The offices of Gov. Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced Wednesday that they are partnering with ArrayRx to offer Connecticut residents free discount prescription cards to alleviate the high costs of prescription medication. The discount cards are available starting Oct. 2. 

"Rising costs make accessing health coverage a barrier for far too many people, and entering Connecticut into this multi-state consortium is a way to provide the residents of our state some savings on the medications they need to stay healthy," Gov. Lamont said in a press release announcing the partnership. "Our administration remains committed to working with all parties — insurers, hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, employers, and consumers — in the effort to provide real solutions that will lower health care costs."

ArrayRx Discount Card is a not-for-profit, multi-state pharmacy drug savings program operating in Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Connecticut. The state partnership with ArrayRx was established as part of a health care affordability bill, Public Act 23-171, which was signed into law in June 2023. The office of Comptroller Scanlon administers it. 

All residents, regardless of immigration status, are eligible to sign up at no cost to them or the state, according to the press release. 

The ArrayRx card can be used to buy any FDA-approved drug, such as diabetes supplies, vaccines and some over-the-counter medicines at participating pharmacies. The discount price varies based on the prescription type, dosage and days' supply, but users can save an estimated 80% on generic drugs and 18% on brand drugs.

It never hurts to carry more than one drug discount card; some offer better deals than others.

However, ArrayRx, as the only state-sponsored, not-for-profit card, has the best combination of benefits for consumers. 

All that's needed to enroll online for ArrayRx is a name, date of birth, a valid Connecticut home address and email address. There are no age or income restrictions. 

Once enrolled, users receive the discount card via email with a unique subscriber ID and other information that pharmacists can use to process prescription purchases. The card can be printed, shown as a photograph or saved to a phone's digital wallet. 

In addition, a free, optional member dashboard is available to users that allows easy access to the discount card, prescription purchase history and prescription costs. 

Scanlon described the ArrayRx discount card as "a tool in your toolkit of affording your prescription drugs." 

The card can be used whenever purchasing prescription medications at select pharmacies instead of commercial insurance, Medicaid or Medicare. For example, the card can be used whenever insurance won't cover the cost or if ArrayRx provides a better discount than the insurance. However, purchases through the discount card don't count toward a person's deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. 

An estimated 98% of Connecticut pharmacies will accept ArrayRx discount cards starting Oct. 2, Scanlon said. 

Unlike private prescription discount cards, Scanlon explained that state entities administer the ArrayRx card program, which comes at no cost to the resident, pharmacy or state. In addition, he said that the personal information collection in enrollment is limited and kept secure. 

According to its website, ArrayRx data collection includes name, date of birth, home address, email address and pharmacy transactions. It's kept secured through physical, technical and procedural safeguards. 

Although the discount program is open to all Connecticut residents, Scanlon said that the program will significantly benefit people with high deductibles, individuals who are uninsured or undocumented and elderly residents whose medications aren't covered by Medicare. 

"If somebody can walk into their local pharmacy, use this card and save even a little bit of money on the drug they need to survive, it's less pressure on them," Scanlon said. "Nobody in Connecticut should have to choose between eating or paying the rent or taking the pills that they need to stay healthy and in some cases survive. Unfortunately, we're seeing a lot of people having to make really tough, impossible choices like that." 

To enroll, go to ArrayRxCard.com. A Spanish enrollment form is available at ArrayRxCard.com/es. For other languages, call ArrayRx customer service at 800-913-4146. 

cvillalonga@record-journal.com203-317-2448