Saving on health care

In less than six years, Goodhue County residents have saved more than $97,000 on prescription medications using the free National Association for Counties prescription discount card.

In just the month of January, 23 residents were able to save a total of almost $800. If you are looking for ways to cut back on expenses this year, try out NACo savings card. You might be surprised by how fast your savings add up.

The savings card is available to all residents of Goodhue County and costs nothing to the county or taxpayers. Residents are eligible to use the free card no matter what their age, income or insurance status may be. The card can be used by the uninsured, underinsured, seniors and even pets. One card can cover an entire family.

The prescription discount card is not insurance. Rather, it is a simple way to save money on prescriptions not covered by insurance or Medicare prescription plans.

All commonly prescribed prescription medicine is included — both brand and generic. In addition, if your pet has been prescribed a medication that is also used to treat a human condition, you may receive a discount on the medication by taking the prescription to a participating retail pharmacy.

Cardholder information is confidential and is not sold to a third party for any reason.

Simply present the red prescription discount card at any participating retail pharmacy and you could be one of the many residents who save an average of 24 percent on your prescription. Upon presenting your card to the pharmacist, you will pay the lower of a discounted price or the pharmacy’s regular retail price. There are no claim forms to fill out, no restrictions and no limit to the number of times you can use the card.

You and your family may use your card any time your prescription is not covered by insurance.

The free NACo prescription drug card can be picked up in any of the Red Wing Goodhue County government buildings or you can me at 651-385-6174 for a list of additional pick-up locations.

To get a price estimate for your prescription, look up a participating pharmacy or check drug interactions, visit www.caremark.com/naco.

Where can NACo cards be used?

The following locations are NACo participating pharmacies in Goodhue County:

• Red Wing Corner Drug, 401 W. Third St., Red Wing

• Econo Foods Pharmacy, 621 Main St., Red Wing

• Fairview Pharmacy, 701 Fairview Blvd., Red Wing

• Wal-Mart Pharmacy, 295 Tyler Road S., Red Wing

• Walgreens, 3142 S. Service Drive, Red Wing

• Target, 151 Tyler Road N., Red Wing

• Bergh Pharmacy, 103 Red Wing Ave., Kenyon

• Weber & Judd Pharmacy, 228 West Ave., Zumbrota

• Main Street Pharmacy, 370 S. Main St., Zumbrota

• Scofield Drug & Gift, 108 N. Fourth St., Cannon Falls

• Weber & Judd Pharmacy, 111 County Road 11 N.W., Pine Island

Free drop off for unused and unwanted prescriptions

Now that you are able to save money on prescriptions, what do you do with the drugs in your home that are unwanted, unused or expired?

Goodhue County has the Safe Alternative for Everyone or S.A.F.E. Medication Disposal Program.

The S.A.F.E. medication drop box is a free and responsible way to keep the environment and your loved ones safe from unwanted drugs. Use your spring cleaning day as an excuse to drop off all expired or questionable medications that you weren’t sure how to part with.

The drop-off box in Red Wing is located just inside the front doors of the Law Enforcement Center on Sixth Street. Simply walk in and drop off any pills, lotions, liquids, vitamins or inhalers into the black drop box 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no questions asked.

One additional site for drop off is located in Wanamingo — during office hours — at the sheriff’s office.

The medication drop-off sites have been so positive in the past year that Zumbrota and Cannon Falls are not far behind in implementing a drop-off site of their own.

To learn more about S.A.F.E., call Ashlyn Christianson at 651-385-6174.

Tags: goodhue county, health, lifestyle