County Launches Discount Drug Program
County Launches Discount Drug Program Save Email Print
Reporter: By Matt Felder
Email Address: matt.felder@kwtx.com
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(June 23, 2008)--Bell County residents without health insurance will soon be able to sign up for some much needed relief.

A new discount drug card program will kick off at the beginning of next month, giving any resident a 20 percent cut on prescription medications.

It sounds almost too good to be true. A discount on medications and the only requirement is to be a resident of Bell County.

"For a large number of people who have nothing, this will give them an average of about 20 percent off of retail costs of their medicine," Bell County Judge Jon Burrows said.

It's the National Association of Counties (NACO) Prescription Discount Card Program. Anyone is eligible and the best part about it the card doesn't cost a dime.

Ninety-nine percent of Bell County pharmacies will accept the card and a national network of 57,000 retail pharmacies will honor it.

"There isn't a catch as far as we can tell,” Bell County Commissioner Richard Cortese said.

“It's just a free card. If it helps someone, it won't help everybody, but if it helps someone then that's the important part."

Thirty percent of Texans are without any sort of health insurance, which prompted the Bell County Commissioner’s Court to research the program that is geared toward uninsured and underinsured residents.

"If you're fortunate enough to have some type of prescription program through your employment, then you need to use that if it gives you a better benefit," Judge Burrows said.

On occasion pharmacies will have medications on hand that will be lower than the discount rate offered by the card.

Either way, customers will always receive the lowest price available.

In a time of skyrocketing prices across the board, any discount is a welcome sight.

"Every little bit helps and everything helps the citizens and constituents of this county to improve where they are," Cortese said.

Starting July 1, the prescription cards will be available at all Bell County buildings including the Temple and Killeen annexes.


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Posted by: MikeP Location: Waco on Jun 27, 2008 at 08:34 AM
A much better solution is to buy safe and low-cost drugs from trusted and licensed foreign pharmacies. At these pharmacies that have served Texans for many years, anyone can save up to 50 to 80 percent off our pricey drugs. My favorite pharmacy is InternationalDrugMart.com, where many of my uninsured friends get their drugs, too. They have been serving needy Americans since 2003.
Posted by: rex Location: BTR on Jun 25, 2008 at 08:40 AM
While the county commissioners are doing there best to help citizens with the cards approved. There is a better service that is free to the county and patients. Higher discounts, free medication, cash coupons and no cost discount prescription cards that produce a varing combined average discounts of 39% . Better for the County and its taxpayers, citizens and patients. www.patientassitance.com Thank you
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