New discount card for NPC members, coming soon, offers big savings on drug, medical costs

National Press Club members can save up to 65 percent% on more than 60,000 brand and generic drugs at more than 59,000 pharmacies worldwide thanks to a new member benefit, Membership Secretary Marc Wojno announced at the Club's membership meeting Oct. 4.

Pharmacies involved include major outlets such as CVS, Walgreens, Target and Costco, as well as community drug stores and mail order pharmacies.

Your health plan already covers drugs? Read on -- you might save more with the new NPC WellCardRX than through your health plan.

How? Drug prices vary widely, and sometimes the WellCardRX will yield greater savings than your health insurance company provides. Simply present both your WellCardRX and your health insurance card to the pharmacist every time you fill a prescription.

And (with apologies to late-night infomercials) there's still more: You can also save on a wide range of other services, including:

· Up to 45 percent savings on general and specialist dental fees at 150,000 providers nationwide;

· Up to 50 percent off vision care through 11,000 providers including Sears Optical, JCPenney Optical, Target Optical, EyeMasters, For Eyes Optical, Walmart Vision and Pearle Vision;

· Up to 15 percent on 80 hearing aid models through Beltone;

· Up to 50 percent off lab tests

· Up to 50 percent off MRI, CT or PET scanning and that may not be covered by your health plan -- or that might cost you more out of pocket than through the WellCardRX.

The WellCardRx discount card can be used by everyone in your family. It has no limits, no expiration date, and no pre-existing condition exclusions. By using the WellCardRx card, you can access valuable discounts at the time of purchase. There is no paperwork to fill out and there are no fees to use the card.

NPC members will be receiving the card this month in the mail, Wojno said.