UNITED WAY PRESENTS OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

United Way of Summit County has joined more than 800 United Ways across the United States in distributing free ‘FamilyWize’ prescription discount cards.

Bob Kulinski, President of United Way of Summit County, said, “Statistics show that four out of ten adults are not filling prescriptions, skipping doses, cutting their dosage in half to save money, or struggling to pay for their medicine. These discount cards reduce the cost of medicine by 30% or more. The only time there is no discount is when the pharmacy price is already lower. So people will always pay the lowest price.”

These cards can be used by everyone in the community, not just people without insurance. They can be used by people with health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare during deductible periods, for medications not covered by their plan and for people with Medicare Part D during the “doughnut hole.”

Family Wize also compliments Summit County’s ‘Executive MED’ Prescription Discount Program and other similar programs. In some cases, Family Wize covers medications that other programs don’t, and may offer better discounts on some prescriptions.

There is no limit on how many times a person can use their discount card. Non-residents can use them too. FamilyWize cards can also be used on prescription pet medications. The process is quite simple. Give the pharmacist the discount card and the prescription from the doctor.
The goal of FamilyWize prescription discount cards is to help individuals and families reduce the costs of their prescriptions. Local businesses are partnering with United Way of Summit County to cut cost of medicine and are giving FamilyWize cards to their employers.

There are 53,000 participating pharmacies throughout the United States. In the Summit County area, FamilyWize cards are available and accepted at the following pharmacies: Acme, Giant Eagle, Marc’s, Target, Wal-mart, Discount Drug Mart and CVS. Rite Aid and Walgreen pharmacies will accept the cards, but not distribute them. Cards are also available at United Way of Summit County’s offices – 90 N. Prospect Street, Akron, OH. For more information, go to http://www.familywize.org/.

United Way of Summit County encourages everyone to LIVE UNITED. Each of us has the power to improve lives and advance the common good when we give, advocate and volunteer. For more information on how to give now, on programs and services in our community, or to volunteer, call your United Way of Summit County at (330) 762-7601, explore our website at http://www.uwsummit.org/, or visit our offices at 90 N. Prospect St., Akron, Ohio.