BigAppleRx Prescription Discount Card is Free to All New Yorkers
New York, NY (December 20, 2011) – BigAppleRx, the city-wide free prescription discount card program sponsored by the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and managed by HealthTrans, has saved New Yorkers $3 million since it was launched in May.
“The BigAppleRx card provides an excellent option for New York City consumers to save on prescription medications, especially those who are currently unemployed and without health insurance or drug coverage,” said Joyce Weinstein, Assistant Commissioner for Health Insurance Programs at the Health Department. “By making prescription drugs more affordable, we are assisting more people to keep themselves healthy through quitting smoking, controlling their cholesterol, high blood pressure or managing their diabetes.”
The card provides discounts on all prescriptions including brand name and generic medications, flu shots as well as some over-the-counter medications, such as smoking-cessation aids and diabetes supplies.
To date, the BigAppleRx prescription drug discount card has saved Queens residents more than $408,763; Brooklyn residents more than $590,722; Bronx residents more than $247,141; Staten Island residents more than $217,428; and Manhattan residents more than $1,209,005.
“New Yorkers are beginning to see that this program is for everyone, regardless of how old you are, how much money you make, if you are a U.S. citizen or if you have health insurance,” said Michael Oshins, Senior Vice President at HealthTrans. “At a time when we all are looking for ways to have extra money available for holiday shopping, discount card programs like BigAppleRx are tremendously helpful. Thanks to the thousands of participating pharmacies around the five boroughs for accepting the BigAppleRx prescription discount card and being part of the program’s continued success.”
The BigAppleRx prescription discount card is free and available to everyone living in, working in, or visiting New York City, regardless of age, income, citizenship or health insurance status. The card provides an average overall savings of 47% on prescription medications; 15% average on brand name drugs; 53% average on generic drugs. The discount card is available at over 700 distribution points throughout the city, including city agencies, City Council offices, neighborhood businesses, community and faith-based organizations. The card can also be printed online at www.nyc.gov (search term “BigAppleRx”) or at BigAppleRx.com. If a printer is not available, just write down the card numbers or have the information texted to your mobile phone.
The BigAppleRx card’s iPhone and Droid applications allows consumers to present the prescription discount card right from their phones at the local pharmacy, as well as locate the nearest pharmacy. Any New Yorker or organization interested in learning how to obtain or distribute the BigAppleRx card should visit BigAppleRx.com or call 311.
Media contacts:
Chanel Caraway (Department of Health & Mental Hygiene): (347) 396-4177
Shane Kavanagh (HealthTrans/The Marino Organization): (212) 889-0808
