Together Rx Drug Discount Card
On April 10th, 7 major pharmaceutical companies announced a joint consumer drug discount card called the "Together Rx Card". The companies, Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis, have listed approximately 150 commonly prescribed medications that will be available at discounts of 20- 40% to card-holders. The program is available to Medicare enrollees without public or private prescription drug coverage who have incomes of up to $28,000 ($38,000 for couples). McKesson Corporation will administer the program on behalf of Together Rx. Participating pharmacies include Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Target, Albertson's, Costco, Kroger, and Safeway. Enrollment is now underway, with benefits to start in early June.
Novartis' own recently announced "Novartis Care Plan" will continue. This allows those with lower incomes, up to $18,000 for an individual and $24,000 for couples, to pay a flat fee of $12/month per prescription for selected Novartis drugs.
GlaxoSmithKline likewise will continue their "Orange Card" which provides similar discounts on GlaxoSmithKline drugs for those with higher incomes- up to $30,000/individual ,$40,000/couple.
One can enroll in the Together Rx card by calling 1-800-865-7211 or visiting www.Together-Rx.com.
A Boston Globe article ("7 drug makers unveil elderly discounts, cards to cut 20%-40% off costs for up to 11m seniors") attributed to the Chicago Tribune, noted that "advocates say the discounts may make little difference for poor seniors who may be spending more than $100 a month for one drug. 'A 20 to 40 percent discount may amount to just a few dollars and every dollar helps but it is not going to solve the problem,' (John) Rother (policy director for AARP) said. 'The only thing that is going to solve the problem is adding a drug benefit in Medicare like most working Americans have (through their private insurance policies).'"
--See "Pharmaceutical Companies' Medicare Assistance Programs" - MGH Community News, January 2002for a comparison of previously announced drug discounts.
4/02