Discount on prescription drugs

Boundary County residents can now participate in a free program that will give them an average 20 percent discount on prescription drugs.

Pharmacies at Safeway and Boundary Trading Co. accept the discount cards.

Boundary County officials signed a contract for the program sponsored by National Association of Counties that offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.

The cards are good for everyone regardless of age, income or existing health coverage. A national network of more than 59,000 retail pharmacies will honor the card.

“The NACo prescription discount card will offer significant savings for the uninsured and underinsured residents of our county, and even those fortunate to have prescription coverage may use the card to save money on drugs that are not covered by their health plan,” said county clerk Glenda Poston. “Residents do not have to be Medicare beneficiaries to be eligible for this program.”

There will be no cost to county taxpayers for the program.

Residents may obtain these cards at the Senior Hospitality Center, Community Action Partnership/Food Bank, Boundary Community Hospital, Boundary Regional Community Health Center/Kaniksu Health Services, Bonners Ferry Family Medicine, offices of Dr. Ernie Lucero and Dr. Chuck Newhouse, Boundary County Extension Office, Boundary County Courthouse and Panhandle Health District.

Residents can call toll free 1-877-321-2652 or visit www.caremark.com/naco for assistance.

 “Using the NACo prescription discount card is easy,” Poston said. “A cardholder will simply present it at a participating pharmacy. There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on frequency of use.”

“Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance,” she added.

The discount card program is administered by CVS Caremark.