Family Wize Saves Residents $250,000

Two and a-half years after it was introduced in Allen County, the FamilyWize prescription drug discount card program is being credited with saving residents more than a quarter of a million dollars. From March of 2007 – when the United Way of Allen County began offering the program locally – through September of this year, use of the FamilyWize cards has resulted in savings totaling $258,561, according to figures released today by the Allen County Board of Commissioners. The cards were used 13,000 times during that period. The average amount saved on the cost
of a prescription was $19.81, or 29 percent.

"Healthcare costs are one of the top concerns for people in our community,” said Bill Brown,
President of the Board of Commissioners. “So many of our citizens need help with the costs of
their prescriptions. The FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards have helped individuals
and families who otherwise could not afford to buy the medicine they need.”

Most of the savings – $250,417 – have been recorded since April of 2008, when the Board of
Commissioners partnered with United Way to help distribute cards and publicize the program.

“United Way has been so pleased to partner with the County Commissioners on the FamilyWize
project,” said Jerry Peterson, President and CEO of United Way of Allen County. “United Way
and our partner agencies work with local residents every day who struggle financially.
FamilyWize can help lessen the burden of paying for prescriptions that are critical to maintaining
people’s health.”

The FamilyWize card enables a person to receive discounted pricing on prescription drugs. It
can offer immediate savings on prescription drugs at most local pharmacies for people that have
no health insurance, during deductible periods and for prescription medicine not covered by
health insurance, Medicare and other benefit plans. The free card contains no age restrictions,
no income restrictions and no limit on how many times it can be used.

FamilyWize cards can be obtained at more than 50 sites from a variety of participating local
partner agencies, municipal and county agencies and departments. Also, people with Internet
access can go to www.allencounty.us to find the link to the FamilyWize website where they can
print a card, look up drug prices and get a list of participating pharmacies.