Local Services - Other Links

The following web site links are provided as resources and do not represent an endorsement by MGF of Illinois. The compilation of links should not be construed as a complete listing of all available links for any topic. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Illinois assumes no liability of any kind for the content on the sites.

MG and Autoimmune Disease Informational Links

• Muscular Dystrophy Association
  http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-mg-qa.html
• Mayo Clinic
  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/myasthenia-gravis/DS00375
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/ detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm
• American Autoimmune and Related Diseases Association, Inc. http://www.aarda.org

General and Prescription Assistance

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php (888.477.2669) brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through a public or private program.
• Rx Hope http://www.rxhope.com (800.511.2120) offers a helping hand to people in need when it comes to obtaining critical medications they normally would have trouble affording. The Valeant Patient Assistance Program is administered through Rx Hope.
• Rx Assist http://www.rxassist.org is a resource center with information about patient assistance programs, Medicare Part D, programs for low cost medications and any other issues related to pharmaceutical access. The Novartis Patient Assistant Program is administered through Rx Assist.
• NeedyMeds http://www.needymeds.com is a non-profit with the mission of helping people who cannot afford medicine or healthcare costs. The information at NeedyMeds is available anonymously and free of charge.
• Roche Medical Needs Program. Covered products include the Roche product line with some exceptions. Physician requests should be directed to Roche Medical Needs Program Roche Laboratories, Inc. 340 Kingsland Street Nutley, New Jersey 07110 (800.285.2484).
• Sanofi Needy Patient Program. Products covered by program: Mytelase ®. Physician requests should be directed to Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Needy Patient Program c/o Product Information Department, 90 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016, (800.446.6267).
• Benefits Check Up http://www.benefitscheckup.org is a service of the National Council on Aging that helps people in need find public programs and learn how to apply for them.

Free or Low Cost Clinics

• http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov The US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resource and Services Administration offers a service for finding low cost health clinics. Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas.
• http://www.freemedicalcamps.com A recently created website that lists free or nearly free health clinics by state. The site is updated by the developers and users.

Insurance Programs – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa

• http://www.chip.state.il.us/ A state insurance program for Illinois residents who are unable to obtain private health insurance and meet certain criteria.
• http://www.allkidscovered.com/ All Kids is Illinois’ program for children who need comprehensive, affordable health insurance, regardless of family income, immigration status or health condition.
• http://www.healthcareforhoosiers.com/index.html The Hoosier Healthwise Program is a health care program for low income families, pregnant women, and children. The program covers such medical care as doctor visits, prescription drugs, mental health care, dental care, hospitalizations, surgeries, and family planning at little or no cost.
• http://www.hipiowa.com/ The Health Insurance Plan of Iowa provides access to health insurance coverage to all Iowa residents who are unable to attain individual health insurance.

Medicare

• http://www.medicare.gov The official U.S. Government website for people on or enrolling in Medicare.
• http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/staticpages/ships.aspx State Health Insurance Assistance Plan (SHIP) has counselors in every state and several territories that are available to provide free one-on-one help with your Medicare questions or problems.
• http://www.medicarerights.org Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is an independent source of health care information and assistance in the United States for people with Medicare. MRC helps older adults and people with disabilities get good, affordable health care.

Social Security

• http://www.ssa.gov The official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration.
• http://www.ssa.gov/disability The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities.

Employment Assistance

• http://www.yourtickettowork.com/program_info The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The Ticket Program is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 – legislation designed to remove many of the barriers that previously influenced people’s decisions about going to work because of the concerns over losing health care coverage.
• http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/MG.html Job Accommodation Network is a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: 1) providing individualized worksite accommodation solutions, 2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and other disability related legislation, and 3) educating callers about self-employment options.

Medical ID Jewelry and Services

Here are two services that provide medical ID jewelry.

• MedicAlert® 800-ID-ALERT (800.432.5378) https://www.medicalert.org This nonprofit healthcare organization sells engraved jewelry indicating your medical condition and offers a service that emergency responders can call for complete medical information you provide. MedicAlert also offers products for summoning emergency aid.
• Medic Assist™ http://www.medicassist.com Medic Assist™ offers medical identification cards and custom-engraved medical identification jewelry. You can specify the information to be engraved—medical conditions, allergies, family or doctor names and telephone numbers. They also offer an Assist a Medic product that will automatically call up to 4 numbers you program into the system and play your pre-recorded message. Medic Assist also offers products for summoning emergency aid.

Vision Assistance

MG-related vision problems can make it difficult to read, and sometimes to even get around. These services might help:

• National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped—Talking Book Center http://www.loc.gov/nls loans books and magazines on tape. Books, playback equipment, headphones and other aids are delivered by mail, postage free, to your home. Thousands of titles are available.
• Bureau of Blind Services, Illinois Department of Human Services http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=32305 has programs which help individuals adjust to vision loss. You can call 800.843.6154 (TTY: 800.447.6404) to learn about the department’s services and office locations.

Transportation Help

Discounted transportation may be available if you become disabled. For instance, some communities or counties offer reduced-fare taxi programs. In the Chicago area, RTA/Pace/Metra provides discounted travel within the six-county region that the RTA services. Contact your local government to see if you qualify for such a program.