October 25, 2007

WEITZMAN: NASSAU-RX CARD HAS SAVED RESIDENTS
$8 MILLION TO DATE; PROGRAM EXTENDED FOR TWO YEARS

Seniors Using Card to Help Fill Medicare “Doughnut Hole”

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman announced today that the NassauRx prescription drug discount card program, which has saved Nassau residents more than $8 million dollars since it began three years ago, will be extended another two years. 

Weitzman announced the plans to extend the program at a press conference in Farmingdale, joined by County Legislator David Mejias.

“My office created the free NassauRx card three years ago to save money for any Nassau County resident who lacks adequate insurance for prescription drugs,” Weitzman said.  “The NassauRx card provides a great discount, averaging 24 percent, for those who do not have drug insurance – and the program costs county taxpayers nothing.”  

“The discount achieved with Nassau County’s Rx card can make the difference between a person being able to afford their prescribed medication or not,” said Legislator Dave Mejias (D-North Massapequa). “Nassau County residents, especially our senior citizens, deserve a healthy, affordable quality of life and I am proud and pleased that we are able to offer this cost-saving card.”

“The extension guarantees that Nassau residents will continue to be able to use the NassauRx card to receive these substantial discounts.  I am happy to announce the extension at this CVS branch, since more NassauRx prescriptions are filled at CVS drugstores than anywhere else,” Weitzman said.

A large number of the NassauRx card users are senior citizens who find themselves caught in the Medicare Part D coverage gap or ‘doughnut hole.’  Approximately 40 percent of card users are over 65 years old, according to the latest numbers received from Caremark, the program administrator.

“In 2007, more than 5,500 seniors saved over $700,000 by using the NassauRx card.  We believe that many of them use our card to reduce the impact of the ‘doughnut hole’ period when they are required to pay full price for their medications,” Comptroller Weitzman said.  “It is extremely important that seniors continue taking their prescribed medication even when their insurance plan hits this coverage gap, and NassauRx is helping them to do just that,” Weitzman said.

When total drug costs of seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D exceed $2,400 per year, they hit the coverage gap, commonly referred to as the “doughnut hole.”  They then have to pay 100 percent of drug costs until their out-of-pocket costs reach $3,850. 

“While insurance programs such as the Medicare Part D program are always preferable to any discount program, many program participants have complained about the ‘doughnut hole.’  For those people having a hard time paying the full price on their prescription drug purchases during the no-coverage period, and for persons of any age who need prescription drugs not covered by insurance, using the NassauRx card can save substantial sums.

"The NassauRx program is the largest one of its kind in the nation," Comptroller Weitzman said. "The governments of New York City and Los Angeles have contacted my office to see how they could implement programs similar to NassauRx.  Many other counties in New York State and around the country have already adopted their own versions of the program.”

The NassauRx card is available to all Nassau residents, regardless of age, income, or insured status.  With the card, county residents can save an average of 24 percent on almost all prescription medications, and up to 50 percent on generic drugs, at more than 90 percent of Nassau pharmacies.  The card is free and requires no enrollment forms or fees.  Program forms are processed by the pharmacist.

Another plan available to some seniors during the “doughnut hole” period is the state’s EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) Program.  Although EPIC is of great assistance to those who qualify, the program has income restrictions and fees.  For more information about EPIC and other plans that may be helpful to seniors, seniors should visit the Department of Health Web site at www.health.state.ny.us.