Hartford-Area Hospital Unveils Free Prescription Med Program

HARTFORD, CT — Saint Francis Hospital has launched a program providing free prescription medications to eligible uninsured and low-income patients with chronic illnesses, hospital officials announced.

The Hartford hospital is offering the program through a partnership with Dispensary of Hope, a nonprofit that works with pharmaceutical manufacturers to distribute donated medications to people in need.

Prescriptions will be dispensed through the Saint FrancisRx pharmacy at Saint Francis Hospital.

Eligible patients from throughout the region may also receive medications through the hospital's Meds to Beds program, which fills discharge prescriptions and delivers them to patients before they leave the hospital.

Hospital officials said the initiative is aimed at reducing financial and other barriers that can prevent people from obtaining necessary medications.

“A key component of our mission and one of our core values is a commitment to those experiencing poverty,” said Dr. Robert Roose, president of acute care for Trinity Health of New England.

“Through this partnership with Dispensary of Hope, we are further supporting our patients at critical moments by reducing financial stress and actively removing barriers that often lead to delayed care, unfilled prescriptions, and preventable complications."

Who Is Eligible?

According to Saint Francis, patients must meet the following requirements:

• Be uninsured or have health insurance that does not include prescription coverage.
• Have income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.
• Not have government-sponsored health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs coverage.

The program is part of Saint Francis' broader effort to integrate medical treatment with services addressing patients' social needs.

The hospital said screenings can help providers identify barriers to care and connect patients with appropriate resources.

Dispensary of Hope distributes donated medications through more than 340 partner sites nationwide.

According to Saint Francis, the organization's network filled 1.4 million prescriptions for 197,000 patients during fiscal 2026, averaging more than 3,800 prescriptions per day.

Patients interested in the Saint Francis program can speak with their physician, pharmacist, or community health worker to complete an eligibility assessment.

Additional information is available through Saint FrancisRx.