KNOW YOUR PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD

A prescription discount program is designed to help people save money on prescription medications by offering its customers a card called the prescription discount card used when paying for prescriptions issued from medical institutions. Pharmacies are willing to accept these discount cards from customers for a variety of reasons.

The first of these is a matter of competition between pharmacies. Pharmaceutical is a $500 billion industry, so competition is fierce. If one pharmacy does not accept the discount card, the pharmacy down the street can, thereby gaining the business of the cardholder. Remember when you started that lemonade stand when you were a kid, and then that pesky neighborhood boy copied your idea, but sold his lemonade for 5 cents less? Unless you could prove that your lemonade was worth 5 cents more than his, you had to lower your price as well.

Since medication from one pharmacy is identical to medicine from another, pharmacies are obliged to honor the discount card. Second, even in the absence of competition, pharmacies understand that some medication is helpful, but not essential (think antacids), so if the price is too high, some may choose not to fill their prescriptions at all. In other words, there is a whole market segment to be gained by accepting the discount card–the segment that, based on price, would have to decline to purchase their medication unless the price was lowered. Third, pharmacies understand that by accepting the discount card, they get a new customer through the door that may end up buying much more than just their medication. Ever wondered why Walgreens places their pharmacy (the main reason you’re in the store) all the way in the back? As you walk back to the pharmacy, you pass thousands of products from groceries to batteries to stuffed animals to greeting cards to–the list goes on and on. So the more people they get through the door, the more money they make on items other than medication.

Rx Discount Savings Card

Why don't all pharmacies accept the Medication Card?
All chain pharmacies and most independent pharmacies have been given equal opportunity to serve you via this program. Pharmacies taking part in the program give you the discount and pay a small marketing fee to the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company. Some smaller pharmacies choose not to take part in the program and do not honor Medication Card. You can use Medication Card with confidence at all major pharmacies and most regional pharmacies, who routinely accept Medication Card as a way to provide a service to their customers and to generate the additional business that Medication Card (rx discount savings card) brings to their pharmacies.

rx discount savings card 

If I have insurance how can Medication Card benefit me?
If you are under insurance, having Medication Card may still be beneficial since there are insurance policies which limit drug discounts to only a specific set of prescriptions. Many other insurance policies have also been marked with high deductibles. In both cases, Medication Cards can be used independently of insurance coverage and its limitations.

Why do pharmacies offer these discounts?
Pharmacies count on Medication Card to bring people into their stores that may otherwise not get a prescription filled for financial reasons. Pharmacists know that once a customer is in the store they invariably end up picking up other items while waiting to get their prescription filled. Medication Card offers positive benefits for everyone - the cardholder, the store and even the extended business community that stands to benefit from some of the cash the customer saves.