Schaumburg, Ill., October 15, 2010 —  With nearly 15 million people still without jobs, programs that help patients receive their medicines either for free or at reduced cost are a godsend for many. Yet few take advantage of them.

In a telephone survey of more than 2,000 Americans conducted by Harris Interactive, 79 percent of those who are uninsured and unemployed are somewhat or not-at-all aware that such programs exist. Many patients, therefore, resort to cutting their medicines, trying...