Local United Way Gives Prescription Discount Cards

WINCHESTER, VA- Medical bills can be a burden on your wallet, but so can the prescription costs that follow. The United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley is working to ease that burden with prescription drug discount cards.

"What we find is that when people take the drugs that they need they reduce the chance that they end up in the emergency room or with additional health problems," says Joe Shtulman, President of the United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley,

The United Way is partnering with Family Wize discount program to reduce the cost of prescriptions. It's a card that anyone can use and requires no enrollment.

The United Way says people can save up to 75 percent on medications using the card at most pharmacies. They say the card is free and the discounts are instant.

"Anyone can use it. Even people who have health insurance programs with co-pays," Shtulman says. "Some of their prescription drugs aren't covered or this may help them cover additional costs on those prescriptions."

Although the card is accepted at all major chain pharmacies and some independent pharmacies. Some local independent drug stores don't recommend it. They say their prices are lower than big-name stores and their customers benefit more without the card.

Either way, local non-profits say their clients are grateful.

"Sometimes people have to choose between medicines or groceries. Medicine or doing for the children, things that they need," says Mary Hildreth, the Executive Director of the Concern Hotline. "This prescription card is going to give them the opportunity to be able to do both."

The current cards are good until 2020 and can be picked up at the United Way office at 329 N. Cameron Street or the Family Wize website at www.familywize.org.