Our elected officials sure know how to have a good time. And they want us all to share in the excitement. So they’ve created a card game that makes Texas Hold-Em seem like Old Maid. It’s called the Prescription Drug Card Game, and it’s sweeping the nation.
You don’t just go to the drug store to buy medicines anymore. That’s no fun. Now, to play you first have to pick a card.
Those fun-loving guys in Washington and Columbus didn’t want to make the game too easy, so they’ve created dozens of card options. But you can only pick one card. To win, you have to pick the best one. And once you’ve picked, you’re stuck; you can’t play “go Fish” and choose another card.
The most recent addition to the deck of cards is Ohio’s Best Rx card. This free card provides modest discounts for people 60 and older, and for younger folks with income less than $23,280 if you’re single, or $31,236 if you’re married.
But the Best Rx card isn’t Ohio’s only contribution to this fast paced game. The State has also added two different Golden Buckeye discount cards. Each has different eligibility requirements and different discounts.
The federal government has really shuffled the deck. Medicare offers more than 40 different discount cards here in Ohio. These are provided by private organizations like Aetna, Medco, AARP, and Anthem. Many of these require a fee of up to $30 annually,
and again, each provides different discounts. To get one of these cards, you must be at least 65 or disabled.
And we’re not done yet. Many pharmaceutical companies have joined the game by offering their own prescription drug cards. For example, the Together Rx card offers significant discounts on medicines made by Abbott, Bristol-Meyers-Squibb, and Glaxo Smith Kline. Merck and Lilly offer their own cards.
And don’t forget about the government programs. For example, the VA offers deep discounts on drugs to eligible veterans.
In the Prescription Drug Card Game, every card is different. So how do you pick the one that’s right for you? You go to each program’s website, check out the card’s eligibility requirements, and compare discounts. Here are some of the websites you’ll need to check out: and It will take you hours, days, maybe weeks.
And after all that work, guess what? You can’t win the game. This card game is fixed! It’s impossible to pick the one best card, because the discounts for most of them change every week. The best card for you this week may turn out to be the worst one next week. And while the discounts can change, you can’t change cards.
Are you ready for the most entertaining part of America’s prescription drug card game? In just 11 months, when we’ve finally started to learn how to play, the rules all change again.
Lots of folks have pointed to Canada as a model for low cost drugs. And it’s true that Canadians can walk into just about any drug store and buy medicines at a lower cost than any of our drug cards. But what a bore! Where’s the challenge?
Here in the U. S., our elected officials have turned the purchase of medications into a game. Will the American public play along? One thing is certain. Never bet against the house...or the Senate.
