Discounted Drugs
by: Terry Walsh
Following an industry trend, pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly has announced it would begin offering a discounted drug program for low-income seniors.
To qualify, those over 65 must have incomes of less than $18,000 per individual and $24,000 per couple. In Georgia, 198,314 of the 884,774 on Medicare meet those requirements.
The program would provide each prescription for $12 a month.
Gov. Roy Barnes praised the program, similar to one announced in January by Pfizer. That program costs $15 per prescription for a month's supply of a Pfizer medication. Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline also offer discount drug plans for the elderly.
"By providing vital medications through a user-friendly system, our seniors will have access to drugs they might otherwise not have," Barnes said.
Eli Lilly medications often used by seniors include Evista, an osteoporosis prevention drug; Humulin, a diabetic medication; Prozac, an antidepressant; and Zyprexa, an antipsychotic drug.
Eli Lilly is enrolling those eligible at www.lillyanswers.com or at 1-877-RX-LILLY. Participating pharmacies will begin accepting the company's discount card April 1.
