Chester County launches health discount program

Posted by Press Release on April 23, 2014

A new health discount program for Chester County residents was presented during the April “On the Road” meeting of the Chester County Commissioners in Parkesburg.

Jeanne Casner, Director of the Chester County Health Department, provided the Commissioners with details of the program that allows citizens to save money on medical discounts and savings to manage their family’s health and wellness.

The program is provided by the National Association of Counties in partnership with CVS Caremark, and includes discounts on vision care, LASIK and PRK vision procedures, hearing aids and screenings, prepaid lab work, prepaid diagnostic imaging and diabetic supplies, as well as prescriptions.

“Chester County may be ranked as one of the healthiest counties in Pennsylvania, but for many of our citizens, health care costs remain a key concern,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Ryan Costello. “Having access to programs that help save on health and medical costs is a great help to county residents.”

Residents benefit from the program by saving on auxiliary healthcare services that are not currently included in the Affordable Care Act. There are no annual limits placed on use, no forms to fill out and no waiting period. The plans starts at $6.95 a month or $69 a year for individuals, and for families it is $8.95 a month or $79 a year.

Commissioner Cozzone said, “The NACo discount card programs for prescriptions and dental services have been very well received – and used – by Chester County residents. Both programs link our citizens with hundreds of pharmacies and dentists throughout the county who honor the NACo discount cards. I’m sure the Health Discount Card program will be as beneficial in cost savings.”

The Health Discount Card program is offered at no cost to Chester County taxpayers, through the County’s association with NACo. It follows the successful Prescription Discount Card program and the Dental Discount Card program, both of which have already saved county residents hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"In the five years that it has been available, the Chester County Prescription Discount Card program has saved county residents $600,000 in prescription drug costs,” said Commissioner Terence Farrell. “The overall average prescription drug price savings has been 25 percent, and has been used by nearly 18,000 people since 2009.”

The Dental Discount program, which began in 2011, has saved participants between 20 to 50 percent on dental service expenses.

For more information on the new Health Discount Card program, as well as the existing Prescription and Dental Discount Card programs, go do www.chesco.org/health or call the Chester County Health Department on 610-344-6225.