The San Benito Board of Supervisors earlier this month announced that the county has saved more than $1.1 million in prescription drugs for its residents since the Coast2Coast Rx discount prescription drug program and card were launched in August 2009.
“You can buy prescriptions really cheap if you don’t have health insurance,” said Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, who spearheaded the project.
The program allows residents in the county who do not have health insurance to use discount cards distributed by the county to save money on prescription drugs at most participating pharmacies and retailers in the county, including Target, Rite-Aid, Save Mart and other businesses.
He said residents have seen a 58 percent to 85 percent discount on their prescription drugs since the program began.
“For me, at the end of the day, it’s about savings for the families,” he said.
The county pays nothing for the program. For every resident who receives benefits from the program, about $1.25 goes back to the county, which is used for health education programs such as educating the public on immunizations and flu shots.
“I hope more of our citizens look into the program and take advantage of the cost savings,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho, adding that the program “saves money.”
Since the program was launched, the county has received about $30,000 in funds from the program, according to De La Cruz.
