Westchester County Executive: ProAct Prescription Card has Saved Residents $1.3M

Editor's Note: The following release was submitted by the office of Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino.

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County Executive Robert P. Astorino today announced that Westchester residents have saved about $1.3 million by using the ProAct Prescription Discount Card. Astorino introduced the ProAct card in July 2012; since then, about 24,000 prescriptions have been filled at discount prices.

On average, Westchester residents using the ProAct card have saved more than $54 on each prescription, a savings of 53 percent for each usage. Discounts come at no cost to the county or taxpayers.

 “People are saving some serious money by using the ProAct card, and the best part is that these savings come at absolutely no cost to the county or taxpayers,” Astorino said. “Especially as the cost of medications becomes a bigger burden, it is encouraging to see that we can help put money back into people’s pockets.”

Residents who regularly use the ProAct card joined Astorino at Valuable Drugs Pharmacy on Tarrytown Road in White Plains Tuesday to share their stories.

Lois Solomon-Neal of Greenburgh said she saves about $75 every month by using the ProAct card. She and her husband fill five prescriptions each month, for a total cost of $62. Without ProAct, the cost would jump to $137.

“This is life or death. My husband has to have these medications,” Solomon-Neal said. “This program helps us tremendously. It’s either you get the medicines or you get food. It’s that serious.” 

The ProAct card is completely free for the county and residents who use it. The program also covers prescription pet medications that can be filled at a regular retail pharmacy, as well as discounted vision and hearing benefits. Dental benefits are available for a small fee. 

ProAct initially mailed a card to every household in Westchester, but additional cards can be printed at www.NYRxDiscountCard.com. Cards are also available at county offices.

Roy Giuliano, supervising pharmacist at Valuable Drugs Pharmacy, keeps a ProAct card at his register.

“Compared to other discount cards, ProAct by far provides the best savings and it is the easiest for both us and our customers to use,” Giuliano said. “We always have one handy. It’s part of making sure we give our customers the best price possible.”

The discounts are designed for residents who do not have insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover particular drugs. The cards, which are completely anonymous, cannot be used in conjunction with any other type of insurance or to discount co-pays. The program covers all prescription medications, brand or generic.

ProAct is accepted at most Westchester County pharmacies and can be used nationwide at any of more than 56,000 participating locations. Endorsed by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), the program is now offered by more than half of the counties in New York.

“With skyrocketing drug costs, this program provides much needed financial relief at the pharmacy counter,” said Terrence O’Neill, ProAct program manager.

Additional dental benefits are also available through the ProAct card, though there is a fee of $36.50 for an individual and $52 for a family. Once you sign up for the dental program, the fee is typically offset after one standard visit, according to ProAct officials.

ProAct discounts are made possible through negotiated rates with participating locations.

For more information, including a listing of participating pharmacies, ProAct can be reached toll-free at 877-776-2285 or by visitingwww.NYRxDiscountCard.com.