To assist the thousands of uninsured and underinsured Connecticut residents, a statewide association of cities and towns has developed a new free prescription drug discount program, one that Stonington is taking part in it.
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, a consortium of 30 towns and cities across the state, will soon begin providing discount cards that will allow those without proper insurance to save money on prescription medicines.
The program is only available to CCM members, including Stonington.
The card titled the “Town of Stonington Prescription Drug Discount Card," can be used by all town residents. Age, income or existing health coverage are not factors in these cards and there are no enrollment forms or membership fees. The card, however, cannot be used with co-payments or deductibles.
"With the cost of prescriptions now this is an additional way to alleviate some of the costs of health insurance," First Selectman Ed Haberek said.
There are more than 360,000 people—or 10 percent of Connecticut—who are currently uninsured, and another 800,000 underinsured, CCM member city Middletown said in a press release.
The new card will provide “immediate fiscal relief” at the pharmacy counter for the uninsured and under insured and will offer the following features and benefits:
- Anyone can participate regardless of age or income
- All prescription medications are covered including pet prescriptions that can be filled at a pharmacy
- There is no cost to the municipality or to participating residents
- Cost savings average 45 percent
- There are over 63,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, including CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Walmart, Stop & Shop and Big Y as well as independent pharmacies.
- Discounts are also offered on other medical services including vision, hearing and Lasik services.
Cards will be avaliable from the Stonington Human Services Department, and will soon be able to be printed by visiting www.CTRxDiscountCard.com and selecting “Stonington” from the drop-down menu.
