Prescription drug discount cards: savings depend on pharmacy and type of card used.(health care costs)

"Prescription cards administered by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) differ from pharmaceutical-manufacturer sponsored cards with respect to eligibility, the range of drugs they cover, whether the pharmaceutical manufacturer pays the pharmacy part of the card discount, and the price available with the card. Most of the card programs administered by PBMs are available to all adults, while the pharmaceutical manufacturers' cards are available only to Medicare beneficiaries with incomes below a certain level who have no prescription drug coverage. The PBM-administered cards provide discounts on most outpatient prescription drugs, while each of the cards sponsored by a pharmaceutical manufacturer typically provides discounts on all the outpatient prescription drugs that its manufacturer produces.

For drugs purchased with PBM-administered cards, retail pharmacies accept a lower price from cardholders than their usual price, and in some cases receive …