Medicare discount drug cards

Something new is on the way from Uncle Sam to help seniors save on prescription drugs, discount cards. <br><br>The discounts begin June 1st, but seniors can begin signing up on Monday. <br><br>The News

Thursday, April 29th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6


Something new is on the way from Uncle Sam to help seniors save on prescription drugs, discount cards.

The discounts begin June 1st, but seniors can begin signing up on Monday.

The News on 6's Rick Wells offers help on how to know which of the cards will work best.

“This is cheap it's just 16 but it lasts quite a while." Dorothy Pittenger has a hand full of medications she takes all the time for a number of things that ail her. And she'd like to save some money. She has a little prescription drug insurance and she's also about to order one of her more expensive prescriptions from Canada. So she's doing about all she can.

Medicare is offering the new drug discount cards starting Monday, but will there be any savings? "Now the savings will vary depending on what type of medication." Joe Courtright is the vice president of pharmacy operations for Mays Drug and Drug Warehouse.

He says there are some things to watch out for with these discount cards. "When you sign up for one you are pretty much locked in for a year so you definitely want to talk to your pharmacist and make sure you don't sign up for something you can't use."

The trick will be to figure out whether the savings offered by a card make it worth signing up for. Many have enrollment fees. The fee is limited to $30. "Most pharmacies will participate in several different card programs." And a pharmacist should be able to offer help on which program will work best for a particular group of medications.

Because Dorothy Pittenger has a little insurance already she may be saving all she can. But for those with no prescription drug insurance this program is expected to lower drug bills by as much as 10-20%.

Many eligible seniors like Dorothy Pittenger don't have a computer or access to one and they may need some help. There is a toll free number to get more information. It's 1-800-MEDICARE. The operator will ask for your zip code, a list of prescriptions and some financial data.

The web site is www.medicare.gov. The News on 6 also has two Medicare information brochures you can check out. Medicare drug discount card enrollment tipsheet [.pdf file] and Medicare drug discount card tipsheet [.pdf file].
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