Contact DHS

Big Savings on Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs have revolutionized the practice of medicine, saved lives and prevented hospital stay - not to mention improving the quality of life for many people of all ages.

Ironically, older people without any insurance coverage for prescription drugs pay the highest prices for their prescriptions. Insurance companies use their large purchasing clout to get steep discounts for their members.

An older person without drug coverage may expect to pay monthly $121 for Aricept, a drug for Alzheimer's disease; $87 for Lipitor to lower cholesterol levels and $57 for Zyrtec to relive allergy symptoms. Those three drugs alone easily cost $265 per month. If the individual has an infection requiring Diflucan ($348 for a 30 day supply) their monthly bill jumps to $613.

Rather than pay $615 per month, it is now possible for those without drug coverage to buy the above drugs for $60 a month. A savings of $555 per month.

Lipitor alone over a 10 year period at the retail price of $87 would cost $10,440. Paying only $15 per month for 10 years it would cost only $1,800-a savings of $8,640.

Pfizer makes all the above drugs. Earlier this year introduced the “Share Card.” . The Share Card is available to Medicare enrollees who have no alternative drug coverage with incomes below $18,000 for an individual or $24,000 for a couple. Individuals with the Share Card pay only a $15 fee for each 30 day Pfizer prescription.

Eli Lilly has a similar card called the “Lilly Answers Card” and Novartis has been offering the “Novartis Care Card” which will continue to be honored. Novartis was a founding member of Together RX™, LLC, an alliance of seven major pharmaceutical companies offering valuable savings on more than 150 medicines through one easy-to-use, completely free prescription drug savings card – the Together Card™. [Click here for more information on the Novartis Savings Plan.]

These cards, the “Share Card” (Pfizer), the “Lilly Answers Card,” and the “Novartis Care Card” should not be confused with other discount cards that charge a fee to obtain. These cards are free. As is the Together Rx™ Card that offers significant discounts on drugs not manufactured by Pfizer, Lilly, or Novartis.

The Together Rx™ Card provides discounts of 20 to 40 percent, and in some cases more, off the price normally paid. The Card is available to Medicare enrollees without prescription drug coverage and with incomes up to $28,000 ($38,000 for couples).

In addition, during the enrollment process, individuals of more limited income who meet eligibility requirements for patient assistance programs (PAP) provided by individual companies or foundations will be notified they may qualify for further savings - and in some cases free medications.

According to the program announcement, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Target, Kroger and Safeway have shown strong support for the Together Rx Card. The card is being sponsored by seven major pharmaceutical companies and will cover over 150 widely prescribed medicines. Other manufactures are encouraged to join.

Several aging advocates and organizations heralded the announcement. "This is a valuable program-the best yet in its convenience and breadth of medicines," said James Firman, President and CEO of The National Council on the Aging (NCOA). "NCOA will work to promote broad public awareness of this program through its websites and its national network of thousands of community service organizations."

"Americans are becoming older and living longer, ushering in a 'longevity revolution.' I regard Together Rx as a very significant interim step until we have a larger government and/or public-private solution," said Robert Butler, M.D., professor of Geriatrics at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and President and CEO of the International Longevity Center. "Simplicity and savings are now matched with the broadest selection of important prescription medicines, making the Together Rx Card the best option to date for Americans trying to maintain their health and independence as they grow older."

Health & Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson called the card a "tremendous new initiative," adding, "The Together Rx Card will make life-saving medicines more affordable for millions of seniors and is a testimony to the way the private sector effectively and creatively addresses the needs of consumers and patients throughout the country."

A dissenting voice came from Ron Pollack, head of Families USA, "'The drug companies' joint discount program is the clearest admission to date from the industry that prescription drug costs are unaffordable for many millions of seniors. As seniors learn what the General Accounting Office has already found - namely, that private drug discount card programs typically result in merely 10 percent, not 20 to 40 percent, savings - seniors' demands for a prescription drug benefit in Medicare will continue to intensify."

The card is not perfect. It does not cover all prescription drugs. Because it is based on Medicare eligibility, most under age 65 won't qualify. It is a voluntary program and as the application states, "Participating companies select which of their products to include and independently determine their own discounts…The participating companies reserve the right to rescind, revoke, or amend the Together Rx Card and the savings offered at any time."

Despite limitations, those with no coverage will likely welcome the card with open arms.

All older Americans that qualify for any or all of these discount cards should apply for them now. Even if they take no prescription drugs-after all one never knows when they will need a prescription filled. The cards are all free and the enrollment process is fairly simple. Carry them like insurance cards.

To apply for the cards, call the numbers listed in Chart below.

Pharmaceutical Company	Novartis	Pfizer	Eli Lilly	Together Rx™
Program Title	Together Rx Card*	Share Card	LillyAnswers Card	Together Rx Card
Eligibility	ü       Medicare enrollee ü       No alternative prescription drug coverage Annual income up to $18,000 for an individual, or $24,000 for a couple	ü       Medicare enrollee ü       No alternative prescription drug coverage ü       Gross income below $18,000 single, or $24,000 for a couple	ü       U.S. Citizen ü       Medicare enrollee ü       No alternative prescription drug coverage ü       Gross income below $18,000 single, or $24,0000 for a couple	ü       U.S. Citizen ü       Medicare enrollee ü       No alternative prescription drug coverage ü       Gross income below $28,000 single, or $38,0000 for a couple
Estimated Savings	A $12 fee for each 30 day prescription	A $15 fee for each 30-day Pfizer prescription	A $12 fee for each 30-day Lilly prescription	Discount of 20%  to 40% off the wholesale list price
Seniors Eligible	~ 11 million	~ 7 million	~ 5 million	11 million
Enrollment Process	ü       Applicant to complete an application	ü       Applicant to complete an application** ü       Provide most recent federal tax return OR ü       Social Security Benefit Verification Statement	ü       Applicant to complete an application** ü       Provide most recent federal tax return OR ü       Social Security Benefit Verification Statement	ü       Applicant to complete an application ü       Provide most recent federal tax return or estimate of household income if no return was filed due to minimum filing requirements.
Membership Fee	None	None	None	None
Cap limit on # of prescriptions	None	None	None Coverage for 1 year.  Must reapply annually	None
Products include:	Diovan® (valsartan), Exelon® (rivastigmine tartrate), Lamisil ® (terbinafine hydrochloride), Lescol®/Lescol® XL (fluvastatin sodium) Lotensin® (benazepril HCl), and Miacalcin Nasal Spray® (calcitonin-salmon) and others.	Aricept, Diflucan, Glucotrol, Lipitor, Neurontin, Norvasc, Procardia, Procardia XL, Viagra, Zithromax, Zoloft, Zyrtec Exceptions: Celebrex and Bextra (Pfizer is only a co-promoter of these products)	Evista, Humulin, Humalog, Humulin & Humalog Pen, Prozac, Sarafem, Zyprexa Exceptions: Actos (Lilly is only a co-promoter) & Humatrope SQ- not covered	Over 150 drugs manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson through Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc and Novartis.
Phone Number:	1-800-865-7211	1-800-717-6005	1-877-RX-LILLY (795-4559)	1-800-865-7211

* Novartis Care Card previously issued remain effective. Qualifiying new applicants will receive Together RX Card™

** Recent copy of federal tax return forms or Social Secutiry Benefit Verification Statement is required. Information valid as of October 2002. Terms and conditions can change without notice.