> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Senior citizens may get aid in prescription plight - URL: https://www.smdp.com/senior-citizens-may-get-aid-in-prescription-plight/ - Published: 2002-11-16T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T00:56:15.000Z - Author: Carolyn Sackariason - Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import Low-income seniors in Santa Monica could save up to 90 percent on prescription drugs because of a new program offered by pharmaceutical companies. The Together Rx debuted in April, and it is offered to Medicare enrollees who do not currently have prescription drug coverage and whose annual incomes are less than $28,000 for individuals and $38,000 for couples. The card is free to anyone who is eligible. More than 150 drugs are covered under the plan, including medicines that commonly afflict the elderly, such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, depression, hypertension and high cholesterol. About 16 percent of Santa Monica’s population is over 65 years old, and 18 percent of the city’s households have a median Social Security income of $10,903\. The average cost for a common brand name prescription for a senior is between $100 and $180. The card’s savings could really change a seniors’ life since some of them spend the majority of their monthly income on prescriptions. “Prescriptions are unbelievable, but it’s a fact of life,” said Joel Greenberg, a member of the city’s Commission On Older Americans. “That’s one of the problems because some of these people go without food so they can buy prescriptions.” Greenberg estimates there are a lot of seniors in Santa Monica that would be eligible for the card based on their income level. There are millions nationwide. “There are eight to 11 million seniors that are eligible for this program, but the problem is getting to them and letting them know it’s available,” said Janet Caldwell, a representative of AstraZeneca, one of the seven pharmaceutical companies that is involved in the program. 60F,“The CEOs for the companies really wanted to do something for Medicare eligible seniors that wasn’t confusing for them and also broad-reaching,” Caldwell added. “The incentive to us is to be able to communicate to seniors that America’s most needy have access to the medicine they need. This is a program that meets that need.” More than 300,000 seniors have so far enrolled in the program, and combined have saved about $10.5 million in drug costs, Caldwell said. The average cost savings for a prescription is about 40 percent, but could go as high as 90 percent. About one third of seniors in California lack drug coverage for a prescription drug benefit. And while proposals to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit were recently debated in Congress, nothing was accomplished to address costly marketing tactics and unregulated prices, according to San Franscisco-based Senior Action Network. Seniors are especially hard hit because even though they represent 13 percent of the population, they account for one-third of the prescriptions filled and 40 percent of all drug expenditures, according to Senior Action Network McKesson Corporation, the largest distributor to the retail pharmacy market, will administer the program on behalf of Together Rx. Pharmacies across the country, including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target, Albertson’s, Costco, Kroger and Safeway, have shown support for the Together Rx card. Participating pharmacies have committed to pass through direct to the patient 100 percent of the savings being offered by the card. Together Rx is actively speaking with many other pharmacies and expects to enlist additional support and commitment in the near future. “Seniors have a relationship with their pharmacist and should talk to them about whether it can be available to them,” Caldwell said. Prescription drug cards have become a trend over the past months, with several companies offering single company plans and sparking concerns that elderly patients might have problems sorting out all the options. Drug company officials say the Together Rx is an attempt to address those concerns. “This particular issue has a common ground,” said Peggy Heller, Together Rx program manager for AstraZeneca. “Health care is a big issue in this country.” While national Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has heralded the discount program as a “tremendous new initiative,” critics of both drug companies and federal prescription drug policy have been more cautious. Consumer groups have called the program a step in the right direction, but worry that it might take pressure off Congress to tackle issues of prescription drug programs to senior citizens. Drug companies agree more needs to be done, but also say the discount drug cards can provide immediate help for lower income senior citizens. “It’s almost like a band aid,” Caldwell said. “I think the industry will support Congress action, but this was a good solution for now. “We agree some sort of drug assistance program for the insured and uninsured is need and ideally, something better will come along,” she added. The drug card is administered through a third party and takes four to six weeks to process once a senior applies. Company representatives recommend either talking to your pharmacist or log onto www.togetherrx.com for more information about the program. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/111602-02_01.jpg) Caldwell, a representative from AstraZenca Pharmaceuticals, speaks to reporters last month at Encino’s senior health fair. (Photo: Courtesy photo Janet) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 16, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/111602.pdf?ref=smdp.com)