Cost saving tips for prescriptions
Part two of two

If your employer does not offer a prescription rider on your health insurance coverage, or if you are self-employed or un-employed, there are a number of New York state programs designed to help afford health and prescription coverage. Child Health Plus, Family Health Plan and Healthy New York are all programs designed to help families afford health coverage if health insurance is beyond their means.

Child Health Plus is a program that provides free or low-cost health insurance coverage for children up to the age of 18 for families that don't qualify for Medicaid. Their toll free number is 1-800-698-4543.

The Family Health Plan provides free health coverage to parents and childless adults from the age of 19 to 64 who meet income eligibility. Their toll-free number is 1-877-934-7587. Healthy New York is a program for three different groups of people - sole proprietors, small employers of 50 or less, and uninsured working people. The Health Care Reform Act of 2000 introduced this program that promotes access to quality health care to citizens who need it most. Call 1-866-432-5849 or visit their website at www.ins.state.ny.us/healthyny.htm.

Mature Rx offers three different plans for people that must pay the full cash price for their prescriptions. It is a program through FFI Health Services, and the cost to join is free. Members can save as much as 65 percent on their prescriptions. Limited medications are covered, but the savings are very beneficial for diabetic patients, as well as females on contraceptives and estrogen replacement drugs. A participating pharmaceutical company subsidizes the savings for the member.

The Femscript program offered through Mature Rx is solely for women. It is for women on oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, allergy and dermatology prescription items. Your prescription must be filled by one of their participating pharmaceutical companies; this means that you have to have your doctor write a new prescription for one of the brands that they help pay for. Their toll-free number is 1-822-511-1314.

Mature Rx also has a plan called aVida for males or females who need prescriptions for high cholesterol, allergy, depression, ulcer, dermatology or estrogen replacement therapies. The savings, up to 65 percent, are also subsidized through pharmaceutical manufacturers. You can join this free plan by calling the toll free number listed above or logging on to www.maturerx.com.

Mature Rx covers most brand and all generic prescriptions for common health problems such as high cholesterol, depression, ulcers, allergies and diabetes. Members also save on test strips and blood glucose meters.

The Medicine Program is for people who don't qualify for Medicaid and have no prescription coverage; it is for low to middle income individuals. This is a volunteer organization that works with pharmaceutical companies and your doctor to help those who have exhausted all other sources for help with their medication. The majority of their applicants are those living on retirement income, welfare checks or disability who do not qualify for government prescription insurance.

There is a $5 processing fee for each medication requested; individuals with family incomes ranging from below the national poverty level up to $50,000 annually can qualify. Their services are offered nationwide through private healthcare and government social services. For information visit their website at www.themedicineprogram.com or call 1-573-996-7300.

With prescription costs rising, it is beneficial to check out all possible health care and prescription plans available.