University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is making a difference by helping families navigate through the prescription drug card program. Here are some examples:

From an Educator in Northeast Nebraska: “I worked with a lady who recently discovered she had cancer. She was spending approximately $4,000/month on her drugs. She hadn’t told her children about the cost, because she didn’t want them to worry. She brought her minister with her. We put her drugs in the computer and found a plan that cut her costs to $2000 per year! Thinking it was too good to be true, we doublechecked the results. Sure enough it was correct. I received the biggest hug from that lady.”

From Southwest Nebraska : “In December (2006) I helped a lady who was going to save over $1,000 on her medical bills annually. With tears in her eyes, she told me that it was the best Christmas present she was getting. ………I (Extension Educator) have not had one person who has not been extremely grateful for the help. Over 80% of them have offered to pay me, which of course I declined. But I believe that expresses how valuable this service has been for the people. The majority have said they appreciated the personal help because they do not have access to or do not know how to operate a computer.”

An Educator in South Central Nebraska: “Most people we helped enroll saved between $200 and $400 per year. We worked with one individual who saved $2,500 per month! Another beneficiary had been spending $500/month on medications. After enrollment in a plan they would save $470/month or $5,640 a year.”

An Educator in Southeast Nebraska: “I met with an elderly couple, he 95 and she 94. Between the two their annual drug costs were over $7,000. Neither of these kind people could understand enough to make a decision. They had their adult son contact me, and together he and I worked through multiple scenarios until we found the best option for each. Together their annual drug costs will be closer to $1,800 rather than $7,000. They were so grateful for the assistance, as was their son.

East-central Nebraska: “After helping one gentleman compare and enroll in plans for himself and his wife, he enthusiastically left the office telling everyone, ‘She saved me a boat-load of money!’”

Northwest Nebraska: “One gentleman who was on cancer medication, was spending over $400 for only one drug. He now pays $60 for that drug. Another male beneficiary, also on cancer medication, was spending $235 for one drug. He now is paying $70.50 for that drug. Another client, a lady, had a monthly savings of approximately $400.”A client told me, ‘I can’t thank you enough for all the help you provided for free!’

One Nebraska couple currently was borrowing money to pay for their prescription drugs. As a couple they were able to enroll for a total of $2400 credit (for both years) as well as prescription drug cards. What a Christmas present! They were thrilled, and the gentleman’s parting words were, “Now I may be able to get rid of my debt before I die!”

One individual indicated that the $600 credit reduced his mother’s prescription bill from $72 to $17 a month, an annual savings of $660.

One individual will save over $150 a month on her diabetic drugs.

One older gentleman indicated that he and his wife were paying a combined total of $125 for their (two) prescriptions of Lipitor each month. After completing the drug discount form (they did not qualify for the credit), their new monthly cost for two prescriptions of Lipitor was $30, or $15 per person. That represents a $90 savings on just that one prescription for that couple. The money they saved is nearly $1,000 annually that can be spent to stock their cupboards!”

For more information contact your local University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Office or call the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at: 1-800-234-7199