West Virginia to offer free prescriptions to uninsured

CHARLESTON, W.Va. Gov. Joe Manchin has announced a new public-private partnership by which uninsured residents can get free prescription medication by mail, according to the Associated Press. The program, called West Virginia Rx, will be administered by Health Right free clinics and pharmaceutical companies will donate the medication.

Residents between the ages of 18 and 65 who have no insurance and with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify for the program. For an individual, that’s $20,800; for a family of four, it’s $42,400.

One goal is to improve the state’s overall health while also saving on the soaring costs of providing health care to the uninsured, of which there are about 245,000 in West Virginia. Another 250,000 have health insurance but no prescription drug coverage.

Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care praised West Virginia Rx, saying the program will get medicine to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to get it.