Discount Generic Prescription Plans Introduced in California
Low-cost generic prescription programs introduced nationwide this year by Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target recently have been implemented in California, the Fresno Bee reports.
Wal-Mart and its warehouse store, Sam's Club, on Nov. 27 began offering a discount program in California that charges $4 per 30-day supply of more than 300 medications. Target offers a similar $4 program, while Kmart sells 90-day supplies of generic medications for $15.
Any customer with a physician's prescription is eligible for the programs, regardless of their insurance status.
Wal-Mart, which began the program earlier this year, estimates that its list of low-cost generic medications represents more than 25% of prescriptions currently offered in its pharmacies nationwide.
Kmart currently has a list of 94 different medications, but the amount increases to 185 when different dosages and strengths are included.
Seniors, especially those who have fallen into the Medicare "doughnut hole," might benefit the most from the discount programs, the Bee reports. The "doughnut hole" occurs when seniors pay 100% of their annual prescription drug cost between $2,251 and $5,100 (Correa, Fresno Bee, 12/10).