2,000 residents now enrolled in MedAssist — relief from the high cost of life-saving drugs

SAN JOSE – Enrollment in Santa Clara County’s MedAssist program, which helps combat high prescription drug costs for County residents, has reached a new milestone. More than 2,000 individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes, asthma, or severe allergies are now enrolled in the MedAssist program, and are receiving grants for the high out-of-pocket costs of prescription medications like anti-diabetics (including insulin), asthma inhalers, and epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens). Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian proposed the County’s “first in the nation” program, which has experienced steady growth and support since its launch in 2022.

“If you use an EpiPen, an asthma inhaler, or medications to treat diabetes, you need the meds. They’re not ‘nice’ to have; they’re ‘must’ haves. They’re life-essential,” said Simitian, Chair of the County’s Health and Hospital Committee, who proposed the program. “But they cost too much. MedAssist was specifically designed to ensure that folks who need these life-saving medications can afford them. This week, I was pleased to recognize the efforts of our health system’s pharmacists and staff who’ve been able to help residents get the medications they need without sacrificing other life essentials.”

In Santa Clara County, there are nearly 120,000 adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes, more than 250,000 adults and children with asthma, and more than 20,000 individuals who are prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors for allergic reactions. 

MedAssist provides eligible residents with a monthly grant to offset paid medical expenses, prescriptions, co-pays, or health insurance premiums based on their annual gross household income. 

“The state and federal governments have been working for years to address the high cost of prescription drugs,” said Simitian. “I applaud that effort, and hope it continues. But people need help right here, right now. Our MedAssist program provides that help.”