Are Discount Prescription Drug Cards A Form of Affordable Health Insurance?
In all likelihood, you have probably seen them - whether you are at Walgreen's, CVS, or any various pharmacy across America, discount prescription drug programs seem to be offered everywhere. You can peruse an array of discount prescription programs online, and emails are often sent to elicit enrollment into different plans. So, what exactly are discount prescription drug cards?
Let us take a look at Walgreens as an example. Called the "Walgreens Prescription Savings Club," members have access to discounts on over 5000 brand name and generic medications. More specifically, 400 of the generic prescriptions are priced at $12 for a 90 day supply. For $20 a year, an individual can receive reductions in the cost of many of the medications he or she already uses. An entire family would pay only $35 a year.
Other discount prescription drug programs do not charge any fee. For instance, YourRxCard allows you to download a free prescription drug card online, instantly providing you access to savings up to 75% off all FDA approved drugs at 57,000 pharmacies across the United States. This site lists the following as the benefits of the program:
* No deductibles
* No waiting period
* No pre-existing exclusions
* Everyone qualifies
* Instant activation
YourRxCard even offers a medication pricing tool to find out how much your prescription will cost, as well as a pharmacy locator to find pharmacies in your area that participate in this program. Are programs such as the "Walgreens Prescription Savings Club" and YourRxCard considered a form of affordable health insurance?
The answer is, quite simply, no. Although discount prescription drug cards provide a savings for individuals and families who require an assortment of medications, they are not really a form of affordable health insurance. Instead, they are more of a supplement to existing health insurance. However, even if one does not have health insurance, he or she still can utilize the benefits from these types of programs in order to receive lower costs for prescriptions that are necessary to obtain.
Not all discount prescription drug cards are for everyone. Some find a significant savings while using one of these cards, while others find little to no saving at all. Some programs have restrictions, such as income limits and age limits, while others claim to provide discounts to everyone with no constraints. Some discount plans can be used in addition to one's health insurance, while others can only be utilized if the person or family does not already have access to prescription benefits in existing insurance coverage.
Although discount prescription drug cards are not considered a form of affordable health insurance, it may prove to be a wise decision to use them as additional coverage that will reduce the costs of medications. This is especially the case for those who find their monthly prescription bills to be very costly.
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