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Merck recently announced a new prescription drug discount program designed to benefit the more than 45 million uninsured in the United States. The Merck Prescription Discount Program, which launched April 25, provides all uninsured Americans, regardless of age or income, with easy and immediate access to discounts of 15 to 40 percent off many Merck medicines.
"We are pleased to announce this new program that we believe will help uninsured patients get the Merck medicines they need,” said Margaret McGlynn, President, U.S. Human Health, Merck. “While this program doesn't solve the problem of uninsured Americans, we believe it is a step in the right direction."
The Program Provides Instant Access to Savings; Free and Easy Enrollment
Under the Merck Prescription Discount Program, uninsured patients can present an innovative Instant Savings Certificate1 to their pharmacist along with a valid prescription and immediately save at least 10 percent on many Merck prescriptions. The certificates are available in participating pharmacies, doctors' offices, clinics, churches and community centers free of charge. Patients also can print out Instant Savings Certificates at www.merckuninsured.com.
To obtain even greater savings of 15 to 40 percent, patients can enroll in the Merck Prescription Discount Program. For example, under the program, an uninsured patient who now pays $82.86 a month for FOSAMAX® (alendronate sodium) at his or her local participating pharmacy will pay about $65.00 when enrolled in the Merck Prescription Discount Program, a savings of nearly 21 percent.
Enrollment is free and easy; there is no annual membership or hidden fees. Patients can enroll by:
- Calling 1-800-50 MERCK (1-800-506-3725) between 8 am and 8 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday. Spanish-speaking operators are also available.2
- Visiting www.merckuninsured.com
- Or mailing in an enrollment form that they can obtain at their local pharmacy and doctor's office.
When patients enroll over the phone or web, they will receive an active membership ID that they can use right away at their local pharmacy to receive greater discounts without having to wait for their permanent membership card. They will receive their permanent Merck discount card in the mail within two weeks. Once enrolled, they can present their card with their prescription at most U.S. pharmacies.
Commentary on the Merck Program
Government officials from both parties -- including Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt, U.S. Sens. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA), U.S. House Majority Whip Roy Blunt ( R-MO), U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and U.S. Rep. and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), and Govs. Mike Huckabee (R-AK), Bill Richardson (D-NM) and Tom Vilsack (D-IA), as well as leaders from national organizations such as AARP, the Alliance for Children and Families, the Alliance for Minority Medical Associations, and the League of United Latin American Citizens -- are voicing support for the new Merck initiative.
"I applaud today's announcement by Merck to offer discounts on prescription drugs to America's uninsured regardless of age and income,” Sec. Leavitt said. “The markdowns should lower health care costs and improve the health of the uninsured, a winning combination.”
For a complete list of supporters of the Merck Prescription Discount Program and what they are saying, click here
Legacy of Putting Patients First
"We believe our medicines should be available to everyone, regardless of whether they have drug coverage,” Ms. McGlynn said. “Unfortunately, more than 45 million people in this country do not have such coverage. Until there is a public or private solution for this gap, Merck is offering help. We are stepping in to make an immediate difference in the lives of millions of people by helping uninsured Americans obtain access to our medicines.”
The Merck Prescription Discount Program is the latest of many initiatives by Merck to improve access to its medicines in the United States and around the world.
Merck has provided millions of low-income patients with free medicines through its U.S. Patient Assistance Program (PAP) for 50 years. Patients may qualify if they have a household income of $19,140 or less, $25,660 or less for couples, or $38,700 or less for a family of four. Through this program, Merck provided more than 6.7 million free prescriptions to nearly 700,000 patients in 2004. The Merck PAP will continue to assist low-income patients, while the new discount program announced last month will expand the Company's assistance to all uninsured patients regardless of age or income.
The Merck Prescription Discount Program and the Merck Patient Assistant Program also will be available through state-level prescription drug clearinghouse programs and the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a national initiative launched by The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America last month to bring together member companies' patient assistance and discount programs in a single point of access. (For more information, go to www.pparx.org.)
Merck also supports low-income Medicare enrollees with Medicare Discount Cards who have exhausted their annual $600 transitional allowance from the federal government. Under the Merck program for Medicare discount card members, once a low-income beneficiary has exceeded his/her government allowance, Merck will provide its medicines free to that beneficiary's participating discount card plan.
Merck is committed to making sure its drugs reach people in need, anywhere in the world. In addition to its U.S. assistance programs, the Company donated in 2004 more than $400 million worth of medicines and vaccines in more than 60 countries to more than 40 million patients to address urgent health care needs and disaster relief in the developing world.
For more information on both U.S. and worldwide Merck assistance programs, visit www.merckhelps.com.
1Not available to California residents.
2Enrollment by phone is not available to California residents.
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