Being uninsured (health) at any age is frightening. Being uninsured at my age (over 50) is like walking a tightrope every day. You never know when you might fall off, land wrong and be hurt…with no way to get help without bankrupting yourself. A Harvard study* published in 2005 determined that 46.2 percent of bankruptcies were attributable to a major medical reason…and a large percentage of those had health insurance. That is exactly where I found myself in 2010, after almost dying from pneumonia and losing my income in 2008!!!
Luckily for me I am fairly healthy. However, there are a few prescription medications I should be taking on a regular basis…that I have not been able to afford since 2009. That is why learning about Walgreens Prescription Savings Club { #rxsavingsclub } will be a God-Send for me and, hopefully all those who read this who find themselves uninsured or underinsured today!
Walgreens Prescription Savings Club
According to the Walgreens’ website, “The Prescription Savings Club is a discounted prescription buying program for individuals who have no prescription drug coverage, or insufficient drug coverage. Members are entitled to discounts on cash prices for select medications included in the Prescription Savings Club Formulary, seasonal flu vaccinations and nebulizer devices and related supplies. The Formulary offers select medications in all classes of drugs currently available on the market.”
Signing Up at My Local Walgreens
I could have signed up online but I had a few questions for my Pharmacist. Mary, the Pharmacy Manager, was there to help answer all my questions. She explained the program to me–how it worked and how it can save me on other items throughout the year. She also told me that I would be reminded via e-mail to re-enroll next year.
The membership fee is $20 for individuals and $35 for families. If you receive Medicare, Medicaid or benefits from other federal or state health care programs you are ineligible for membership. You are asked by the Pharmacist when you apply if you receive any of these. You must agree and sign a waiver stating that you do not have these coverages.
Since I have shopped at Walgreens for many years, my info was already in the system. I just had to change my street address since I moved earlier this year. She took my e-mail address and said I could complete the process there. I will be mailed my card withing two weeks. I paid her and she gave me a temporary card to use until the permanent card arrives. Easy Peasy!!! See my entire path to enrollment here.
I especially love the Club Benefits:
Finishing the Sign Up Online
Once I returned home, I checked my e-mail and found the confirmation e-mail in my spam folder. Once I opened it, I was taken through a quick and easy 3-, well actually 4-step process.
Sign in:
Verify Name and Address, choose password:
Answer security questions:
Success…Complete:
That was it. It honestly took less than 3 minutes. The hardest part was deciding which security question to answer. LOL I was fully registered ASAP!
Mary also showed me a list of savings members receive with the Prescription Savings Club. It was pretty substantial. I was going to get a Shingles immunization (I already had the pneumonia one) but you need a prescription from a doctor!! Now if I could just afford to see a doctor to write my prescriptions!!! Someday soon, I hope!!
If you are uninsured or underinsured, I would check out this program today. It just might be the best $20 you spend this year!!!
Find Walgreens on the web:
Website: http://www.walgreens.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/walgreens
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/walgreens
http://www.walgreens.com/pharmacy/psc/psc_overview_page.jsp
* from Fact Check – http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/health-care-bill-bankruptcies/
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It’s such a great program! I have pretty good insurance and I’m still saving almost $100 a year!
Great post Rebeccca!
We love Walgreens and their prescription club is such a life saver for our large family. We too are uninsured.
Interesting stats about bankruptcy and medical bills. I am not one bit surprised.
I am glad you found this program. I hope that you don’t have to use it much for prescriptions, but I’m glad that you have it now as a bit of a safety net for that tight rope!