FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

If you don’t have health insurance, or you must buy medicine not covered by your insurance plan, a new discount card being distributed by the Callaway County United Way can help lower the cost of your medicine by an average 35%.  The Callaway County United Way provides these cards to our community free-of-charge to everyone who needs one. There are no age restriction, no income restrictions, no limit on how many times you can use it and no waiting to get a card.  In fact, you can cut this one out and use it today.  

"We wanted to make it as easy as possible for people in our community to save on prescription drugs.  Too many people have insufficient or no prescription coverage or need medications not covered by their insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or VA benefits, “said Kathy Richey Liddle, Executive Director of the Callaway County United Way.
 

Healthcare costs are one of the top concerns for people in our community and the FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards will help individuals and families who otherwise could not afford to buy the medicine they need. One out of every five people in the United States has no prescription coverage.

The Callaway County United Way has joined with 550 United Ways in all 50 states in lowering the cost of prescription medication for people who need help with their prescription costs. This partnership is saving over $1 million every month with a goal of saving $100 million over the next 5 years.  More than 4 million cards have been distributed and over $7 million have been saved to date.  There is more information on the program’s website at www.FamilyWize.org , such as a tool to look up drug prices, participating pharmacies and print additional cards for family, friends and co-workers..

The FamilyWize cards are accepted at Red Cross Pharmacy (formally Dunavant’s Drugs), Sault’s Drugs, Wal~Mart, Gerbes Pharmacy and Walgreens which will open soon.  Most pharmacies throughout the United States accept the FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards.

“It’s truly amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together. So many people and organizations have joined with us to make this possible,” said Cathi Miller Harris, board President for the Callaway County United Way.

The participating pharmacies in the community have agreed voluntarily to accept the FamilyWize cards and provide these savings to people in need. Two Pennsylvania printers, Independent Graphics of Pittston, PA and Brown Printing of Bethlehem, PA, have donated the printing for the cards, Fed Ex Express donates the shipping of the cards and the pharmacy benefit manager provides a portion of the processing to cover the administrative costs.  The Callaway County United Way is coordinating the distribution of the cards locally.

“We hope everyone in the community will 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,” said Dan Barnes, Co-Chair, The FamilyWize Community Service Partnership.

Additional information about this program is available by contacting the Callaway County United Way at 573.642.0536, online at www.callawayunitedway.com or at www.FamilyWize.org.  Cards can be obtained at the pharmacy counters at Red Cross Pharmacy (formally-Dunavant’s Drug), Sault’s, Wal~Mart or Gerbes.  You may also contact the Callaway County United Way or print a card from the United Way website:  www.callawayunitedway.com.

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.