The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program: What You Need to Know
What is EPAP?
The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program, or EPAP, helps uninsured people after disasters to be sure they still have the medicines and medical equipment they normally use to stay healthy.
The program pays for prescription medications, specific medical supplies, vaccines, and certain medical equipment. The program provides a 30-day supply of covered drugs and medical supplies that can be renewed every 30 days for as long as EPAP is active. Currently, more than 72,000 pharmacies participate in EPAP.
Is EPAP for me?
EPAP was created to help people who don’t have any other form of health insurance. If you have health insurance, such as an individual health insurance policy or employer-sponsored coverage; Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Plan; or other third party coverage, you are not eligible to receive assistance under EPAP. Those with insurance should refill or replace medications, supplies, and medical equipment just like they normally would.
For eligible residents, the program covers:
- certain prescription drugs
- specific medical supplies
- vaccines
- certain medical equipment, including canes, walkers, wheelchairs and crutches
If you are eligible for the program, you can:
- refill a prescription that you didn’t get a chance to refill before the disaster
- replace medications and medical equipment that was lost or damaged in the disaster
- replace medications and medical equipment that was lost or damaged while your were evacuating or at an evacuation location
How do I apply for EPAP?
People who live in the disaster area (see “Georgia Affected Counties below) and do NOT have any form of prescription insurance should call the EPAP enrollment toll-free hotline at 1-855-793-7470 (TDD 1-800-876-1089). You will be asked to provide information to enroll in the EPAP program and receive the no-cost services outlined above.
For more information about EPAP, visit the EPAP website at https://aspr.hhs.gov/epap. This program is paid for by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
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