Discount card program offers savings on prescription meds in Stanislaus County

March 27--A program in Stanislaus County is offering drug discount cards to the uninsured and others who have limited health insurance.

Officials said the Coast2Coast Rx Card allows a cardholder to save up to 75 percent on the costs of a prescription medication. About 30 counties in California have the program through a partnership between the California State Association of Counties and Florida-based Financial Marketing Concepts Inc.

The free discount cards are available at libraries, pharmacies and health clinics in Stanislaus County, officials said. Another option is going to http://www.coast2coastrx.com and printing a card.

"We have a tremendous amount of need in this county," said Supervisor Vito Chiesa, who was president of CSAC last year.

The program is targeted for the uninsured, but other people can benefit, said Martin Dettelbach, chief marketing officer for the program. It can help those who have high-deductible insurance or health plans that don't include prescription drug coverage as a benefit.

Dettelbach said the major pharmacy chains and many independent drugstores accept the cards, with the participants including Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Walmart and Raley's. Financial Marketing Concepts says more than 59,000 pharmacies in the country are in the program, providing discounts on more than 60,000 drugs.

In addition to prescriptions, the Coast2Coast card is good for discounts on dental and vision care, lab work, imaging and diabetic supplies, the company says. One card can be used for every member of a family.

Dettelbach said cardholders can save up to 60 percent on their annual prescription drug costs. They can use the card as often as needed; there is no termination date.

The discounts can apply to veterinary prescriptions for pets if the drug also is made for human consumption, Dettelbach noted.

Seniors in the Medicare program can use the card for discounts on medication in the "doughnut hole" -- or coverage gap -- but they will need to give it careful consideration. Seniors should first check to see if Medicare is offering its own discounts, Dettelbach said.

Four of the Medicare Advantage plans in Stanislaus County have discounts for members in the doughnut hole. Seniors who have other plans can use Coast2Coast like a discount card, but it could mean it will take longer to get out of the coverage gap, said Maria Profeta, program manager at the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program.

In 2016, Medicare stops regular prescription coverage when a person's drug costs total $3,310 for the year. After that, it covers from 45 percent to 58 percent of prescription costs in the coverage gap until a person's drug costs are $4,850 for the year, then better coverage kicks in again.

"They can use the card in the doughnut hole, but they will need to check with their plan," Profeta said.

Counties are offered an incentive for participating in the Coast2Coast program. Each time a prescription is filled for a cardholder, a $1.25 royalty will be paid to Stanislaus County.

Ken Carlson: 209-578-2321

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