County’s free prescription drug discount card can now be printed by residents

Koochiching County residents have saved more than $30,000 in two years of a countywide prescription drug card program.

The free prescription drug discount cards are made available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties.

County residents have saved a total of $31,984 in the two years the card has been available, according to county officials. Without the card, Koochiching County residents would have paid an additional $134,366 for drugs in the two years the program has been available.

In 3,054 attempts to use the card at local participating pharmacies, the discount card gave customers the better price versus the pharmacy price, note county officials. Local pharmacies had a lower price than the card 352 times in two years, according to a county report.

Koochiching County launched the program two years ago to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The card offers an average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.

The card should be presented to the pharmacist, who will charge the lower of the costs between the discounted price or the pharmacy’s regular retail price. There are no claim forms to fill out and no limit to the number of times the card can be used. Just one card is needed per family. The card may be used for pet prescriptions.

Some residents who have health insurance may not think the card is available to them. Not so, says county officials. Residents with insurance may also use the prescription drug discount card.

People with Medicare may also use the card any time they purchase a prescription that is not covered by their Medicare plan or other insurance.

There is no cost to county taxpayers to make the cards available to the residents.

The cards may be used by all county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage, and are accepted at Kmart, City Drug, Rainy Lake Medical Center hospital campus and clinic.

A national network of more than 59,000 participating retail pharmacies also honors the Koochiching County free prescription discount drug card.

A new online feature allows county residents to print a card directly from the Web. Residents should visit www.caremark.com/naco and select “print a card”. Use the map tool to enter the zip code or select the relevant state and county. Select “next” and the ID card is generated for printing.

Cards are available at the Koochiching County Courthouse, 715 Fourth St., or call 283-1107; at Koochiching Community Services, 1000 Fifth St., and at Kootasca, 2232 Second Ave. E. County residents can call toll free 1-877-321-2652 or visit www.caremark.com/naco for assistance with the program.