FAQ

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAVINGS CARD?

Conservative Senior Association of America is pleased to offer you the CSAA Health Savings Card. Through this program, you and your family will receive savings of up to 75% at more than 50,000 national and regional pharmacies. In an effort to make prescription drugs more affordable, the CSAA Health Savings Card is designed to help patients locally and nationwide who do not have prescription drug coverage or who have coverage but are subject to large deductibles, large co-pays, formulary limitations, dosing limitations, gaps, and/or any cash out-of-pocket expenses.

The program is absolutely FREE to everyone and provides savings of up to 75% off the prescription drugs retail price with an average savings around 30%. CSAA Health Savings Card program covers all FDA-approved brand name and generic prescription medications. This program even covers some pet medications that are available at participating pharmacies.

IS THIS INSURANCE AND/OR AN INSURANCE CARD?

No. This is a prescription discount program that provides the lowest prices possible on all retail FDA-approved prescription medications.

HOW DOES THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAVINGS PROGRAM WORK?

United Networks of America, the company providing this program to all individuals, negotiates discounts directly with the pharmacies on over 20,000 name and generic brand drugs. These discounts are then passed directly on to cardholders.

DOES THE CARD EVER EXPIRE?

There is no end date on its use.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT TO USE MY CSAA Health Savings Card?

There is NO waiting period. The CSAA Health Savings Card is pre-activated and can be used immediately at any participating pharmacy.

DOES EVERY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS NEED A CARD?

Yes, each family member needs to have their own CSAA Health Savings Card.

IS MY PHARMACY IN THE NETWORK?

CSAA Health Savings Card is valid at all major chain pharmacies and a majority of independent pharmacies. As our pharmacy network is constantly expanding, we have provided a list of participating pharmacies, which can be found on our website.

WHICH PHARMACIES CAN I GO TO?

We have over 52,000 participating major chains pharmacies and local pharmacies nationwide. Please go to the Member Benefits page and click on the “Pharmacy Locator.”

WHICH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE COVERED?

The CSAA Health Savings Card covers all FDA-approved brand name and generic prescription medications.

WILL I ALWAYS RECEIVE A SAVINGS WITH MY CARD?

Not necessarily. Drug stores, like hardware and grocery stores, determine their own pricing structures. Due to large discounts from manufacturers, some drugs may already be priced at or below the CSAA Health Savings Card discount price. However, as a general rule, cardholders can expect that 91% of the required acute-care prescription needs will be discounted below the stores’ usual retail price. The participating pharmacies have agreed to sell prescription drugs at the contract price, or their “usual retail price,” whichever is lower.

DO PRICES VARY AMONG PARTICIPATING PHARMACIES?

Industry standards determine the discounted rate for prescription medications. This means in most instances, all participating pharmacies will offer the same low price. These rates are updated at least once a week, so prices may vary depending on when you go to the pharmacy.

From time-to-time, pharmacies may offer special sale prices for a limited time on selected drugs. These sale prices may be lower than the scheduled discount rates, in which case the cardholder will pay only the lowered sales price.

WHAT IF I WANT TO CHANGE PHARMACIES?

If you change pharmacies, the new pharmacy will need to input your card information into their computer system. In most cases, if you stay with the same pharmacy chain, but move to a different location, they will already have your information and you will not need to present your card again.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CSAA Health Savings Card PROGRAM?

EVERYONE! Unlike insurance programs, there is no income, age, pre-existing condition, deductible, or waiting period restrictions. The program is designed to help patients nationwide who do not have prescription drug coverage or who have coverage but are subject to large deductibles, large co-pays, formulary limitations, dosing limitations, gaps, and/or any cash out-of-pocket expenses.

IF I AM NOT A U.S. CITIZEN, CAN I USE THE CARD?

Yes, anyone may use the program if it is used at pharmacies within the U.S.

HOW MANY PRESCRIPTIONS CAN I GET WITH THE PROGRAM?

UNLIMITED! There is no limit on how many prescriptions you can have filled or how much you can save with this program.

DO PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS AFFECT ME OR MY FAMILY’S ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE?

NO. You don’t have to worry about doctor’s exams or pre-existing medical conditions to participate in this program.

HOW WILL MY OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WORK WITH MY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE?

You may use a discount card or other pharmacy discount during your deductible period or while in the coverage gap. In some cases, a network pharmacy may accept a discount card or offer another cash price discount so that you can pay less for a prescription than your plan’s negotiated price. This is considered a one-time “lower cash” or special price. If you are able to obtain a cash discount to pay an amount that’s lower than your plan’s price, you will need to send your receipt to your Medicare drug plan. This ensures that your plan will count the amount you paid towards your out-of-pocket costs.

EXAMPLE (ONE-TIME “LOWER CASH” OR SPECIAL PRICE)

You are in the coverage gap, so you have to pay for the total amount of your prescription. The plan usually charges $100 (its negotiated price) for the drug you need. By using a discount card, you could get that drug for $95. If you use your Medicare drug plan card, you will pay $100. If you don’t use your Medicare drug plan card and use the pharmacy’s savings card, you will pay $95. You can take advantage of the lower price, and send your receipt to your drug plan. Your plan will count the $95 toward your total out-of-pocket costs and total drug spending under the plan.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS PROGRAM COST?

The CSAA Health Savings Card program is FREE; we provide this service to any and all individuals that wish to save on their prescription prices.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL SAVINGS AMOUNT?

The total dollar savings realized by cardholders last year alone was over $687,850,000 off the retail pharmacy pricing. Prescription submissions resulted in some level of savings 90% of the time.

