Merced County offers discount card for prescriptions, other health needs

A new service is available to help residents get substantial discounts on health services through Merced County’s Public Health Department.

With the Coast2CoastRx discount card, essentially anyone can average a 65 percent discount on brand-name and generic prescriptions and other health services, including vision, dental, hearing, diabetes supplies and certain veterinary drugs for pets.

“This really is a win-win for Merced County residents,” Kathleen Grassi, the county’s public health director, said in a news conference Tuesday.

Anyone – with or without insurance – can use the card, regardless of age, income or health status, Grassi said.

Though the card is most helpful for those who do not have health insurance and pay costly prices for prescriptions, it also benefits those who are insured but have a high co-pay, she said. Individuals or families can use the card.

Merced County is partnering with Coast2CoastRx to provide the program for free. Merced County, in fact, will receive a $1.25 royalty each time a prescription is filled using one of the cards. The program is funded by pharmacy companies hoping to increase foot traffic, said Martin Dettelbach, the chief marketing officer for Coast2CoastRx.

Some residents may choose not to buy a prescription they need if it’s too expensive, said Hub Walsh, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors.

“This is another way with connecting people to affordable prescriptions and other services in our county,” he said.

“Merced is the 30th county that we have in the state,” Dettelbach said. “We have been endorsed by the California State Association of Counties. Our goal is to get all 58 counties someday in California. We’re more than halfway there. The great thing is we’re saving more than $3 million a month for cardholders in California.”

With the addition of Merced and Stanislaus counties, all San Joaquin Valley counties are participating in the program, including Madera, Fresno, Tulare and Kings.

The cards will be available at all 12 county library locations by Friday. They also will be available at chain pharmacies and most independent pharmacies in the county, government offices and county health facilities. Residents also can download and print a card by visiting www.coast2coastrx.com/counties/ca/merced. The county will keep any information confidential.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Merced County offers discount card for prescriptions, other health needs."