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New Online Resource Helps Consumers Get
Medicines in Hand

Growing Number of Healthcare Organizations Join Together to Help Consumers Navigate System

WASHINGTON, DC – This fall many Americans will make changes to their health insurance coverage. Some may sign up for a new health insurance plan at work; others may be eligible for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. But both groups now have the opportunity for new guidance on how to assess their pharmacy benefit to ensure they have the best access to the medicines they need.

The process of choosing and effectively using the best health insurance coverage can be overwhelming. For consumers, it often means frustration when a prescription can’t be filled. “Consumers may be taking their frustration out on their doctor or pharmacist, when the more likely source of the problem is that the request doesn’t meet the requirements of their health insurance plan,” says Sandra Leal, Pharm.D., CDE, president of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved.

In an effort to encourage consumers to understand their pharmacy benefit and make sure they have access to the medicines their doctors prescribe, a growing number of healthcare groups have joined together to introduce YourPharmacyBenefit.org. This free Web site is a problem-solving resource for consumers, whether privately insured or covered through Medicare.

“Navigating complex health programs can be a daunting task for anyone,” said Michael Faenza, president and CEO of the National Mental Health Association. “However, for people with chronic health conditions, like mental health disorders, it can be particularly challenging. YourPharmacyBenefit.org can help make sure people can get the treatments they need by acting as a one-stop-shop for clear, helpful information on how to get the most out their pharmacy benefit.”

The site provides a step-by-step guide for selecting the right prescription plan, information about how pharmacy benefits are typically structured, and glossary terms that will help consumers translate the “insurance-speak.” In addition, the site contains suggestions on how to use prescription benefits to their full potential, hints on how to save money, and tips on what to do when your prescription is denied for payment.

“Consumers pay a lot of money for their families’ health benefits, and they deserve to get as much out of the coverage as possible,’ says Linda Golodner, president of the National Consumers League. “ The information available on YourPharmacyBenefit.org will give consumers an important edge when making decisions about their coverage and when they go to use the new Medicare drug plan in January.”

The site is a collaborative effort between a growing number of organizations, including the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the National Consumers League, the National Mental Health Association, the National Minority Health Month Foundation and the National Pharmaceutical Council.

For more information, consumers can visit www.YourPharmacyBenefit.org today.

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