AARP taps Walgreens Health Initiatives to provide prescription discount program

DEERFIELD, Ill. In a marketing coup, Walgreens pharmacy benefit management subsidiary has signed a pact to provide prescription discounts to AARP members through the AARP Prescription Discount Program.

The program, offered through the Walgreens Health Initiatives PBM, will provide pharmacy discounts for AARP members who either do not have prescription drug coverage or wish to get discounts on prescriptions not covered by their health insurance. The contract could boost revenues at WHI, which serves nearly 10 million members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

“We’ve designed the program … to be very convenient to use,” WHI executive vice president of PBM services Richard Ashworth said. “There are no claim forms or formularies. Discounts are taken automatically, right at the pharmacy.”

AARP members can enroll in the program for an annual fee of $19.95. in return, they receive a prescription discount card they can use at more than 50,000 participating retail network pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS, Longs Drugs, Target and Wal-Mart. Enrolled members can also get 90-day supplies of maintenance medications by mail through Walgreens Mail Service.