BCBSM saves seniors $75M

Press Release



DETROIT, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- A Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan drug

savings program developed several years ago has saved seniors in the state an

estimated $75 million in out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. This month

the company introduced a new online drug price comparison tool that helps

seniors see the approximate price they would pay under the program, keeping in

mind that some variance will exist among pharmacies.

The program is sponsored solely by the Michigan Blues for seniors not

enrolled in coverage through a group.

Called Affinity Rx, the savings program is available at no extra cost to

the nearly 200,000 Michigan seniors who purchase their Medicare Supplemental

health coverage directly from the Blues because they are not part of a group.

Seniors simply show their Michigan Blues identification card at one of nearly

2,000 participating Michigan pharmacies to obtain the savings.

The savings amount varies but the average savings is 25 percent off the

average retail price of the drug, depending on the drug and pharmacy used.

Nearly all Michigan pharmacies honor the program.

Glen Perry, director of pharmacy services for the Michigan Blues, said

"The use of the Affinity Rx program continues to grow. It is unique because

it does not require carrying a separate card or a separate fee outside of the

premium for Blues Medicare Supplemental coverage." Medicare Supplemental

covers many of the medical and surgical expenses Medicare doesn't pay for.

A new online feature introduced this month allows users to search drugs

most often prescribed to Blues customers to find out the average price that

current members pay for any of 250 common medications with the Blues Affinity

Rx discount. The site offers a pull-down menu from which users can select a

drug name, are asked to supply the drug dosage, and then receive price

information. In addition, the site flags drugs that have a generic available.

The information is provided on the Blues' Web site, http://www.bcbsm.com ,

under the "members and groups/pharmacy services" page.

Seniors who use Affinity Rx can still apply for a government-approved

Medicare drug discount card and simply continue to use their Affinity Rx

discount when it represents the best value.

A similar savings program, called Blues Advantage Rx, is available to

individuals under age 65 who purchase health care coverage directly through

the Michigan Blues because they are not part of a group.

The program was designed in 1999 with input from the Michigan Office of

Financial and Insurance Services, the Michigan Office of Services to the

Aging, the Michigan attorney general's office and Michigan pharmacies.

"It's a homegrown program," Perry said. "We considered whether we should

discontinue it after the government introduced Medicare drug discount cards,

but it was working so well here in Michigan that we decided to keep it until

the new Medicare drug benefit becomes available to seniors."