Savings from free prescription discount card goes beyond cost of drugs

Every dollar patients spend on prescription drugs to treat heart disease and diabetes saves them $3 to $10 on other medical services, according to a 2011 Health Affairs study cited by United Way of Superior-Douglas County and FamilyWize, two organizations joining forces to help families stay healthy.

As of Dec. 31, the FamilyWize-United Way partnership with local pharmacies has saved people living or working in this area more than $78,048 on everyday prescription costs for conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, plus $247,311 savings on other medical services specifically related to heart disease and diabetes such as doctor’s office visits, hospitalizations and surgeries.

“Lowering the cost of prescription drugs allows more people to get the medicine they need when they need it,” said Kathi Madsen of United Way of Superior-Douglas County. “The amount patients save on the cost of complications, disease progression and additional health related expenses are far greater than just the savings on the medicine. This program impacts health and also financial stability, two building blocks of advancing the common good. That’s why we’ve partnered with FamilyWize to distribute free prescription discount cards to everyone in our area. It’s wonderful that almost every local pharmacy participates in this program that helps our community so much.”

Savings on medications can be as much as 75 percent with the free FamilyWize prescription discount card. Nationwide, more than 5 million people have been helped, and more than $448 million has been saved. The card requires no enrollment or activation. Consumers just give the card to their pharmacists every time a prescription is needed and discounts are automatically applied.

“The FamilyWize card provides immediate savings on prescription medicines and can make a difference in staying healthy. We hope everyone will help spread the word to their family and friends about this important free help,” said Ellen Imber, vice president for Community Outreach for the FamilyWize Community Service Partnership.

“The cards can be used by everyone in the community, not just people without insurance,” Madsen said. “They can even be used by people with insurance who have high deductibles or take medicine not covered by their plan or by people with Medicaid or Medicare when their prescription isn’t covered,” Madsen added.

The FamilyWize-United Way Card is easy to use and its free. Its use is unlimited, can be used by anyone and is accepted at every chain pharmacy and most independent pharmacies. It requires no enrollment or personal information.

People can contact United Way of Superior-Douglas County to get a card, text “family” to 700700 for a text version of the card or visit www.FamilyWize.org to print a card and compare discounted drug prices at the different participating pharmacies.

Tags: douglas county, news, money, health, superior