HOW DO I USE THE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD?
SELECT A PHARMACY: Your card is valid at over 52,000 network pharmacy locations nationwide. In most cases, your current pharmacy will be part of our network. However, if they are not, we have made it very easy for pharmacies to join.
SUBMIT YOUR PRESCRIPTION: Present your prescription and your CSAA Health Savings Card to the pharmacist. It’s that easy.
YOU SAVE: Your savings will be clear once the pharmacist enters your filled prescription into the register. Whether the lowest discount price is the CSAA Health Savings Card price, your present insurance program’s price, or the pharmacy’s already discounted price, you are GUARANTEED to receive the LOWEST price available!

HOW CAN I BE ASSURED I AM GETTING THE LOWEST PRICE?

The discounted price may vary by as much as 75% depending on the drug and the pharmacy discount rate contracted with United Networks of America. While pharmacy prices may vary from week-to-week and by the geographic location, the patient is guaranteed the lowest price available regardless of whether it is the CSAA Health Savings Card price, your present insurance program’s price, or the pharmacy’s already discounted price.

CAN I USE THE PROGRAM IF I AM ON VACATION OR TRAVELING?

Yes. This program is valid at all participating pharmacies nationwide (over 52,000).

HOW DO I FIND A PARTICIPATING PHARMACY TO FILL MY PRESCRIPTION?

To locate a pharmacy near you, click on “Pharmacy Locator” from our Member Benefits page. You have the option to search by pharmacy name, or by state, or by zip code.

WHERE CAN I GO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ASSISTANCE?

CSAA members can call the Member Help Line at 
1-877-321-6755, which is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. EST. Pharmacists can call the Pharmacy Help Line, open from 5:00 A.M. to 3:00 A.M. EST, 7 days a week, at 1-800-248-1062. Contact phone numbers are located on the back of your card as well.

Generic Brand Drugs FAQ

DOES ANYONE REGULATE GENERIC DRUG MANUFACTURERS?

Yes. The FDA requires that all generic drugs be safe and effective. Generic drugs must meet the same standards as the brand name medication. They must work the same way within the body as the brand name medication.

WHAT ARE GENERIC DRUGS?

A generic version of a drug is an exact copy of a brand name drug in dosage, strength, how it is taken, quality and safety. All generic drugs must first be approved by the FDA that they meet these requirements.

ARE GENERIC DRUGS AS STRONG AS BRAND NAME DRUGS?

Yes. The FDA requires that generic drugs must provide the same strength, purity and quality as brand name drugs.

DOES EVERY BRAND NAME DRUG HAVE A GENERIC EQUIVALENT?

No. Brand name drugs are usually protected by a patent for 20 years. This protects the creator of the drug who researched and developed the drug.

Upon patent expiration, other drug companies can then introduce generic versions. The generic version must meet strict FDA standards to be approved.

ARE GENERIC DRUGS AS SAFE AS BRAND NAME DRUGS?

Yes. The FDA ensures this. While generic drugs will have the same side effect profile as brand name drugs, they must use the same active ingredients and be shown to work the same way within the body.

WHY ARE GENERIC MEDICATIONS LESS EXPENSIVE?

Generic manufacturers don’t have the same development costs – research, development and marketing.
They are able to market the drug without the costs of development allowing them to sell for a significant discount. Additionally, there is usually competition among several generic manufacturers, which further drives costs down.

DOES ANYONE REGULATE GENERIC DRUG MANUFACTURERS?

Yes. The FDA requires that all generic drugs be safe and effective. Generic drugs must meet the same standards as the brand name medication. They must work the same way within the body as the brand name medication.

ARE GENERIC DRUGS AS STRONG AND AS SAFE AS BRAND NAME DRUGS?

Yes. Generic medications contain identical amounts of active ingredients to brand drugs and meet the same FDA standards in regards to strength, safety, purity, and quality of therapeutic results.

If generics meet all FDA standards, they are classified as “AB Rated” by the FDA. To be AB Rated, a generic drug must prove that it delivers the same amount of active ingredients into a patient’s body, in the same amount of time, and provide the same therapeutic effect as the brand name medication. IPS dispenses only AB Rated generic equivalents to its patients.

SHOULD I ASK MY DOCTOR TO APPROVE A GENERIC SUBSTITUTION WHENEVER POSSIBLE?

Your prescription benefit is provided to ensure that you receive the most appropriate and effective treatment for your individual condition, while managing cost for both you and your employer. An effective way to control costs is through the use of generic medicines.

A generic medicine is a copy that is identical to a brand name in dosage, safety, strength, how it is taken, quality, performance and intended use. Since generics use the same active ingredients and are shown to work the same way in the body they have the same risks and benefits as their brand name counterparts.
The Food & Drug Administration has quality standards for generic drug manufacturing and rates each generic medicine. All benefit plans cover generics.

WHY DID I RECEIVE A GENERIC WHEN MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED A BRAND?

When your doctor wrote your prescription, he/she checked off the box “may substitute.” This means that we were able to fill your brand name medicine with the generic equivalent.

And, while you may have a concern about whether or not generics work as well as their brand name counterpart, there should be no concern about using a generic medicine.

A generic medicine will look different and have a different name than the brand name version medicine, but it undergoes the same detailed approval process by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Generic medicines contain the same active ingredients in the same amounts and work just as well as the brand name medicine. Generic drugs are less expensive, in part, because generic manufacturers do not have the same investment costs associated with the development of new drugs.

Remember, a generic medicine is a copy that is identical to a brand name in dosage, safety, strength, how it is taken, quality, performance and intended use. They are always more cost-effective than brand name medicine. If your doctor specifies “Dispense as Written” on the prescription, the pharmacy will fill the prescription with the medicine as written.

HOW DO I FIND A GENERIC ALTERNATIVE TO MY DRUG?

Drug Cost Look up results will show lower-priced alternatives, if available. Some drugs may not have a generic alternative. You may want to contact your physician to write a different prescription for the less costly medication.