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Chances are, you know someone in your community who has trouble paying for their prescription drugs. In fact, over 52 million Americans currently lack adequate prescription drug coverage, and seniors spend an average of $2,100 a year on prescription drugs. Now with the National Grange Medicare-Approved Prescription Drug Discount Card Educational Program, you have the opportunity to help members of your community find relief from excessive prescription drug costs.

When President Bush signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act in December 2003, he opened the door for millions of Americans in desperate need of assistance in paying for their prescription drugs. However, the comprehensive prescription drug program will not begin until 2006. Until then, the act calls for the creation of Prescription Drug Discount Cards sponsored by pharmacies, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies. The discount cards offer people with Medicare a discount on their prescription drugs, helping lower the costs of medication until the full program goes into effect in 2006.

Prescription Drug Discount Cards are available to anyone enrolled in Medicare Type A or Type B who does not receive prescription drug coverage under Medicaid, state-funded Medicaid or any other insurance program. Beneficiaries will save anywhere from 10-15 percent on their total drug spending and 25 percent or more on individual prescriptions. Beneficiaries earning less than $12,569 a year ($16,862 a year for married couples) will also be eligible for up to $600 in prescription drug assistance. There are 73 cards to choose from costing up to $30 per year. Some of the cards are available nationally, while others are available only in specific regions. Some of the cards cover only specific brands of prescription medication, while others work only at specific pharmacies. All of these factors play a role when trying to determine which card is best for any given person. Information on the various cards is available through www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-633-4227. (Please see enclosed fact sheet for more details).

Many people will need help in order to make an informed decision when choosing a card, and this is where the Grange can get involved. Granges across the country now have the chance to help fellow members in their community find the right prescription cards for their needs through a multi-tiered educational program created by the National Grange. This is a nationwide community service and involvement program that has the potential to help millions of people across the country gain access to more affordable prescription drugs. Your Grange can become a part of this effort! Through a grant from Pfizer, Inc., the National Grange will supply the materials and information required to help people make informed decisions about the prescription drug discount program (see sample fact sheet included in this packet), but we need your help to promote it. There are three levels of involvement available to your Grange: 1) you can choose to be one of the 1,000 community Granges that will promote awareness of the prescription drug discount program by hanging signs and distributing flyers; 2) you can be one of the 300 Granges that will hold educational awareness seminars, teaching community members how to choose their own card and encouraging them to help others make the same decision; or, 3) you can be one of the 100 Granges that will promote the program at county and state fairs, bringing awareness of the program to thousands of people. Materials are limited and will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

This is a community outreach program. Grangers who participate will go out into their communities, helping educate people about the benefits and availability of the discount prescription cards. Not only will you be helping people save a little money on their drug costs, you will also be promoting the Grange in your community. Act now to bring this program to your community!

Sincerely, William Steel The National Grange President CLICK HERE TO ENROLL