United Way Helps Cut Cost of Medicine for Area Residents
The FamilyWize program continues to save money for local Callaway County residents. Cathi Miller Harris, President of Callaway County United Way said, “April marks the second anniversary for the Callaway County United Way’s involvement with the FamilyWize program. In those two short years Callawegians have saved $25,550.34 using the free prescription drug discount cards. The FamilyWize card reduces the cost of medicine by an average of 30% or more. Anyone who does not have health insurance or prescription drug coverage can take advantage of the benefits offered by this program.”
The rising cost of gas, food, and clothing is making it even more difficult for area residents to pay for comprehensive health plans. While this card doesn’t solve this difficult problem, it does offer some immediate relief.
Cards can be used immediately - just present the card and any county pharmacy (all pharmacies in Callaway County have graciously agreed to participate in the program) to automatically receive a discount. It’s that easy. There are no applications, fees, waiting period, or age or income requirements. A person can save 8 out of 10 times when they purchase medicine not covered by insurance. Even prescription pet medications purchased at a pharmacy are included.
"This program can touch so many people in our community," said Kathy Richey Liddle, Executive Director of the Callaway County United Way." Many people skip buying their medication or reduce the dosage needed because they simply can’t afford it. The FamilyWize program will make prescription purchase more affordable. Simply make photocopies of the card included in this article for immediate use. People with Internet access can print a card by visiting our website at http://www.callawayunitedway.com/Family_Wize.htm. FamilyWize discount cards can also be obtained by calling the United Way office at 573-642-0536.”
"FamilyWize cards that the United Ways distribute will save people more than $50 million over the next 12 months on the cost of their medicine," said Dan Barnes, Co-Chair of the FamilyWize Partnership. “We hope everyone in the community will take the time to thank their pharmacist, the Callaway County United Way, and everyone else involved for the difference they are making in the lives of so many people in the community. The participating pharmacies have voluntarily agreed to accept FamilyWize cards and provide these savings to people in need. All of our partners are making a real difference, right now, today, in the cost of healthcare and we’re proud to have such reputable and hard working allies in our efforts.”
The FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards are being distributed free of charge by the Callaway County United Way, the FamilyWize Partnership, and over 900 other United Way agencies and Alliance Partners in America’s Promise in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The savings on the cost of medicine is provided voluntarily by the participating pharmacies in our community. Printing for ten million prescription cards was donated by Brown Printing, Independent Graphics and Rob-Win Press of Greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Part of the paper is donated by Sappi Fine Paper. Shipping is donated by Fedex Express.
Additional information about this program is available from the Callaway County United Way and online at http://www.callawayunitedway.com/Family_Wize.htm.
ABOUT THE CALLAWAY COUNTY UNITED WAY: The mission of the Callaway County United Way is to improve, consistently and measurably, the quality of life for all the people of Callaway County by raising and distributing funds, mobilizing community resources, and encouraging innovative solutions to the community's health and human service needs. Every year your United Way donations fund services that help real people in real need. The Callaway County United Way funds 13 local agencies that provide over 200 programs and services. Together we are working to improve education, income and health in Callaway County. In addition to funding agencies, the Callaway County United Way also sponsors 5 community impact initiatives: 2-1-1, Born Learning, Women 2 Women Program, FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards and our recycling programs.
ABOUT THE FAMILYWIZE PARTNERSHIP
In the spring of 2005, Dan and Susan Barnes decided to give a supply of free prescription drug discount cards to the Family Centers in the local schools in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They had heard of families who were having difficulty buying the medicine they needed because of the high cost and they wanted to do what they could to reduce the cost of prescriptions for families in the Greater Lehigh Valley. The Family Centers involved the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, who asked 25 of its partner agencies to help distribute the cards to individuals and families in need throughout the area. Almost immediately, Dan and Susan received requests to provide this free assistance to other communities. As a result, they established the FamilyWize Community Service Partnership in the fall of 2005.
They invited a group of local and national companies to join together to provide this free assistance to people in need across the county. Now, more than twenty-five thousand community and faith-based organizations, county and municipal agencies, doctors, pharmacies, public and private companies, and individuals across the country have joined together to reduce the cost of medicine for people in one out of every three counties in the United States. More than 900 participating United Way agencies and America’s Promise Alliance Partners in all 50 states have volunteered to coordinate the local distribution of the free FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards. One of the most common questions is how the cards can be distributed for free. The answer is that the savings on the cost of the medicine is provided voluntarily by the more than 55,000 participating local pharmacies, that have agreed to accept prices for medications that are closer to the discount larger insurance companies receive. FedEx Express provides the shipping. Brown Printing, Independent Graphics and Rob-Win Press, located in the greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, provide the printing. Sappi Fine Paper provides part of the paper and the Pharmacy Benefit Manager provides a portion of the processing fee. For more information, visit www.FamilyWize.org.