Maricopa County Discount Drug Program

If you live in Maricopa County, you are eligible to receive a Prescription Discount card. This card offers our residents savings up to 20% on prescription drugs purchased at a participating pharmacy. Here's what you need to know about the program.

Who can get a Prescription Discount Card?

Anyone in your family. The Prescription Discount Card will be of the most benefit to those people who don't have insurance for prescription drugs, or who reach the maximum limit on their drug plan, such as those people who reach the Medicare Part D limit and then have to pay out of pocket. You don't have to be on Medicare to use the plan, you don't have to be a certain age, there are no income requirements. You just have to get a card. There are no forms to complete, no registration lines, and no restrictions on how many times you can use it.

How much does the Maricopa County Prescription Discount Card cost?

Nothing. It is free. there are no program fees at all.

Where can I get a Prescription Discount Card?

You can get a card at Maricopa County Public Libraries, the Maricopa County Public Health Department Clinic and WIC locations. If you can't get to one of those locations, just request one by sending your name and address to Maricopa County.

What if I have more questions about the Prescription Discount Card?

Maricopa County residents can call toll free 1-877-321-2652 for assistance with the program.

Can anyone in my household use the Prescription Discount Card?

Yes. And here's some good news--you can even use this Prescription Discount Card for pet prescriptions! Because discounts on pet medications are offered, you can even get a card at Maricopa County's three Animal Care & Control Pet Adoption Centers.

Which pharmacies will accept the Maricopa County Prescription Discount Card?

All the major pharmacies locally accept the card--Walgreens, CVS, Target, Safeway, Albertson's, Bashas, Fry's, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco, and others. You can find a pharmacy near you online.

Who is the administrator of the discount program?

The discount card program is administered nationally by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Caremark Rx, Inc.

Tips For Using the Maricopa County Prescription Discount Card

I have personally used the card, for both human and pet prescriptions. I have a few tips for those of you trying to use the card for the first time.

1. We have many pharmacies and many pharmacy technicians in the greater Phoenix area. It will not be a surprise if you ask the pharmacy technician about using the card, and they say that their pharmacy doesn't accept it, or they've never heard of it. Make sure that they know that this is not the State of Arizona prescription discount card, but rather it is the Maricopa County card. This has happened to me in every pharmacy where I have tried to use it! There's a toll free number on the back of the card. Ask them to call, or ask to speak to the manager.
2. If you are getting medications for your pet, they will often tell you that pets are not covered. See number (1) above! Ask to speak to a manager. It is possible that some special pet medications (and some human medications) are not covered by the program, but most of the pharmacy shelf items are.
3. Be prepared that when they try to enter the information into their system, it may take a while or they may have trouble. For instance, although Caremark is the administrator of the program, Advanced PCS provides the network (and it tells the pharmacy that on the face of the card). That's been a problem for me on some systems.
4. You may not be sure if the plan you are using gives you a better price on your prescriptions than the Maricopa County Prescription Discount Card. If you have a drug plan at all, your discount or copay will probably be better with your plan. If you aren't sure, or you want to compare, your pharmacist can check the prices both ways.
5. Be understanding of a pharmacy that hasn't dealt with the card yet. If they are very busy when you are there, you might offer to leave the information so they can enter the card info at a more convenient time, and then come back the next day. I have found that, like insurance cards, once they have the information in the system, you won't have to go through it again. It is maintained in your computer record at that pharmacy.
6. How much will you save? Maricopa County says that people will save an average of 20% on their prescription drugs. My experience has been between 12% and 18% savings.
7. If you have a drug plan, you can't use the Maricopa County Prescription Discount Card also to receive a discount on top of your insurance coverage. You have to pick one or the other.

_{All offerings are subject to change without notice.}