FamilyWize Saved Americans over $400 Million in Rx Help With the Click of a Mouse

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People who are having trouble paying for necessary prescription medications, even while insured, can benefit from the launch of the easy to use, redesigned FamilyWize.org website. In the midst of an uncertain economic climate, FamilyWize, which is partnered with participating United Ways across the country, has eliminated the need to choose between necessary expenses and filling prescription medications. The free FamilyWize discount prescription card is honored by major pharmacy chains like Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target, Rite-Aid, CVS, and many others including local community pharmacies.

 

“The savings we provide on medicine for people is significant,” pointed out Dennis Carmen, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Plymouth County, MA, one of the United Ways who partner with FamilyWize. “FamilyWize makes it possible for our neighbors who are struggling, many of them older folks; to buy both the medicine they need plus pay for necessities like food, utilities, clothing, etc. This is a phenomenal alliance with almost 1,000 local United Ways like ours, nationwide, but it is felt so strongly locally.”

 

FamilyWize’s new website, FamilyWize.org, lets people get the best savings by comparing medication costs at local pharmacies. Here, they can also download the free prescription discount card that can save up to 75% on medicine costs, a discount that is sometimes even greater than what insurance coverage offers. “The most impressive thing to me is that the website allows you to do research on your prescription and comparison shop. I found that the medicine that I paid $478 for, I can now get for $212 or even $18 if my doctor will allow the generic,” said Darren, a FamilyWize card user.

 

Pharmacists agree that there is tremendous cost-saving value in filling and taking all prescription medications as directed. “As a pharmacist for nearly 20 years, I’ve seen the negative health consequences of not taking medication as it was prescribed; patients can end up hospitalized, or their medical condition can worsen because they did not take their medication as their healthcare provider directed. Patients also have to remember that skipping pills, or just taking a few doses and “saving the rest for next time” actually has the potential to cause problems in the future,” said Sharon Galzarano, RPh.

 

A study published in 2011 shows that for every dollar spent on high blood pressure medicine, for example, the patient and the community will save an additional $10 because additional medical services like hospitalizations, tests, operations and more aren’t necessary.As of September

 

2012, FamilyWize has helped to reduce additional health care costs by $1 billion in the areas of diabetes and heart disease.

 

Many people assume that people who are employed have insurance, and that this insurance will at least partially cover prescription medication costs. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over three quarters of the uninsured come from a household in which there is at least one working adult. In addition, many insurance plans lack prescription coverage, or have high deductibles that don’t provide prescription coverage until the deductible is met.

 

There are still over 80 million people who can be helped, but are not aware that a program like this exists. “We are hoping everyone will volunteer just one minute of their time to tell their friends and co-workers or spread their word about this important free help,” said Dan Barnes, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of FamilyWize. “Your local United Way will be happy to supply anyone with extra cards to give to family and friends. You can alsotting a link on your Facebook page, or by emailing a link to FamilyWize.orgto everyone you know.”

 

 
The FamilyWize Community Service Partnership was established in the fall of 2005 to help people get the medicine they need. Today, more than 1,000 participating United Ways and America’s Promise Alliance Partners in all 50 states coordinate the local distribution of the free FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards which lower the cost of medicine by up to 75% to make it more affordable. As of September 2012, the free FamilyWize cards have helped more than 5 million people save over $425 million. For more information, visit FamilyWize.org/about-us.