Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's Drug Discount Card Similar To Program President Bush Proposes
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has been offering seniors discounts on prescription drugs for many years through the insurer's SecurityBlue program. Highmark expanded its program in March, 2000 to provide even more seniors the opportunity to use a discount drug card to help offset the soaring costs of medicines. Last year's expansion enabled members in Highmark's Security 65, and also its Special Care plan, to take advantage of discounts when they purchase prescription drugs.
The amount of the discount varies depending on the specific medication. The discounts are available at pharmacies in Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's Premier network, which has 55,000 pharmacies, including all major chain stores and most independent drug stores in Pennsylvania. The network also includes national chain pharmacies and independent pharmacies in the remaining 49 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, the discounts are available through Highmark's mail order prescription drug service.
To receive the discount at a pharmacy, a member simply shows his or her Security 65 or Special Care identification card to a participating pharmacist when a prescription is filled. The card has a Premier Pharmacy network logo on it to alert the pharmacist to provide the discount. Members do not have to fill out any forms at the pharmacy counter or file any claims with Highmark.
"The president's proposal draws further attention to the need for financial relief for many of our older Americans who are struggling with the soaring costs of prescription drugs," said Helene Weinraub, vice president of senior products at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. "Highmark encourages others in the industry to address these challenges through private programs that will deliver immediate benefits to the elderly. We also believe that it is critically important that President Bush and Congress preserve choice for senior citizens through adequate funding of drug programs and health insurance options available under the Medicare+Choice program. This allows older adults to select the health coverage options that best meet their needs."
Security 65 is Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's Medicare supplement program, also known as Medigap. It is designed for people who are enrolled in both Part A and Part B of Medicare, the federal government's medical program for the elderly and disabled. There are 75,000 Security 65 members in Western Pennsylvania who do not have prescription drug benefits.
Special Care is a low-cost program that Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield offers to Western Pennsylvania families and individuals who earn too much to qualify for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and who do not have access to group health insurance. Approximately 29,000 Western Pennsylvanians are enrolled in Special Care, which does not include a prescription drug benefit, meaning members are responsible for the full price of their prescriptions. Individuals and families whose incomes qualify them for programs like Special Care are among those least likely to afford today's prescription drug costs.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves 3 million members in the 29 counties of Western Pennsylvania. In the remainder of the state, the company operates as Pennsylvania Blue Shield, working with Blue Cross plans located in the Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre areas. Nationally, as Highmark Inc., the company serves 23 million members through health, dental, vision and life and casualty products. For more information, please visit www.highmark.com.
SOURCE Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield