescription discount card is a free prescription discount card initiative accessible to anyone without income qualification or paperwork. By using this card, you can save on prescription costs while contributing to the fight against kidney disease. 

The prescription discount card enables savings on various medications, including pet medications. Every time the card is used, BuzzRx Health donates a portion of each discount redeemed, up to $1 per prescription, at no additional cost to the user. 

Additional resources for prescription assistance

Beyond the prescription discount card, other resources available to assist you with managing medication costs and accessing necessary treatments include:

• Coordination of prescription refills through participating pharmacies streamlines medication management, reducing the need for multiple pharmacy visits.
• Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Part D offers information and comparison tools for Medicare prescription drug plans.
• “Extra Help” assistance for Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs can be applied for through the Social Security Administration.
• State kidney programs in approximately 15 states provide support for kidney transplant or dialysis patients, covering outpatient medications and related expenses.
• State pharmaceutical assistance programs offer aid with drug plan premiums and other medication costs in many states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Pharmaceutical companies often offer support for specific medications, including those for dialysis patients and transplant recipients.
• Websites like NeedyMeds and PrescriptionLifeline can help specifically with prescription costs, while others such as BenefitsCheckUp and the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation offer resources to help with a wide range of costs that include not only medications but also other types of treatment, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and transportation.

Multiple resources are available once you know where to look.

*National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Prescription Discount and Assistance Resources. https://www.kidney.org/patients/resources_Prescription 

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