Monroe County residents can use ProAct card to save on prescription medication
By Jeffrey Blackwell, Staff Writer DemocratAndChronicle.com
August 18, 2010
Many Monroe County residents are receiving a new discount prescription card in the mail this week that can save an average of 45 percent on the cost of a prescription drug not covered by insurance.
The card can be used for any prescription drug and at most pharmacies in the area and at many across the country. The program will not cut the cost of an insurance co-payment but can shrink the cost of a prescription not covered by insurance. It will also cover some cost of vision, Lasik and hearing services.
"The cost of prescription drugs in a challenged economy can truly make or break a family budget," said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. "So this is very important today. The best thing of all is that the cost of this program is absolutely nothing for local taxpayers."
The program is a partnership between the county and ProAct, a division of Kinney Drugs Inc. ProAct administers the discount program in 30 counties across New York State. "In the last three years we have been administering this program we've saved the residents of New York State over $28 million," said Mike Maenza, an account executive with ProAct. "That's a significant savings; that's money that (is) going right back in people's pockets."
The card does not bear the name of the user and the purchases are not being tracked or recorded by the county or ProAct, county and company officials said. The program does not require registration or enrollment forms. There are no membership fees, no income requirements, and no restrictions on use and no cost to participants or Monroe County taxpayers. The cost of the program is paid by the participating pharmacies, said Maenza.
The program is replacing the county's Senior Prescription Discount Plan and is open to all residents regardless of age, income or existing health coverage. The cards are being sent out to more than 200,000 residents and will be available through an online download, and at county agencies and participating pharmacies.
"All residents need to do is bring a card with them to their pharmacy and let the savings begin," said Brooks, whose picture appears on the front of the card.