AAA Offers Tips on Sorting out Costs, Benefits of Family Discount Drug Plans.Business Editors ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2004 With discount prescription cards flooding the market, consumers may have trouble sorting out the benefits of each one to find the offer that is best for their family. In addition to Medicare Medicare, national health insurance program in the United States for persons aged 65 and over and the disabled. It was established in 1965 with passage of the Social Security Amendments and is now run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. approved discount cards, there are many companies offering similar programs that are not related to Medicare, but are adding to the volume of information consumers must wade through. "There are many opportunities for the uninsured or under-insured to get discounts on their prescriptions regardless of age or income," said Tom Wilt, managing director, AAA AAA: see American Automobile Association. (Triple A) A common single-cell battery used in a myriad of electronic devices of all variety. Like its double A (AA) cousin, it provides 1.5 volts of DC power. When used in series, the voltage is multiplied. Partnership Programs, which offers the AAA Prescription Savings program. "AAA wants to provide information about comparing these programs to help consumers make informed decisions that benefit their families." AAA suggests consumers consider these tips when determining which program best meets their needs. -- Check whether or not there is an annual fee and who is covered by that fee. Some organizations charge an annual fee for the prescription discount service. They may also charge an additional fee for a spouse spouse A legal marriage partner as defined by state law or other family members, or for getting prescriptions at a pharmacy pharmacy, art of compounding and dispensing drugs and medication. The term is also applied to an establishment used for such purposes. Until modern times medication was prepared and dispensed by the physician himself. In the 18th cent. rather than online or by mail. -- Find out which pharmacies This article is a list of major pharmacies (also known as chemists and drugstores) by country. Australia Pharmacies in Australia are mostly independently-owned by pharmacists, often operated as franchises of retail brands offered by the three major will accept the discount card and if any of them are convenient to you. Also, if you travel extensively you may want to consider whether you will be able to use the discount card in other areas of the country. -- Find out if your family is covered. Some discount programs include family members and even pet medications. As stated earlier, additional fees may be charged for a spouse or other family members. -- Make a list of the prescriptions your family needs and then use the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the to research the discounts available for those drugs on each program. If you don't have Internet access See how to access the Internet. , then call the program's toll-free number. Remember to look for discounts on generic equivalents because those discounts may be greater. -- Look for other benefits associated with the discount program such as a system to notify your pharmacist pharmacist /phar·ma·cist/ (fahr´mah-sist) one who is licensed to prepare and sell or dispense drugs and compounds, and to make up prescriptions. phar·ma·cist n. when you have ordered drugs that will interact negatively, a toll-free number for speaking with a pharmacist, or deeper discounts for delivery by mail. -- Compare the complete picture for each discount card. A greater discount on the prescriptions that you order may be dwarfed by a high annual fee. "Even if you already have a discount prescription plan, insurance or Medicare," said Wilt, "one of the discount cards may offer a better price than your co-payment co-payment Managed Care That portion of a claim or medical expense that a health plan member must pay out-of-pocket for specific medical services–eg, hospital care, drugs, office visits, etc; the insurer pays the remaining portion or provide a discount on drugs not covered not covered Health care adjective Referring to a procedure, test or other health service to which a policy holder or insurance beneficiary is not entitled under the terms of the policy or payment system–eg, Medicare. Cf Covered. by your plan." For more information on AAA Prescription Savings, call 866-AAA-SAVE (866-222-7283) or visit www.aaa.com. AAA members can go directly to www.aaa.com/prescriptions. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 46 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
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