Eligibility Requirements
Covered Medications
The following medications are covered by Keytruda Assistance (via Merck Helps):
How to Apply
- Speak with your healthcare provider about Keytruda Assistance (via Merck Helps). Your doctor, nurse, or social worker can help determine if you qualify.
- Gather required documents: proof of income (tax return, pay stubs, or Social Security statement), valid prescription, and proof of U.S. residency.
- Submit your application online or by mail. Visit the program website below or call the program hotline for assistance.
- Wait for approval (typically 2 to 6 weeks). Once approved, medications will be shipped to your provider's office or a designated pharmacy.
Check If You Qualify
Use our free Assistance Finder tool to check eligibility for Keytruda Assistance (via Merck Helps) and other programs that may help reduce your medication costs.
Open Assistance FinderSources and standards behind this page
Drug coverage in the United States is governed by published rules rather than by any one insurer's summary, and the sources below are the primary ones. They are linked so a reader can check a claim without taking this page's word for it.
- FDA Orange Book publishes the therapeutic-equivalence ratings that decide whether a generic may be substituted for a brand-name drug.
- FDA generic drug facts sets out what "generic equivalent" means and what a manufacturer must prove.
- CMS prescription drug coverage defines the rules a Medicare drug plan formulary must follow and how it may change mid-year.
- Medicare.gov drug coverage (Part D) states what a Part D plan is required to offer a member.
- CMS prescription drug appeals documents the coverage-determination and exception process when a drug is denied.
- Medicare Plan Compare is the official tool for checking what a specific plan charges for a specific drug at a specific pharmacy.
- Drugs@FDA is the federal database of approved drug products, which establishes whether a covered product exists and in what form.
- DailyMed carries the current FDA labeling for every marketed drug product, including approved strengths and forms.
- MedlinePlus drug information is the National Library of Medicine's consumer reference for what a medication is and how it is used.
- FTC report on pharmacy benefit managers documents how the middlemen between an insurer and a pharmacy shape what a plan actually covers.
- National Library of Medicine maintains the drug and health databases the sources above draw on.
This page describes how coverage and formularies work. It is not medical advice, and a reader's own plan documents and prescriber decide what applies to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Uninsured patients with income at or below 400% FPL can apply for free Keytruda through Merck Helps. Your oncologist must submit the application along with income verification and a treatment plan.
Most commercial insurance plans and Medicare cover Keytruda for FDA-approved indications, though copays and coinsurance can be substantial. Merck offers copay assistance for commercially insured patients to help with out-of-pocket costs.
Patients approved for the Merck PAP can receive free Keytruda for as long as their oncologist prescribes it, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements. Re-enrollment is required periodically.
Related Resources
- Compare pharmacy prices for Keytruda on RxGrab
- Keytruda supplement guide on Health Britannica
- Check drug interactions for Keytruda on OmniRx
- Browse all patient assistance programs
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