Discount Drug Cards - Free

[yippie]

I read this article in the Daily News this morning. Sounds like a great idea and it is great that Okaloosa County is participating. Seems like Walton County could benefit from something like this too.

Maybe a call to your local politicians could help? Worth a try as far as I am concened.

Discount drug cards soon to be available

Program is targeted at uninsured, underinsured

By DUSTY RICKETTS
Florida Freedom Newspapers 315-4448 | dustyr@nwfdailynews.com



Help is on the way for Okaloosa County residents needing help with their prescription drug costs.
The county is signing up for a free program that would give every resident access to discount cards for savings of up to 22 percent on their prescription drug bills. The National Association of Counties has partnered with Caremark-PCS Health to provide discounts
on prescription drugs across the country and have offered the service to Okaloosa.
?The average citizen is still going to pay for their drugs, but there may be a discount to it,? said James Taylor, the county?s director of risk management. ?(The discount cards are) free to the residents. They?re free to the county. It?s not going to cost the county anything. They just want the county to provide the mechanism to get it out.?
The discount cards cannot be used in conjunction with insurance programs that already offer a discount on prescription drugs. However, it could be used rather than the insurance program if the discount is greater.
Taylor said the program is designed primarily to help uninsured and the underinsured people.
County officials are finalizing the contract for the program now. Once completed and sent back to the National Association of Counties, it is expected to take eight to 10 weeks for the county to receive the discount cards.
Taylor said the county likely will get the cards in early 2009. It will release more information in the future on when and where the discount cards will be available.
Santa Rosa County voted against participating in the program because the county does not have the staff to oversee and market it, and Public Information Officer Joy Tsubooka. Another problem Santa Rosa had was that residents who participate in the program could have their contact information sold to other drug companies, Tsubooka said.
?It seems like an awful lot for a county to take on,? Tsubooka said.

 

[JUL]

Some retailers offer free and low cost (usually under $5 ) pharmaceuticals. I know a lot of antibiiotics are on the list as are some bp meds.
Some times it is less expensive to use the retailer option.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Why on Earth do we need a discount program when the $4 generic list at Wal Mart and Target, as well as the free antibiotic program at Publix, largely serve the public's need for cheap medication?

 

[yippie]

Because they don't serve al the public's needs. If all the public ever needed was cheap generic antibiotics then, that would be one thing, however, there is a large population of the general pubic that need more than what is offered in those programs.

There are diabetics, asthmatics, thyroid and other immunology medications, there are allergy medications. At times there are pain killers and other medications.

All these medications cannot be purchased with 4-5 dollars at any pharmacy.

Just going by what I pay, even after insurance, any additional discount or option would be appreciated.

That is why a discount drug program would be a good thing. How could you ever think it would hurt? It does not discontinue the current discount programs that are available, It just gives more options to people who need it.

Why on Earth do we need a discount program when the $4 generic list at Wal Mart and Target, as well as the free antibiotic program at Publix, largely serve the public's need for cheap medication?

 

[30A Skunkape]

Because they don't serve al the public's needs. If all the public ever needed was cheap generic antibiotics then, that would be one thing, however, there is a large population of the general pubic that need more than what is offered in those programs.

There are diabetics, asthmatics, thyroid and other immunology medications, there are allergy medications. At times there are pain killers and other medications.

All these medications cannot be purchased with 4-5 dollars at any pharmacy.

Just going by what I pay, even after insurance, any additional discount or option would be appreciated.

That is why a discount drug program would be a good thing. How could you ever think it would hurt? It does not discontinue the current discount programs that are available, It just gives more options to people who need it.

All of the above conditions you have mentioned are provided for on the $4 Wal-Mart list unless you are talking type I diabetes or some sexy immunomodulators. Believe me when I tell you whopping pharmacy bills are often the result of doctors prescribing overpriced meds thanks to persuasive drug reps. There are some cases where the high priced medication is the only option, but in general, the cheapie stuff is more than sufficient.
Why not ask the folks in Santa Rosa County why this program might not be a good thing?

 

[yippie]

Why don't I ask? Because it quotes this in the article

Santa Rosa County voted against participating in the program because the county does not have the staff to oversee and market it, and Public Information Officer Joy Tsubooka. Another problem Santa Rosa had was that residents who participate in the program could have their contact information sold to other drug companies, Tsubooka said.

Things may be different in Okaloosa, maybe they do have a staff, and maybe they got some problems worked out.

Frankly, I don't refer to any of the medication I take as Sexy, but believe me, it is not covered by the 4-5 dollar medications. And my prescription program that is included in my $970.00 a month health insurance premium helps tremendously, but again, if there is another discount offered, why not have it available

I'm not going to get into a debate about this issue, but I clearly do not understand that just because you don't need this, why you would want to prevent others from receiving benefit from a program that would be offered. I mean, really, what does it matter to you anyway?

All of the above conditions you have mentioned are provided for on the $4 Wal-Mart list unless you are talking type I diabetes or some sexy immunomodulators. Believe me when I tell you whopping pharmacy bills are often the result of doctors prescribing overpriced meds thanks to persuasive drug reps. There are some cases where the high priced medication is the only option, but in general, the cheapie stuff is more than sufficient.
Why not ask the folks in Santa Rosa County why this program might not be a good thing?

 

[30A Skunkape]

Why don't I ask? Because it quotes this in the article



Things may be different in Okaloosa, maybe they do have a staff, and maybe they got some problems worked out.

Frankly, I don't refer to any of the medication I take as Sexy, but believe me, it is not covered by the 4-5 dollar medications. And my prescription program that is included in my $970.00 a month health insurance premium helps tremendously, but again, if there is another discount offered, why not have it available

I'm not going to get into a debate about this issue, but I clearly do not understand that just because you don't need this, why you would want to prevent others from receiving benefit from a program that would be offered. I mean, really, what does it matter to you anyway?

I don't want to prevent anyone from getting the card. I really don't think it will make a big difference in the long run and it might force other items in the pharmacy to be more expensive. Sometimes these card programs actually have higher 'negotiated prices' for a drug than what one would pay if they simply used cash. I hope it saves people big bucks, but I am skeptical.

 

[yippie]

I understand what you mean. But, with health cost so outrageous, I think people can use all the help they can get. I am frightened that one day I will not be able to afford the mortgage I pay for health insurance. Then I am totally screwed. I don't know what I will do.

And, there are so many other's that cannot afford health insurance. I wish them all the help they can get as well.

Sorry, but I am especially sensitive to health care cost because of what I have been through in the last few years.

I don't want to prevent anyone from getting the card. I really don't think it will make a big difference in the long run and it might force other items in the pharmacy to be more expensive. Sometimes these card programs actually have higher 'negotiated prices' for a drug than what one would pay if they simply used cash. I hope it saves people big bucks, but I am skeptical.