Pharmacy discount cards can mean cheap drugs for dogs
By Christie Keith
October 14, 2008
The drugs Kyrie and Rebel are on for their resistant staph infections are making both of them nauseated; they both threw up a few times. I had a wonder-drug left over from when my mom had radiation earlier this year, and with my vet’s blessing, I gave it to the dogs. It stopped the vomiting cold, and both went back to eating well and acting perfectly normal.
So when I ran out of mom’s leftovers, I asked my vet to prescribe the drug, which she did. Hello, $40 a pill. Rebel got 6 a day, Kyrie 4 and a half (largely because dogs burn through this drug a lot faster than people, and both needed the maximum dose to prevent the vomiting). I told the pharmacist at Walgreens thanks but no thanks, I simply couldn’t afford to fill the prescription.
She said, “You can buy a Walgreen’s pharmacy discount card for $20 a year, and this prescription will be only $30.”
I stared at her. “It’s for a dog.”
She nodded. “I know. And if you pay $35, it will cover your other dog…” she glanced at her computer screen… “Rebel, too.”
I signed up. Their cards say “Kyrie Keith (Dog)” and “Rebel Keith (Dog)” right on them. It’s real, it’s legitimate, and today when I refilled that prescription, it saved me $500.
Well, no, it didn’t, because I wouldn’t have filled it. What it did is save Kyrie and Rebel from either being sick, or having to go off these last-ditch drugs.
I totally heart Walgreens now. And so do Rebel and Kyrie. And so does my vet, who was amazed when I told her the story, and said she’ll be telling all her other clients.
I don’t know if other pharmacies that offer discounts extend those offers to dogs, and of course, I now think everyone should use Walgreens. But the next time your pets need expensive medications, check with your local pharmacy and see what they can do for you.
UPDATE: This is the program. It says it covers pet prescriptions! It’s real.
I don’t like Wal-Mart for a long list of reasons, but they offer generics starting at $4 for a month’s supply. There’s always (in my experience anyway) at least a 30 minute wait, which I’m sure is to give enough time for shopping. When I go there though, I just wait it out and don’t buy anything but the meds. I’d rather go somewhere else, but sometimes they’re the only ones who offer the cheaper prices on the meds I need. This past week I got some there for Lydia and saved quite a bit of money.
Comment by Therese — October 14, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Good to know Christie! Other pharmacies will honor Wallmart’s 4 dollar price but you have to ask. I get mine at Osco while at the supermarket, and I heard Target will to.
Comment by nancy freedman-smith — October 15, 2008 @ 4:05 am
Christie, this is fabulous information to know. And, I cannot wait to tell my pharmacist hubby as he does get prescriptions for companion animals all the time.
Comment by Rochelle — October 15, 2008 @ 8:56 am
Christie, more questions. I called my pharmacist hubby and he had never heard of this plan. He is wondering if it is only in your state or nationwide. Also, he is wondering if these discount drug cards are only available to folks who are indigent and on plan d. Can anyone get one of these discount cards for drugs in California?
Comment by Rochelle — October 15, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Okay, I went to the Walgreen’s site and saw that this was a national plan. But, the catch is that you cannot have any publicly funded health care program already. That would leave out many folks, I gather, who get Medicare or Medicaid monies.
And, you have to be lucky enough to have the drug included in the 5000+ name brand and generics that they will cover.
Christie, my hubby knew exactly the drug that you got for your dogs. It is quite powerful but a sin to be so much money for folks with cancer who desperately need it to improve their life quality. I cannot print it here, but you would be really angry if you saw the profit being made on this expensive drug.
Comment by Rochelle — October 15, 2008 @ 9:34 am
Well, they didn’t sign ME up, just my dogs… who of course have no publicly funded health care programs!
I updated the post with the info, which does say it covers pets, here.
Comment by Christie Keith — October 15, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
$4 drugs have been popular among my clients. But I’d never heard of this plan. I wonder if it has a cap. I’m going to check it out. Thanks.
Comment by Dr Patty Khuly — October 16, 2008 @ 8:32 am
Great info, Christie!!
I commend Walgreens for making pets eligible, especially since dogs can take many human meds.
Comment by shadepuppy — October 16, 2008 @ 10:09 am