The Golden Buckeye card is no longer only for retail discounts; prescriptions for drugs now also are included as an advantage to people at least 60 years old.
More than two million cards will be mailed to Ohio senior citizens by Dec. 1. Ninety percent of all seniors will receive the new Golden Buckeye card automatically from motor vehicle and voter registration records, said Gary Panek, Golden Buckeye card program director.
The added benefit of discounted prescriptions should appeal to senior citizens without health insurance, said Panek. While all senior citizens will be able to receive the card, only those without health insurance will be able to use it to receive discounted drugs.
Currently, 380,000 seniors in Ohio are without health insurance and have to pay high rates for prescription drugs. At Gov. Bob Taft's request, the card will allow the elderly to purchase their medications at a reduced cost. The average savings so far has been $10 on generic brands and $12.50 on brand-name drugs, Panek said.
Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, said he thinks the plan will be helpful to senior citizens and the disabled.
The cost of prescription drugs in recent years has gotten very high and difficult for seniors to manage because of fixed incomes
Stewart said.
Golden Buckeye card program officials were able to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to give drug stores a lower cost, which gives consumers a lower cost. In addition, some manufacturers offer rebates with their products that allow seniors to save, Panek said.
Ninety-two percent of drug companies in Ohio accept the card. In addition, every chain drug store in Ohio except Wal-Mart is participating, as well as numerous independent pharmacies, Panek said.
Seniors started receiving cards two weeks ago. In Athens, pharmacies have not seen much of a change, including the chain pharmacy CVS, 1008 W. State St., said store manager Al Norris.
It has only been in the last two weeks that our store started carrying the cards Norris said. It hasn't brought much of a change in business but that could change when more seniors receive the cards.
McArthur resident, Shirley Murdoch, is a cardholder but does not use it for prescriptions.
I have an insurance plan that gives me a good rate on all prescriptions. I do occasionally use the card for other things
if I remember that I have the card and if the store accepts it
Murdoch said.
Another prescription drug plan is in the works. A coalition of the AFL-CIO and AARP unions created a plan that would extend discounted rates to more than only senior citizens and the disabled. The state is looking into a combination of the Golden Buckeye card and the unions' plan to create a further-reaching benefit program, Stewart said.
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