Badger Rx Gold
Badger Rx Gold provides the opportunity for Wisconsin residents to receive discounts on prescription medications. The program is a joint partnership between the State of Wisconsin and the private Navitus Health Solutions Corporation. This program sometimes provides substantial discounts. It can offer discounts because of two advantages it has over other types of insurance. First, it combines the purchasing power of many people. The larger the group, the more expenses are evened out and the lower cost any one person has to pay. In such community rating situations everyone pays an average fee. Second, any rebates provided by drug manufacturers are passed directly on to consumers.
Part of Badger Rx Gold’s appeal is its simplicity. Anyone who lives in Wisconsin, regardless of age or preexisting medical conditions, is eligible to participate. So it is open to anyone though it may be especially attractive to residents who have no health insurance, who have lost prescription drug coverage, or who simply can not afford the drug coverage component of their current insurance package.
One additional benefit that should not be overlooked is that any prescription ordered by a participant is screened against drugs they are currently taking. This can be a life-saving step, preventing potentially harmful or even deadly drug interactions.
The program claims that discounts may be significant though there is a chance that certain medications, particularly generics, may actually cost more. Also, if no rebate is offered, the administrative cost of the program could add dollars to the total price tag. To learn how much you may or may not save on the specific prescriptions you currently take, you are encouraged to call the program customer service center (1-866-809-9382).
There is an annual fee of $25 per person or $75 per family (of at least four persons) though it may be lower if you enroll online: www.badgerrxgold.com. This web site also provides a full list of medications currently included under the program as well as the locations of participating pharmacies.
Additional Resources
The site includes an introduction to the program, which medications will discounts, currently participating pharmacies, and enrollment information. [more]
The CWAG site is primarily intended for the audience of those who are aged 60 and over though it offers this drug coverage comparison tool that may be useful for anyone who resides in Wisconsin. [more]
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