Drug discounts: Residents saving with city program

Residents saving

with city program

Plaquemine residents using city-issued prescription drug discount cards saved $14,333 on 1,190 prescription medications during the second half of 2010.

At a savings rate of 25 to 50 percent, they saved an average of $12 per prescription not covered by their health insurance.

Taking advantage of a National League of Cities program, the city mailed the free discount cards to residents in June.

“This is a great program that really saves residents money,” said Mayor Mark “Tony” Gulotta, encouraging people to take advantage of the program.

One card covers an entire family. There are no waiting periods, no age or income requirements and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. The discount is applied automatically for residents showing the card when filling prescriptions at any one of 60,000 pharmacies across the nation, including all local pharmacies.

Residents who did not receive a card can call Plaquemine City Hall at 687-3116. Additional cards also are available locally at Barker’s Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy, Goudeau’s Health Mart and Wal-Mart.