How it Works
Immediate Savings. The FamilyWize Prescription Drug Discount Card enables you to receive discounted
pricing on prescription drugs. It can offer immediate savings on prescription drugs
at participating pharmacies for people that have no health insurance, during deductible
periods and for prescription medicine not covered by health insurance, Medicare
and other benefit plans. This is not insurance, nor is it intended to replace insurance.
Show Your Card Every Time. Simply present your FamilyWize card with each prescription from your doctor to the
participating pharmacy at the time of purchase to receive your discounts. If you
need to transfer a prescription, bring your empty prescription bottle or label with
you to the pharmacy. In some instances, the pharmacist may store your card information in their computer. However, to be
certain you receive the maximum benefit, you need to show your card each time you
have your prescriptions filled.
Save an average of up to 30% or more off the pharmacy's usual and customary retail
price of prescription drugs, with the highest savings on generic drugs.
Your cost will be the discount price with the FamilyWize card or the pharmacy's
usual and customary retail price, whichever is lower. This means you are assured
the lowest price in that store, at the time you purchase the prescription medicine.
If the pharmacy's price is lower, there is no savings or discount and the FamilyWize
card cannot lower the copay for medicine covered by insurance.
You are responsible for the entire payment of the prescription drugs purchased after any discounts are applied, plus any dispensing fee.
Tips to Save More
Select the lowest-cost alternative. Many brand-name prescription medications have a generic equivalent. On average, generics cost 20-70% less and may produce the same results as comparable brand-name drugs. Generic drugs
are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness,
and are manufactured under the same strict rules that apply to their brand-name
twin. So ask your physician and pharmacist if there is a generic drug that will
save you money. If no generic equivalent is available, there may still be a lower-cost
alternative within the same class of drugs that performs the functions your care
requires. Once again, consult with your physician on these money-saving alternatives.
Obtain a larger supply. In most instances, your cost per dosage will decrease as the amount you have dispensed
at one time increases. If you will be taking a medication for an extended period
of time, ask your physician if it would be appropriate to prescribe a 90-day supply
rather than a 30-day supply.
Consult with your physician about alternative therapies. Before you begin a new prescription medication, talk with your doctor about non-prescription
modifications to your lifestyle, diet or exercise. These changes may postpone, reduce
or avoid the need for the cost of and taking a new medication.
How to Make Inquiries
Information Needed: You may contact us any time, toll-free, at 866-810-3784 for all inquiries, including, if for any reason, you become dissatisfied with the level of service provided by FamilyWize. When contacting us with an inquiry please include the following: your name, your address, your phone number, the details of your inquiry or concern, a description of the efforts that you have made to resolve the matter, all responses that anyone else has made in response to this inquiry, and how would you like to see that matter resolved.
FamilyWize Address: If you prefer to contact us in writing, please address your inquiry to: FamilyWize Community Services Partnership, Inc., PO Box 1980, Bethlehem, PA 18016. If your inquiry is in writing, we will provide you with a written response to your inquiry within fifteen days of receiving your inquiry.
More Tips
Talk with your physician
Make sure that your physician knows that saving money is important to you. Ask that
they prescribe a generic equivalent or lower-cost alternative if at all appropriate.
Also, make sure that they know about any other drugs you are taking that may alter
the effectiveness of the medication they are prescribing. Finally, make sure that
you understand the drug therapy they prescribe so that you obtain the most value
from the drugs that you are about to invest in. The following "Message to Physicians"
contains information that should assist you in talking with your doctor about saving
money.
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MESSAGE TO PHYSICIANS
This plan is designed to save your patient money and promote good health. Use of
alternative medications recommended at the point-of-sale is not required. This plan
will only reject a prescription on the basis of a medication-to-medication interaction.
Please make sure your patient discloses all the medications they are taking and
understands their medication therapy, including possible drug and food interactions.
This plan has no maximum day or quantity limits. This allows the patient to obtain
larger quantities of maintenance medications that may result in greater cost savings.
When appropriate, please prescribe a generic medication therapy, or consider dispensing
the lowest-cost alternative within the therapeutic class. Please also consider recommending
pill splitting of a higher dosage and/or alternative medication when appropriate.
This may offer the consumer greater savings.
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Shop only at preferred pharmacies
All chain pharmacies and most independent pharmacies have been given equal opportunity
to serve you via this program. Participating pharmacies are required to offer you
deep discounts and assist in performing some fairly complicated drug management
procedures for card holders, and not all pharmacies agree to participate. However,
that gives you the confidence of knowing that pharmacies participating in this program
are concerned with your health and saving you money, and therefore, are deserving
of your business and loyalty.
Understand your drug therapy
You invest a lot of money in medications. In order to get the most value for your
dollar, you need to understand how to use your prescription drugs effectively. Make
sure your physician and pharmacist explain how and when to take each prescription
medication. Some factors to consider when trying to get the most from your medication
are the effects of:
- Food and water being taken with your medication.
- The time of day you take your medication.
- Effects of other medications, including over-the-counter drugs, on your prescription.
Review your other medications
Disclose all the medications that you are taking to your physician and pharmacist
before they prescribe or dispense a new medication. Some medications may intensify
or reduce the effectiveness of another, or may even possibly duplicate the effects
of another drug you are taking.
Store your medications properly
Most medications will lose their effectiveness when they are subject to heat, moisture,
light, or time. A steamy bathroom or a purse left in a hot car are examples of bad
places to keep medicine. Store your medications in a cool, dark place. Remember
to carry your daily or weekly medications in a pillbox to avoid damaging your entire
supply of medication. Also, use local medication disposal days or permanent medication
disposal sites in your community. If your community does not have a disposal site,
federal guideline suggest mixing the medication with kitty litter or used coffee
grounds and sealing them up to be disposed of in the garbage.
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