How Can I Find Help Financially for Glaucoma?

Question by Patoo: How can I find help financially for glaucoma?

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Answer by **Anti-PeTA**
Financial Assistance and Vision Care Resources

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The organizations and resources listed below are available for your reference. Except for Prevent Blindness America’s affiliates and divisions, the organizations listed are not affiliated with Prevent Blindness America, nor does their inclusion imply endorsement of their goods or services by Prevent Blindness America.

Request a free copy
of our Financial Assistance
Information sheet

Prevent Blindness America programs and services in your state
1-800-331-2020
www.preventblindness.org/about/affiliates.html
Prevent Blindness America affiliates provide a variety of adult and children’s programs that may be able to help you get the eye care you need.

American Academy of Ophthalmology
(415) 561-8500
www.aao.org
Sponsors several public service projects in conjunction with the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, under the umbrella name of EyeCare America (see below).

American Optometric Association
(800) 365-2219
www.infantsee.org
www.aoa.org
Sponsors InfantSee and Vision USA. InfantSee: member optometrists provide a comprehensive infant eye assessment within the first year of life as a no cost public health service. Vision USA provides free eye care to uninsured, low-income, working Americans and their families. Patients cannot have had an eye examination in the past 24 months. Applications may be obtained on the AOA website.

Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
(301) 231-5944
www.opted.org
Many optometry schools offer low-cost care to people willing to be treated by supervised students. They may also provide free care to people who join research studies.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
(877) 267-2323
www.cms.hhs.gov
Visit the website, call or write with questions that cannot be answered by your local Social Security office.

Eldercare Locator
(800) 677-1116
www.eldercare.gov
information about community resources for seniors, such as financial, legal, transportation, and housing matters.

EyeCare America
1-800-222-EYES (3937)
www.eyecareamerica.org
If you are 65 and older, a US citizens or legal resident, have not seen an ophthalmologist in 3+ years and do not belong to an HMO or the VA, you may qualify for an eye exam and treatment at no out-of-pocket cost.

Free Health Clinics
www.freeclinic.net
clinics nationwide that provide free or discounted health care.

Hill-Burton Program
(800) 638-0742
www.hrsa.gov/osp/dfcr
Facilities participating in this program are required to provide a specific amount of free or below cost health care to persons unable to pay.

Lions Clubs International
(800) 747-4448
www.lionsclubs.org
provides financial assistance to individuals for eye care through local
clubs. Check your telephone book for the telephone number and address of a local club.

Medicare Benefits and Your Eyes
www.preventblindness.org
lists of resource links about the new Medicare prescription drug program

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
(202) 296-8130
www.n4a.org
represents all Area Agencies on Aging, addressing concerns of older Americans in the U.S.

National Eye Institute
(301) 496-5248
www.nei.nih.gov
The federal government’s principal agency for conducting and supporting vision research. Provides publications on eye diseases and information on current eye research.

New Eyes for the Needy
(973) 376-4903
provides vouchers for new eyeglasses for those with financial need with no other resources, public or private, to pay for glasses.

Office of Minority Resources
(800) 444-6472
www.omhrc.gov
provides information on various health programs.

Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief
www.copays.org
provides co-payment assistance for pharmaceutical products to insured Americans who financially and medically qualify.

The Medicine Program
(573) 996-7300
www.themedicineprogram.com
assists individuals of all ages nationwide with limited funds to pay for prescription medicine.

NeedyMeds, Inc.
www.needymeds.com
assists individuals of all ages nationwide with limited funds to pay for prescription medicine.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
(888) 477-2669
www.pparx.org
assists individuals of all ages nationwide with limited funds to pay for prescription medicine.

Salvation Army
(800) 725-2769
www.salvationarmy.org
Provides medical services for those in need. Local chapters may provide eye care assistance.

Sight for Students, a Vision Service Plan (VSP)
(888) 290-4964
www.sightforstudents.org
Contact your local Prevent Blindness America affiliate for more details about this children’s eyecare program.

REGIONAL RESOURCES

The following online directories contain useful information about eye care and low vision resources.

Northern California
Coping with Sight Loss in Northen California

Ohio
Vision Resources and Services for Older Ohioans

Tennessee
Living with Sight Loss in Tennessee

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