Prescription Discount Card
Your health is our priority.
The Hidalgo County Prescription Discount Card debuts on Nov. 20, 2008.
- Texas has the highest level of uninsured residents at 24%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- The precentage of uninsured Hispanics in Hidalgo County is 33.8% versus 24.5% in Texas and 15.8% in the United States. (Lancet vol. 372, Nov. 14, 2008)
- Other estimates indicate Hidalgo County may have an uninsured rate as high as 47%.
These numbers are scary. Access to healthcare is directly related to the health of our residents and our economy. Without a healthy workforce, we cannot begin to raise the quality of life for South Texans.
But there is a way we can help ...
Hidalgo County, working closely with the Rio Grande Valley Independent Pharmacy Association, introduces a new prescription discount card. At no cost to taxpayers and no cost to you to enroll, the prescription discount card is a solution to the rising costs of medications and the problem of access to health care that the uninsured and underinsured often face.
With the Hidalgo County Prescription Discount Card, users can save an average of 35 percent off the retail price of most prescriptions. Anyone can use the card, even if they have insurance. If the savings from the prescription card is greater than the price with insurance, clients can elect to use the card instead!
YOU CAN USE THE CARD AT ANY PARTICIPATING LOCAL INDEPENDENT PHARMACY!*
Users can pick up the card from a variety of places (see list below) and there is no paperwork to fill out. They do not need to even give a name! If a user loses the card, they can simply pick up another one, and one card can be used for the whole family.
The prescription card is managed by Data Rx, a switching company with 10 years of experience working for independent pharmacists.
*Local independent pharmacies with questions about participation, see below under 'Where can I get a discount card?')
Where can I get a discount card?
You can pick up a prescription discount card at many county offices including the County Judge's Office, precinct offices, administrative offices and county health clinics. In addition, the card is available at the following locations:
Med-Aid Pharmacy (3 locations: Mission, Edinburg, Weslaco)
Saenz Medical Pharmacy ( 7 locations)
Lee's Pharmacy (2 locations in McAllen)
Lindberg Pharmacy
Mission Plaza Pharmacy (3 locations in Mission)
TLC Pharmacy (2 locations in Mission)
Sharyland Pharmacy
Lone Star Pharmacy
Westside Pharmacy
Mid-Valley Pharmacy
Alamo Drugs
Sam Houston Pharmacy
Sara's Pharmacy
Richard's Pharmacy (3 locations in Edinburg, Mercedes, Mission)
Vela's Pharmacy (2 locations in McAllen)
Fred's Pharmacy
Conquest Pharmacy
Weslaco Pharmacy
ICare Pharmacy
This list is where you can get a card. However, the card is accepted at all local participating independent pharmacies. Members of the RGV Independent Pharmacy Association participate automatically. However, if you are an independently-owned pharmacy not on the list and you would like to accept the discount card at your store, please call Data Rx at 877-823-1273. If you are a local pharmacy that would also like to distribute the card, you may call Dr. John Calvillo at (956) 581-5646 for more information.
View the list of participating pharmacies >>This list may not be all inclusive and will be continuously updated. Last update: February 12, 2010
About the RGV Independent Pharmacy Association
In 2005, Medicare Part D was introduced and so were numerous television and print ads promoting chain pharmacy-sponsored plans. In order to compete with the chain phamacies, a small group of independent pharmacy owners decided to meet and discuss what they could do collaboratively to compete.
After the first meeting, the group decided to meet regularly once a week for breakfast to discuss not only Medicare Part D, but also several other issues affected the independent pharmacy owners. Since that first meeting, the gropu has produced several collaborative commercials and print advertisements, hosted continuing education programs for pharmacists and technicians, met with several federal, state and local representatives and even awarded five $1,000 scholarships.
RGV Independent Pharmcy Association was formed as a necessity to stay competitive, but has resulted in helping open the lines of communication between the RGV independent pharmacy owners. With over 140 independent pharmacies in the RGV, this organization not only benefits the pharmacy owners, but also Valley residents.
-Written by the RGV Independent Pharmacy Association
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