PRINCE FREDERICK, Md.—Under Calvert County's free prescription drug discount program, county residents have filled more than 11,000 prescriptions at discounts averaging more than 27 percent ($16.29 per prescription), for a total savings of more than $190,000.
Introduced in July 2009, the program helps consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county makes the free prescription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo).
The cards may be used by all county residents, regardless of age, income or existing health coverage and are accepted at all of the county's pharmacies. A national network of more than 59,000 participating retail pharmacies also honors the card.
To use the discount card, residents simply present it at a participating pharmacy. There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on frequency of use. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance. The card also covers pet medications available at participating pharmacies. The card cannot be used for co-pays or to obtain additional discounts on prescriptions that are covered by insurance.
The NACo website for the program, http://www.nacorx.org, has been recently updated and now includes information on local pharmacies and drug pricing, as well as tools to make the process of obtaining a card easier. The new site offers information on drug interactions and provides information on specific drugs.
There is no cost to county taxpayers for NACo and Calvert County to make these money-saving cards available to our residents. Cards are available at all Calvert County libraries, senior centers, the Health Department and the Calvert County Department of Community Resources, located at 30 Duke Street in Prince Frederick. County residents can call toll free 1.877.321.2652 or visit http://www.nacorx.org for assistance with the program.
Source: Calvert County Government