Explore programs that may help Essex County residents access prescribed medication, reduce out-of-pocket costs or connect with affordable pharmacy services.
Prescription assistance is not guaranteed. Eligibility, medication coverage and pharmacy participation vary by program.
I Don't Have Percription Coverage
Start with a local community health center. Eligible patients may qualify for discounted prescriptions, sliding-fee healthcare or help applying for insurance.
I'm 65+ or Recieve Social Security Disability
Check PAAD, Senior Gold and NJSave. These programs can reduce prescription costs for eligible New Jersey residents.
My Medication Is Still Too Expensive
Compare pharmacy prices and check manufacturer or nonprofit assistance programs. Do not combine prescription discount cards with insurance for the same purchase.
Newark Community Health Centers
Newark Community Health Centers serves Essex County residents with and without insurance. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, NCHC offers primary care and a 340B Discount Prescription Drug Program for eligible patients.
The 340B program may provide qualifying medications at reduced prices through participating pharmacies. Patients should ask their NCHC provider or care team whether their medication and pharmacy qualify.
Main location:
741 Broadway
Newark, NJ 07104
Phone: 800-994-6242
49 Mount Pleasant Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-325-2266
Zufall Health provides affordable medical care regardless of income or insurance status. Uninsured patients may qualify for a sliding-fee discount based on household income and family size.
Zufall’s pharmacy services include:
Prescription drug assistance
Discounted medication programs
Medication-management counseling
Support for patients with chronic conditions
Prescription delivery
Participating pharmacies in Newark, East Orange and Orange
Patients must generally receive care through Zufall Health to access its discounted pharmacy services.
PAAD
The Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled program helps eligible New Jersey residents pay for covered prescription medications.
PAAD may cover:
Prescription medications
Insulin and insulin supplies
Needles and syringes for certain injectable medications
Approved members generally pay:
$5 for a covered generic prescription
$7 for a covered brand-name prescription
Applicants must:
Live in New Jersey
Be age 65 or older; or
Be between ages 18 and 64 and receive Social Security Title II Disability benefits
Have 2026 annual income below $54,943 for a single person or $62,390 for a married couple
Medicare-eligible members must also enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription plan. Other requirements apply.
Help line: 800-792-9745
Senior Gold
Senior Gold assists New Jersey seniors and adults receiving Social Security disability benefits whose income is above the PAAD limit but within Senior Gold guidelines.
Members generally pay $15 plus 50% of the remaining cost of each covered prescription.
After annual out-of-pocket prescription expenses exceed:
$2,000 for a single person, or
$3,000 for a married couple
the member generally pays a flat $15 copayment for covered prescriptions during the remainder of that eligibility period.
Applicants must:
Live in New Jersey
Be age 65 or older; or
Be age 18 or older and receive Social Security Title II Disability benefits
Have annual income between $54,943 and $64,943 if single
Have annual income between $62,390 and $72,390 if married
Help line: 800-792-9745
PAAD and Senior Gold cover certain insulin and insulin supplies but do not cover diabetic testing supplies such as test strips and lancets.
Residents with Medicare or other health insurance should ask their pharmacy whether those supplies should be billed under their medical coverage instead of their prescription benefit.
Medicare Extra Help
Medicare’s Extra Help program assists eligible people with limited income and resources with Medicare Part D expenses, including:
Prescription-plan premiums
Deductibles
Coinsurance
Prescription copayments
Residents can apply through Social Security or be screened through the NJSave application.
Free Medicare Counseling
New Jersey’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program provides free, unbiased counseling for Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers.
Counselors can help residents understand:
Medicare Part D plans
PAAD and Senior Gold
Extra Help
Prescription formularies
Coverage denials
Enrollment options
Prescription Discount Options
NeedyMeds provides information about medication assistance programs, disease-specific resources and a free prescription discount card.
The card is not insurance. The price should be compared with the patient’s insurance copayment before use.
The Medicine Assistance Tool helps you search for assistance programs offered by participating pharmaceutical companies.
Depending on the program, applicants may need to provide:
Household-income information
Insurance information
A valid prescription
Documentation from the prescribing provider
RxAssist maintains information about pharmaceutical-company assistance programs and other options for obtaining medications at reduced cost.
Program rules differ by medication and manufacturer. Some applications require the prescribing provider to complete a section.
Have the following information available when possible:
Prescription or medication name and dosage
Photo identification
Proof of New Jersey residency
Household-income documentation
Insurance or Medicare information
Prescribing provider’s name and contact information
Preferred pharmacy
Recent pharmacy price or denial information
Need help finding prescription assistance?
Legacy Community Care Initiative can help connect Ocean County residents with prescription assistance, health coverage, and community healthcare resources.
LCCI provides resource navigation and referrals. We do not prescribe, dispense, purchase, or provide medications, and we cannot guarantee eligibility or financial assistance.
