WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., March 2, 2006 -
Merck & Co., Inc. confirmed today that its 50-year-old Patient Assistance Program (PAP) continues to be available to individuals, primarily the uninsured, who can not afford needed Merck medicines and who meet the PAP's eligibility criteria. This includes Medicare beneficiaries who elect not to enroll in the Medicare drug plan. In addition, individuals who do not meet the PAP's criteria for income or prescription drug coverage - including Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in the Medicare drug plan - may still qualify for the PAP if both they and their physician attest that the patient has special circumstances of financial and medical hardship, and the patient's income is below an established limit.
Merck strongly supports the new Medicare drug benefit, which took effect on January 1, 2006 and encourages all seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries to consider enrolling. This new benefit may help seniors and other beneficiaries get better coverage of all of their medicines, not just Merck medicines.
Merck was one of the first pharmaceutical companies to pioneer a patient assistance program more than 50 years ago based on the belief that no one should have to go without necessary medicines because they cannot afford them. Merck's commitment to putting patients first has not changed during the past five decades, and that is why the Company will continue to offer free Merck medicines through the PAP to patients of all ages who cannot afford the medicines their physicians prescribe.
To learn more about the PAP, call 1-800-727-5400, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, where a live operator will be available to assist callers, or click on http://www.merckhelps.com/patientassistance/.
About the Merck Patient Assistance Program
The Merck Patient Assistance Program (PAP) is a private and confidential program that provides Merck medicine for free to individuals:
- Who have no prescription drug coverage through private insurance, HMOs, Medicaid, Medicare, state pharmacy assistance programs, Veterans assistance or any other social service agency support.
- With a limited income (an annual household income that is less than $19,600 for individuals, $26,400 for couples or $40,000 for a family of four).
However, Merck recognizes that sometimes exceptions need to be made based on a patient's individual circumstances. Individuals who do not meet these criteria may still qualify for the PAP if both they and their physician attest that the patient has special circumstances of financial and medical hardship, and their income is below an established limit ($39,200 for individuals, $52,800 for couples, or $80,000 for a family of four).
The PAP is open to all U.S. residents. In 2005, Merck filled nearly seven million free prescriptions through the PAP. For more information and to access an application, visit www.merckhelps.com.
About Merck
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements in Item 1 of Merck's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2004, and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which the Company incorporates by reference.
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