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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
April 2004 |
United Methodists offered prescription discount benefits
Not a prescription drug insurance plan
By Daniel R. Gangler and UMNS
Responding to the escalating cost of prescription drugs, an association of The United Methodist Church has begun making a drug benefit available to all 8.3 million of its U.S. members.
Through a partnership with prescription drug and health supply discounter DestinationRx is offering a free card that gives discounts of up to 65 percent on most prescription drugs and other supplies, such as contact lenses, vitamins and drugs for pets.
The benefit is available to all United Methodist Church members, regardless of their insurance coverage, income or health status. The United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries, an organization of the denomination's health care organizations, announced the benefit at a national conference March 4-7 in Nashville.
No prescription drug insurance
Forty million Americans have little or no prescription drug insurance. This benefit is meant especially for them, said the Rev. Mearle Griffith, president and chief executive officer of the Dayton, Ohio-based association.
"We have many people falling through the cracks," he said. "They're choosing between taking all of the drugs they need and groceries."
He believes the nation's leaders have been too slow in addressing the issue.
"We think it's taken too long, and we're not going to wait around any longer," he said.
The arrangement for United Methodists was organized through leaders of The United Methodist Association, a national association of United Methodist-related ministries and individual professionals concerned about the quality of health care. The association serves nearly 400 health and human service organizations and professionals nationwide.
Not a prescription insurance plan
North Conference leaders warned that DestinationRx is NOT a prescription insurance plan. It is a discount plan, similar to hundreds of other plans on the market sold on TV and in magazines. According to North Indiana Conference Treasurer Brent Williams, the DestinationRx plan is a discount card that should benefit those who do not have existing coverage or access to discount pricing. It is geared to assist people who have fallen through the cracks and have no prescription insurance plan.
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"I am extremely proud that our church has taken a leadership role in an area that has such a tremendous impact in all of our lives." -- Brent Williams |
Williams said when doing a spot check, he found the cost of North Indiana Conference insured prescriptions to be equal or lower than those of the DestinationRx program. Williams said, "I am extremely proud that our church has taken a leadership role in an area that has such a tremendous impact in all of our lives. At some point, there will be relief in escalating healthcare and prescription costs, and with our awareness and involvement, that point may come sooner rather than later."
While the literature from DestinationRx purports to provide discounts at local pharmacies, it's primary interest is to encourage subscribers to utilize it's online pharmacy, where DestinationRx will reap substantial profits. Ordinarily, prescription discount plans require a membership fee in the range of $5 to $10. What DestinationRx has done for United Methodist subscribers is waive its customary membership fee of $10.
Any participant in an employer-sponsored prescription drug plan -- including the Indiana North and Indiana South Conference prescription drug plans -- will realize little value with a DestinationRx card. For pet medicines and other supplies not covered by drug plans, a modest discount over the retail price could possibly be obtained.
North and South Conference health plan participants should not expect additional concessions as a result of participating in this or any other discount prescription program. Williams said, "(annual conference health insurance) participants cannot use this program to gain further Rx discounts from Anthem's Express Scripts or the conference."
DestinationRx, founded in 1998 and based in Los Angeles, has contracts with 25,000 pharmacies across the country, including Eckerd's, Kmart and Target, to offer discounted prescription drugs and health supplies to employers, unions, and other organizations and individuals. It was selected to offer health cost information and software to the federal government under the Medicare reform bill signed in December.
Obtain cards by phone
United Methodists can obtain the cards by calling 800-379-9040 and referring to the United Methodist Association.
The company has a Web site, at www.destinationrx.com, but Senior Vice President Dan Jadosh said to call the toll-free number first to get their membership information before going into the Web site.
The United Methodist Association is promoting the benefit among the church leadership and member health and welfare providers, and it will discuss the benefit at the denomination's top legislative gathering, the General Conference, April 27-May 7 in Pittsburgh. Griffith hopes that as word spreads, congregations and youth groups will use the cards in their outreach to the poor.
"This is a natural extension of our commitment to health," he said. "It's our passion to help the poor and needy."
More information is also available from the United Methodist Association at 937-227-9494.
Last updated on 04/19/2004