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Ada County introduces drug discount card
for all county residents

The Board of Ada County Commissioners this week unveiled a free program to help Ada County residents cope with the high price of prescription drugs in this still-sagging economy. The Prescription Drug Discount Card, sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and CVS Caremark, allows uninsured or underinsured county residents to save an average of 22 percent off the retail price of prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, including pet medications.

“Introducing this program was an easy decision for us, considering these valuable savings come at no cost to either the county or property tax payers,” said Ada County Commissioner Rick Yzaguirre who initiated Ada County’s participation in the program.

“The NACo discount card program helps any resident – specifically the uninsured or underinsured – realize amazing savings on vital and necessary medications. We’re proud to offer creative money-saving solutions to help residents who might still be
struggling to make ends meet.”

All Ada County residents, regardless of age, income or existing health coverage are eligible for the program. To enroll, residents can visit most Ada County government offices, county Department of Motor Vehicle locations, local city halls and libraries or some pharmacies in Ada County to pick up a discount card. There is no enrollment form or membership fee, and one card will cover an entire family. Those already covered by Medicare or an existing insurance plan can use the prescription drug card for any medication not covered under their insurance plans. The drug card may not be used
in conjunction with any other discount program. The cards must be used at one of the 64 local participating pharmacies.

“Partnerships like these are increasingly important as we continue to look for ways to bring real savings to Ada County taxpayers,” said Commissioner Sharon Ullman. “While our goal is to reduce any impact of county spending on property tax payers, anything we can do to help ease the burden during this financially challenging time is worth doing.”

The details:

How does it work?
Visit any participating pharmacy or most Ada County office to pick up a free prescription drug discount card. Present your card to any participating pharmacy when filling or refilling a prescription. Everyone in your family can use the same discount card.

You can use your card to start saving immediately. Remember - this is not insurance; it is a prescription discount program that provides immediate discounts at the pharmacy. There are no claim forms to fill out and no limits to the number of times you or your family can use the card. Drug discounts are available only at participating pharmacies.

How much will I save?
Discounts vary depending on pharmacy and the drug itself. To see an estimated savings, log onto www.caremark.com/naco and click "Check Drug Cost" in the right navigational sidebar.

Can I use my card to get discounts on over-the-counter medications?
Not usually, but discounts are available for many diabetic supplies.

Can I really use this card for my pet medication?
Yes! Ask your veterinarian to call your pet's prescription in to a participating pharmacy.

Can I use my drug discount card with my current insurance/Medicare plan?
This card cannot be used in conjunction with an existing insurance or Medicare plan, but you can use your card to purchase pharmaceuticals NOT already covered by your existing plan.
How much it cost?

Unlike many other card programs, there is no enrollment cost or membership fee to participate in the NACo drug discount card program. Your prescription discount card is provided to you free of charge by Ada County. Thanks to partnerships with the National Association of Counties and CVS Caremark, this program comes at no charge to either Ada County or to county taxpayers.

Will any of my information be shared?
Cardholder information remains confidential and will not be released or sold to a third-party for any reason at any time.

Are there any additional benefits to the program?
Yes! The program has a safety feature that alerts pharmacists when one drug may conflict with another medication the cardholder is taking. This only applies to prescriptions obtained with the NACo drug discount card.

Additionally the NACo drug discount card program remains a useful option now that Medicare Part D has been implemented. For example, the card can be used when a Medicare Part D plan doesn't cover a drug.

For more information, visit the Ada County Web site: http://www.adaweb.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DccaVc8x%2fa0%3d&tabid=1247