Discount Medicines
Edward Jardini, MD, Twin Cities Community Hospital
The best discount programs aren't always publicized. There are a number of ways to dramatically reduce your medication costs. Unfortunately, most drug discount programs don't advertise their services, so few people are aware of all the available options. Some programs even waive income eligibility requirements.
Among the best resources ...
PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS
Because of their size, large companies that act as third-party managers of prescription drug programs can provide discounted medications. Ones to consider ...
Care mark: RxSavings Plus (877-673-3688, www.rxsavingsplus.com). This program offers a card that is accepted at 57,000 US pharmacies and provides an average savings of 20%. You can use the card as long as you're not receiving insurance reimbursement, including Mediicare. For up to a 50% discount, order a 90-day supply by mail.
Express-Scripts: Outreach Rx (800-769-3880, www.rxoutreach.com. Designed for low income patients, this program sets annual income limits of less than $31,200 for most individuals or less than $42,000 a year for couples. A 90-day supply of most medications costs $20, $30 or $40, depending on the drug.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Federal, state and local governments also offer eligible patients access to low-cost drugs ...
US Department of Veterans Affairs (877-222-8387, www.va.gov). For people who were honorably discharged from active duty in a branch of the the military the VA will provide prescription drugs at a cost of $8 a month. The prescription must be written by a doctor in a VA clinic. To qualify you must fill out application form, 10-1OEZ (available at local VA offices and medical centers or online at www.va.gov/healtheligibility/application and provide a copy of your discharge document.
The VA also offers a separate health-care program. called CHAMPVA, for family members of a veteran who has a permanent disability or who died in the line of duty or due to a service-connected disability-as long as they're not eligible for TRlCARE (see below).
TRICARE (800-538-9552, www. tricare.mil). TRICARE is a healthhcare benefit for active-duty service members, reserve members, retired uniformed armed services members, their families and survivors. Widows and widowers of active-duty members also may qualify unless they remarry. The plan includes prescription coverage.
If the medication is obtained at a military treatment facility, it is free. Medications obtained at retail nettwork pharmacies or by mail cost $3 to $22 for a 90-day supply.
National Conference of State Legislatures (202-624-5400, www.ncsl.org/programslhealth/drugaid. htm#discount). As of January 2008, 42 states had established some type of program to provide prescription drug coverage or subsidies to low-income older adults or disabled persons who do not qualify for Medicaid. The programs vary widely-and the information is available through state departments of health or social services.
PATIENT ADVOCACY GROUPS
Some groups charge a set fee to help patients find free or low-cost medications. This works well for people who don't want to deal with the application process required for most drug-assistance programs.
The Free Medicine Foundation (888-812-5152, www.freemedicine.com). This group will search for programs that can provide your drugs for little or no charge. The onetime fee of $10 is reimbursed if the group fails to find your medication for free. The service is available to people with incomes up to $80,000 for a family of four. .. $52,800 for couples ... and $39,200 for individuals.
Indigent Patient Services Inc. (727-328-1404, www.iPSc.cc). A onetime registration fee of $25 is required for this program, and each prescription (usually three months' worth of medication) costs $20.
MASS-MARKET RETAILERS
Some large retail stores, such as Wal-Mart, Target, Costco and Kmart, offer low-price prescriptions on generic and some brand-name medications. Wal-Mart, for instance, offers a program that covers mostly generic drugs at a cost of $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply. For information, go to store Web sites or ask at your local store's pharmacy.
*For a copy of Part 1, go to www.BottomLine Secrets.com/Special or send a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to "Bottom Line/Free Drugs," Box 10702, Stamford, Connecticut, 06904-0702.
Bottom Line/Healtl> interviewed Edward Jardini, MD, a family physician at T"in Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, California, where he has served as chair of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee. He is the author of How to Save on Prescription Drugs: 20 Cost-Saving Methods (Celestial Arts),
www.howtosaveondrugs.com.
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