UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, announced a new program that will enable enrollees in the company's market-leading Medicare plans to save money on hundreds of prescription medications in 2011. This new program applies to the company's Medicare Part D members in 2011, including most of those who receive their prescription drug benefits in conjunction with a Medicare Advantage plan from UnitedHealthcare, such as AARP® MedicareComplete.
“Pharmacy Saver is another example of our promise to provide our members with affordable prescription drugs. The new program combined with the other consumer-friendly features of our Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will help our members get the most value for their money in 2011.”
Through collaboration with The Kroger Co., Safeway Inc. and Prescription Solutions, UnitedHealthcare has created Pharmacy Saver, a unique program that reduces members' out-of-pocket costs on prescriptions purchased at pharmacies participating in the program to prices even lower than their co-payments, sometimes as low as $2 for a 30- or even 90-day supply. Pharmacy Saver applies to hundreds of prescription drugs, including eight of the top 10 generic drugs most commonly used by UnitedHealthcare's Medicare plan members.
"Economic pressures are putting a strain on many people's budgets, including many seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries living on fixed incomes," said Tom Paul, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. "Pharmacy Saver is another example of our promise to provide our members with affordable prescription drugs. The new program combined with the other consumer-friendly features of our Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will help our members get the most value for their money in 2011."
How Pharmacy Saver Works
Since launching its Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2006, UnitedHealthcare has delivered on its Savings Promise to members - a commitment that they will get the lowest available price on their medications. That lowest price could be their co-pay, or the pharmacy's retail price, or a specially negotiated rate - whichever is the best deal for the member. Pharmacy Saver is the latest evolution of the Savings Promise.
Members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare's Medicare plans, including its AARP® MedicareRx prescription drug plans and its AARP® MedicareComplete Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plans, will see their typical out-of-pocket cost for a 30-day supply of select medications decrease to as low as $2 when they purchase their prescriptions from pharmacies participating in the program.
Pharmacy Saver will provide UnitedHealthcare's Medicare plan members valuable cost savings plus the flexibility and convenience of accessing their prescriptions at many of America's most popular pharmacies. Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, members can take advantage of Pharmacy Saver at more than 3,000 pharmacy locations nationwide.
Pharmacies currently participating in the program include:
- The Kroger Co. and its wholly owned affiliates that have in-store pharmacies: Kroger; Ralphs; King Soopers; City Market; Dillons; Smith's; Fry's; QFC; Baker's; Owen's; JayC; Hilander; Gerbes; Pay Less; Scott's; Fred Meyer
- Safeway Inc. and its wholly owned affiliates: Safeway; Vons; Randalls; Genuardi's; Carrs; Dominick's; Pavilions; Tom Thumb
- Prescription Solutions mail order pharmacy, a UnitedHealth Group company
"We believe it's important that our members have the flexibility to access their drugs in the way that's most comfortable and convenient for them," said Paul. "In developing Pharmacy Saver, we worked to ensure that our members could take advantage of the cost savings regardless of whether they prefer to purchase their drugs in a retail pharmacy or through the mail."
UnitedHealthcare will continue to enhance its Savings Promise by working with more pharmacies to bring additional savings to members in 2011.
Pharmacy Saver Strengthens UnitedHealthcare's AARP MedicareRx Preferred Plan
A reduction in premium combined with no plan deductible and additional savings through the Pharmacy Saver program make UnitedHealthcare's AARP® MedicareRx Preferred plan a strong option for Medicare beneficiaries in 2011.
On average, members currently enrolled in the Preferred plan will see a $5 decrease in their monthly plan premium next year. In addition, it will be the only basic Part D plan available nationwide in 2011 without a deductible.
Stability, value and consumer-friendly benefits such as robust drug formularies and access to a network of more than 60,000 pharmacies have made the Preferred plan the nation's largest Part D plan since the Part D program launched in 2006.
New Website Provides Resources and Information
More information about Pharmacy Saver is available at www.UnitedPharmacySaver.com, including lists of prescription drugs that are available at a reduced cost at each of the pharmacies participating in the program.
UnitedHealthcare customer service representatives, available at 1-877-488-5587, TTY 711, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week, can also answer questions about Pharmacy Saver.
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