Drug discount card programs lower the cost of prescription medication by up to 80%. The discounts vary from drug to drug and pharmacy to pharmacy.

It depends on the program. Most have none, although some may have eligibility requirements based on income, insurance, age or residency requirements.

Some programs do have a fee, but most do not

Some programs do require you to provide personal information to enroll, but others don’t.

The drug discount card can be used immediately.

Simply present the card to the pharmacist, along with your prescription, at any of the participating pharmacies.

Many cards have a number on their back with instructions if the pharmacist has questions.

A drug discount card program is not an insurance plan, but provides patients with discounted rates on prescriptions. When a card is presented with a valid prescription to a pharmacist, a 0-80% discount may be provided.

Unfortunately, a drug discount card cannot be used in combination with any insurance, so it cannot be used to lower a copayment. However, you may ask the pharmacist to process the discount card through the pharmacy’s system, as well as your insurance card, then choose whichever offers the best savings. The discount card may provide better discounts than many insurance plans.

Patients who have Medicare, including Part D, Medicaid or any state or federal prescription insurance can only use a drug discount card if they choose not to use their government-sponsored drug plan for their purchase. The card is not valid if used in combination with those programs. However, the card may be used in place of your insurance and especially if you fall under one of the following categories:

Your insurance has no drug coverage
There is a high deductible
There is a high copay and the drug discount card offers a better price
There is a low medicine cap that has been met
You are in the Medicare Part D “donut hole”

Yes, anyone can use a discount card as long as it is used at a participating pharmacy within the United States and its territories.

Try using a card to receive a discount for any medications you need assistance with. The prices tend to differ from month to month and also from pharmacy to pharmacy. The best way to get an accurate amount of the discount is to take your prescription and the drug discount card to your local participating pharmacy, and have the pharmacist process the card through the pharmacy’s system.

Yes, if the over-the-counter medication or medical supplies are written on a valid prescription, they will be eligible for a discount using the drug discount card.

That depends on the program and the pharmacy. If the medication is eligible for a discount at a participating pharmacy, the veterinarian must write a prescription.

Yes, most cards are universal, which means that anyone can use it, as long as they have a valid prescription.

No, a drug discount card cannot be used with mail-order pharmacies.