Tulsa World: Cards offer discount medicines

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Cards offer discount medicines
Several are aimed at people without other insurance available.

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 5/26/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 5/26/2009 3:26 AM

If the economic recession has kept you from getting the medications you need, you may be eligible for prescription discounts or even free drugs.

"We really want to build empowered consumers. We want people to know that even during tough times, there is help out there," said Roba Whiteley, executive director of Together Rx Access, which offers a prescription drug card to those without prescription drug coverage.

To be eligible for the Together Rx Access card, you must have no prescription coverage, be a legal resident of the U.S. or Puerto Rico and meet certain income guidelines. You also cannot be eligible for Medicare.

"Our card is free to get and free to use," Whiteley said. "Nearly 90 percent of non-Medicare uninsured are eligible for our card," Whiteley said.

Together Rx Access cardholders get 25 percent to 40 percent off the cost of more than 300 brand-name medications, she said.

The state of Oklahoma also offers two prescription drug assistance programs, which are funded by the state Department of Commerce in partnership with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

Both state programs were launched in 2006, said the program planner Rhonda Harding-Hill.

"With the increase in unemployment, I think we have more people needing assistance," she said. "We have seen an increase in inquiries across the board."

Through the RX for Oklahoma program, low-income residents can get free assistance with applying for pharmaceutical company programs. To get assistance, people should gather their prescriptions and call to find out which of about 500 program options they are eligible for, Harding-Hill said.

The state also offers a prescription drug discount card called the OklahomaRx Discount Card, which is available to all state residents. More than 570 Oklahoma pharmacies participate in the program, and cardholders can expect to save from 10 percent to 55 percent of drug costs.

The card is free to those whose income is less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Others will pay a membership fee of $9.95 per year.

The National Association of Counties also issues a prescription drug discount card. So far, only residents of Beckham, Blaine, Ellis, Grant, Muskogee, Roger Mills and Rogers counties may get the card.

But Andrew Goldschmidt, a spokesman for the association in Washington, D.C., said more Oklahoma counties have expressed interest in the program.

"I anticipate you will see this list increase significantly over the coming months," he said.

The NACo card is free, with no age, income or health restrictions. The average savings is 23 percent of the drug's cost at the pharmacy. All commonly prescribed prescription medications, including pet medications, are eligible for a discount.

The Oklahoma Drug Card, which is not affiliated with the state government, was introduced in the state just over a year ago. It is free, with no age limit or forms to complete. Any Oklahoma resident may sign up for the card online and print it off instantly for prescription savings at participating pharmacies across the state.

The card is offered through United Networks of America of Baton Rouge, La. UNA Rx is a provider of numerous managed health care products.

Those without Internet access may go to a public library or ask a friend to help them sign up for the card online. Although the form asks for an e-mail address, people can type "none" and still get the card, said the program's state director, Joe Willard.

The card can save people up to 75 percent on medication costs, depending on what medication it is and what dosage. Savings on average are 35 percent, he said.

"Our card has saved Oklahomans $1.6 million in a year," Willard said. "It's doing really well."

If you're looking for free drugs, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, recently announced a program that would provide free medication for up to a year for people who have lost their jobs since Jan. 1.

To be eligible for the program, a person must have been taking a prescribed Pfizer medicine for at least three months prior to becoming unemployed, have no prescription drug coverage and can attest to financial hardship.

Finally, there is a national clearinghouse that can help people in need get the drugs they need for free or nearly free.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance program, known from the Montel Williams commercials, is a clearinghouse of nearly 500 public or private prescription assistance programs.

"We encourage people to get engaged and active on your own behalf," Whiteley said. "There is help out there."

Rx FOR HELP

For information about the programs, go to:

Together Rx Access, tulsaworld.com/togetherrx or (800) 966-0407

OklahomaRx Discount Card, tulsaworld.com/okrxdiscount

RX for Oklahoma program, tulsaworld.com/rx4okla or (877) rX4- OKLA

National Association of Counties Prescription Drug Discount Card, tulsaworld.com/naco

Oklahoma Drug Card, tulsaworld.com/drugcard

Partnership for Prescription Assistance, tulsaworld.com/pparx

Kim Archer 581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer

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Peter Piper, TULSA (5/26/2009 8:18:07 AM)

Yes, NagNag is right! There are options available.Oftentimes a doctor or nurse can give out information. I remember when--years back-- people had to go without completely or cut back on food money in order to get RX's. It was disgraceful!!

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