Medication Access
Show this at the pharmacy when picking up your medication
Through pharmacy partnerships and discount coupons, we can help purchase medications at a free or low cost. We are unable to prescribe anti-coagulants or insulin, but glucometers, blood pressure cuffs, splints, and bandages can be obtained through online ordering as needed.
What you may be asked to pay
Your visit is free. Medications are where you may be asked to pay something. If a medication costs less than $25, we ask you to cover it at the pharmacy. For anything $25 or more, we look at what you are able to afford and work out the cost with you.
If paying is hard, say so. That is what the screening is for, and no one is ever denied a medication because they cannot pay. Read the full policy.
Where to Pick Up Your Medication
Most prescriptions go to one of our partner pharmacies. Some are filled free through the Dispensary of Hope program at the North Haven pharmacy, and some are cheaper by mail. Your care team will tell you which applies to each of your medications, so you never have to guess where to go.
Call your pharmacy before you run out
Most refills can be handled by the pharmacy in one phone call, without waiting for Saturday. Find your pharmacy on the map below, tap the number, and ask whether you have refills left. If they say no, then call us.
We are partnered with the pharmacies below. Pick a location to see it on the map, get directions, or call the counter directly. You can still use your own pharmacy, but we cannot promise the lower price there.
CVS Pharmacy, 123 Church St, New Haven, CT 06510
Get directions- (203) 498-9442
About a 10 minute drive from 800 Howard Ave.
- (203) 389-8863
Stop & Shop takes payment at the counter, so bring a way to pay for anything you are covering.
- (203) 931-9478
Stop & Shop takes payment at the counter, so bring a way to pay for anything you are covering.
- (203) 468-1113
Stop & Shop takes payment at the counter, so bring a way to pay for anything you are covering.
- (203) 230-3940
Our Dispensary of Hope partner site. It is in North Haven, a drive from the clinic, so call before you go.
The program behind some free medications
Dispensary of Hope
Dispensary of Hope is a charitable medication supplier, not a store. Manufacturers donate medications to it, and it distributes them through partner pharmacies for uninsured patients at no cost. It carries a lot of what our patients take every day, including medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and stomach conditions.
Locally, those prescriptions are filled at the Yale New Haven Health Pharmacy at the North Haven Medical Center, 6 Devine Street — the last entry on the list above. If one of your medications comes through Dispensary of Hope, your care team will tell you, confirm that you qualify, and send the prescription there.
Bring your paperwork with you. The pharmacy cannot fill a Dispensary of Hope prescription without the documents your care team gives you, and a trip to North Haven without them is a wasted one. If you are not sure what you are meant to have, ask before you leave the clinic.
Call (203) 230-3940 before you make the trip — it is in North Haven, not walking distance from the clinic.
Pickup Instructions
Your prescription should be ready at the pharmacy we assigned you by the Wednesday after your clinic visit.
Requesting a Medication Refill
Running low on a medication? Follow these two steps to request a refill. Please allow 3 to 5 business days before you run out. Last-minute requests may cause delays in your care.
Check with your pharmacy first
Call your pharmacy to find out whether any refills remain on your current prescription. Pharmacies can often process a refill automatically if one is available, saving you an extra step.
Contact HAVEN if no refills are available
If your pharmacy confirms there are no refills remaining, give us a call at (203) 200-0673 and we will work with your care team to authorize a new refill. Please have your medication name, dosage, and pharmacy information ready when you call.
Please do not wait until you have run out of medication to request a refill. Reaching out 3 to 5 business days in advance ensures your care team has enough time to review and approve your request without interruption to your treatment.
Have a different medical question between visits? Reach our care team through the triage line.
Low-Cost Mail Order
For some medications, a mail-order pharmacy is simply the cheapest way to fill the prescription. Where that is the case, your care team will tell you and set it up.
Cost Plus Drugs
A mail-order pharmacy that charges the manufacturer's cost plus a fixed markup, with no insurance and no middlemen. It carries more than 2,000 generic medications and ships nationwide, and for many common prescriptions it is dramatically cheaper than a retail counter.
Ask your care team whether one of your medications is available this way. It is not right for everything — you cannot use it for a medication you need today, and not every drug is stocked — but for a maintenance prescription it can be the difference between filling it and skipping it.
costplusdrugs.comMedication Cost-Sharing
HAVEN runs on donations and volunteer hours. Like many other free clinics, we ask patients to help cover some of the cheaper medications. That is what lets us keep paying for the expensive ones and take on more patients.
Under this policy:
- Patients are responsible for covering the cost of medications priced under $25.
- For medications at or above $25, we screen for your ability to pay and determine what, if anything, you contribute. We do not promise these are free to everyone, because that is not a promise the clinic can keep.
- The screening is a short, private conversation about your circumstances. Patients facing financial hardship may request a cost-sharing waiver, and our team will work with you discreetly and compassionately to assess your situation.
- No patient will be denied a medication solely due to inability to pay. If cost is a concern, please speak with your care team.
Why This Matters
Cost-sharing models are a common and proven approach among free and charitable clinics. By asking patients who are able to contribute a small amount toward lower-cost medications, we can:
- Preserve our donated funds for higher-cost medications and services
- Expand our capacity to take on more patients
- Continue investing in programs that support long-term patient outcomes
- Sustain and grow HAVEN's presence in the community
Have questions about this policy or need to request a waiver? Please speak with your care team or send us a Care Message through MyChart.
Pharmaceutical Assistance Program
The Pharmaceutical Assistance Program helps eligible patients access medications at no cost through manufacturer patient assistance programs. Our team assists with applications and follow-up to ensure continuity of care.
Call (203) 200-0673 to ask about the program and schedule a consultation.