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Prescription Savings Card Program
Questions and Answers from
the
United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries
The United Methodist Association of
Health and Welfare Ministries has announced that United Methodists
can obtain a free prescription savings card through a partnership
with DestinationRx, a prescription benefit management company
based in Los Angeles. The program was developed after a two-year
study by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.
The savings card is not an insurance product.
Here are some questions and answers
regarding the program.
Q: What is being offered?
A: The program
offers a savings card that allows users to purchase prescriptions
and other health care supplies at discounted prices.
Most
prescription medications are covered in the DestinationRx
Prescription Program through its network of participating
pharmacies. In addition, DestinationRx provides prescription
savings through a toll-free telephone number for maintenance
medications and savings through its Web site on traditional drugs,
including pet medications, vitamins/minerals, over-the-counter
medications and vision care.
Q: Who is offering it?
A:
DestinationRx and the United Methodist Association of Health and
Welfare Ministries are making the program available.
Q: Who is
eligible for the benefits? Does one have to be a member of The
United Methodist Church?
A: Any member
of The United Methodist Church may obtain the card at no
membership cost.
Q: Can the card be used with traditional
prescription coverage?
A: The
DestinationRx program cannot be used in conjunction with a
traditional prescription program. However, the DestinationRx
program provides savings to the member for non-covered items that
may not be part of a traditional prescription program, such as
birth control, smoking cessation, cosmetic and fertility products,
and anti-obesity medications. In addition, the DestinationRx
program can be used by individuals who have deductibles, maximums
and major medical programs.
Q: Does the local church have to do anything in
order for a member to enroll?
A: All the
administration will be performed by DestinationRx.
Q: How do you obtain the card?
A: Cards may
be ordered by calling DestinationRx at (800) 379-9040. Indicate
that you received the invitation to apply for the card from the
United Methodist Association and give the Group Number: UMA999.
DestinationRx also has a Web site, but United Methodists need to
obtain a permanent membership ID and prescription card prior to
proceeding to the Web site.
Q: When will the card be delivered?
A: The card
will be delivered within seven to 10 business days.
Q: Does each member of the household need an
individual card?
A: One
DestinationRx Savings ID card is good for all family members
residing at the same address with the same last name.
Q: How does DestinationRx determine whether someone
who calls for the card is a United Methodist?
A: The member
contacting DestinationRx should mention that they are part of the
United Methodist family. At the direction of the United Methodist
Association, DestinationRx is not performing any verification of
church membership.
Q: Where can I obtain more information online?
A: More
information is available by going to http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=3647
on The United Methodist Church's Web site. DestinationRx is also
developing a site for United Methodist participants; details will
be available soon.
Q: How many pharmacies are participating? What are
some of the better-known stores?
A: More than
25,000 pharmacies across the United States are participating,
including those at Eckerd's, Kmart and Target stores.
Q: What kind of discounts does the card provide?
A: Savings vary
based upon where one obtains medication. However, savings can
range up to 25 percent on brand medications and up to 50 percent
on generic drugs. Those savings are based on typical pharmacy
prices at a retail drugstore
Q: What range of products does the card cover?
A: The
DestinationRx card covers most prescription drugs. In addition, on
the DestinationRx Web site, the card covers items such as pet
prescriptions, contact lenses, over-the-counter medications and
vitamins/minerals.
Q: Does it cost the cardholder anything?
A: There is no
membership cost to United Methodist members.
Q: How much is this plan costing The United
Methodist Church?
A: There is no
cost to The United Methodist Church or the United Methodist
Association.
Q: How was this program developed? What roles did
the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries and the
United Methodist Association play?
A: Both the
General Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist
Association have been researching ways to help reduce the
financial burden of drug prescriptions for United Methodist
members throughout the United States.
Q: What is
the United Methodist Association?
A: The United
Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries Inc., based
in Dayton, Ohio, is a network of about 400 health and human
services organizations. It was founded in 1940 as the Board of
Hospitals and Homes of the Methodist Church. The organization is
now an independent, not-for-profit corporation, and is identified
as a "covenanting body" by the denomination's General Conference.
That status is noted in the church's 2000 Book of Discipline.
Q: What is the United Methodist General Board of
Global Ministries?
A: The Board of
Global Ministries, with offices in New York, is the missions
agency of The United Methodist Church. The board's health and
relief unit worked on arranging the drug-benefit card program for
United Methodists following a two-year study.
Q: What is DestinationRx? Who founded it and how
long has it been in business? What kind of record does it have?
A:
DestinationRx is a privately owned company based in Los Angeles.
It was founded in 1999 as a Web-based aggregator of prescription
medications. "They have an outstanding record," said Jane Ehrman,
health consultant for the Board of Global Ministries. During the
two-year study, she looked at other providers in the industry and
talked to clients of DestinationRx, and determined that the
company had a high level of integrity, communications and service.
Q: Why would
DestinationRx offer this free service to the United Methodists?
A: The
DestinationRx Savings Program is funded through its contractual
relationships with participating pharmacies and drug
manufacturers.
Q: How much would DestinationRx usually charge for
such a card?
A:
DestinationRx has charged $9.95 for this same benefit as a
one-time fee. Similar programs without the added benefits of
Web-based savings have charged anywhere from $90 to $120 a year.
Q: Is the
church offering these benefits or is DestinationRx?
A:
DestinationRx is providing the benefit, not The United Methodist
Church.
Q: Are the United Methodist General Board of
Pension and Health Benefits and the General Council on Finance and
Administration involved in the plan?
A: No
Q: Where can I get more information about the
program.
A. Call
DestinationRx at (800) 379-9040. You can also contact the United
Methodist Association in Dayton, Ohio, at (937) 227-9494.
As a service to
inquiring church members, this article was compiled and
distributed by United Methodist Communications with information
provided by DestinationRx and the United Methodist Association of
Health and Welfare Ministries.
NOTE:
This prescription savings card is not connected to The United
Methodist Church's health benefits program.
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