Income Seniors On More Than 150 Medicines Created by an alliance of seven pharmaceutical companies, the free, easy-to-use card makesit convenient for Medicare enrollees to get the medicines they need (NAPSA)—For millions of Medicare-enrolled seniors who don’t have prescription drug coverage, help is on the way. Seven major research-based pharmaceutical companies have joined forces to offer eligible Medicare enrollees an easy way to save money on the prescription medications they need to help them maintain active and independentlifestyles. The Together Rx” Prescription Savings Program, available now at no cost to qualified patients, offers one-card access to savings on more than 150 medicines. “This is a valuable program— the best yet in its convenience and breadth of medicines,” said James Firman, President and CEO of the National Council on the Aging. The Together Rx Card is available to seniors who meet the followingcriteria: Enrolled in Medicare * Do not have public or private prescription drug coverage (approx- imately 8 to 11 million Medicare enrollees) * Earn a maximum of $28,000 annually, or $38,000 for couples (Alaska: $35,000 annually for singles, $48,000 for couples; Hawaii: $33,000 annually for singles and $44,000 for couples. For households of three or more, call 1-800-865-7211 for eligibility information.) Eligible seniors who use the Together R ee 00000 0000 MEMBER NAME GD Together Rx Card can expect savings of approximately 20 to 40 percent, and in many cases, substantially more off the price they usually pay for prescription medications at the pharmacy. (The range of savings reflects the mix of savings programs presently offered by each company and is subject to change. Each companysets its own level of savings independently, with a minimum savingsof 15 percentoff its list price to wholesalers. Actual consumer savings may vary depending on the pharmacy’s customary pricing for the specific medicine and each company’s savings program requirements, including any minimum quantity requirements. Each com- pany independently determines which products are included in the savings program. Products covered are subject to change.) In addition, individuals of more limited income who may qualify for the separate patient assistance programs provided by the companies participating in Together Rx (or foundations supported by those companies) will be notified that they may be eligible for further savings—and in some cases free medicines. The Together Rx Program’s founding members are: Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis. Together, they offer savings on more than 150 prescription medicines, including medicines used to treat diabetes, hypertension, GERD, high cholesterol, cancer, allergy asthma, arthritis, and depression, which are among the most commonconditions affecting older Americans. Until the government enacts and implements a prescription drug benefit under Medicare, the companies involved in Together Rx believe that the program provides a significant benefit to lower income Medicare enrollees who do not have prescription drug coverage. Pharmacies across the country, including Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Target, Albertson’s, Eckerd, CVS, Costco, Kroger, and Safeway, have shown strong support for the Together Rx Program. For more informa- tion on enrolling in Together Rx, call 1-800-865-7211 or log on to http://www.together-rx.com/ or for a Spanish version, http:// www.together-rx.com/espanol/.
