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<p>Luzerne County residents now have free access to a discount program that may save them money on prescription medications, officials announced Wednesday.</p><p>Residents in 1,400 counties across the country have saved more than $600 million on 47 million prescriptions to date through the program, National Association of Counties representative Andrew Goldschmidt told more than a dozen senior citizens who attended the announcement at the Hazleton Active Adult Center.</p><p>Luzerne is among 44 Pennsylvania counties participating in the program, which is sponsored by the association.</p><p>Around 900,000 Pennsylvania residents have filled prescriptions using the &#8220;Live Healthy&#8221; discount program since it was created more than a decade ago, Goldschmidt said, stressing there are no income or age requirements to participate.</p><p>The discount cards may be used at 68,000 independent and chain pharmacies nationwide, including 89 in Luzerne County.</p><p>The program isn&#8217;t just for the uninsured, Goldschmidt said. Residents with insurance coverage also can use the discount card when their medications are not covered by their insurance plan or when the discount will be greater than the savings provided through insurance coverage, he said.</p><p>Participants save an average 24 percent on prescription medications, he said.</p><p>The card also can be used for discounts on pet prescriptions if the medications also are used to treat the same conditions in people, such as seizures, heart problems, infections, allergies, pain, diabetes and depression, he said.</p><p>Senior citizens who picked up discount cards at the center Wednesday were cautiously optimistic.</p><p>Michael Finn, Hazleton, said he has received unsolicited discount cards in the mail from other entities in the past.</p><p>Goldschmidt said the association&#8217;s program has been heavily vetted and has proven savings.</p><p>&#8220;I think you can have confidence there&#8217;s a track record here. I do not think other programs hold up to ours,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Information about the cards and participating pharmacies is available at county active adult centers, at www.naco.org/health (click on participating counties and type in Luzerne) or by calling 1-888-407-6226. Residents can immediately print out ready-to-use cards by visiting the website.</p><p>The association also is offering a new subscriber program that provides discounts on health and dental services for a nominal monthly fee &#8212; $6.95 for individuals and $8.95 for families for either health or dental and double those amounts for both.</p><p>More than 100,000 dentists and specialists nationwide have agreed to provide discounts ranging from 15- to 50 percent on many dental procedures, including check-ups, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, root canals, basic extractions and full upper dentures, the association said.</p><p>The health discounts reduce the cost of vision procedures and eye glasses, hearing aids and screenings, diabetes supplies, lab work and diagnostic imaging, Goldschmidt said. Many county residents don&#8217;t have dental or vision insurance coverage, he said.</p><p>&#8220;If you can save $1,000 on a set of hearing aids or a few hundred dollars on eyeglasses, that will more than offset the monthly fee,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Hazleton resident Bernard Ford said he is on a tight budget and needs some of the dental and medical services covered by the discounts.</p><p>&#8220;I will try it,&#8221; he said, urging state officials to explore programs to provide additional assistance for dental and vision, particularly for the elderly.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hazleton resident Michael Finn asks questions about a new prescription medication discount program unveiled Wednesday at the Hazleton Active Adult Center. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_prescription01.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hazleton resident Michael Finn asks questions about a new prescription medication discount program unveiled Wednesday at the Hazleton Active Adult Center. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_prescription02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">National Association of Counties representative Andrew Goldschmidt urges residents to sign up for a free prescription medication discount program in Hazleton Wednesday as Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton looks on. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_prescription02.jpg</photo1><caption1>National Association of Counties representative Andrew Goldschmidt urges residents to sign up for a free prescription medication discount program in Hazleton Wednesday as Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton looks on. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County unveils free prescription discount program