Auto Club Offers Tips to Manage Health Expenses in Tough Times

(LOS ANGELES – March 12, 2010) – Getting and staying healthy can eat up a good portion of consumers’ budgets, but many people are unaware of how they can save money on health costs. The Automobile Club of Southern California’s AAA Discounts program has several tips to help people (and their pets) save money on medications, working out, and other health-related expenses.

 

In 2008, out-of-pocket health care costs consumed approximately $3,000 of annual income per household, or about 6 percent of a typical household budget, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “For many Americans, particularly those currently unemployed, managing these costs has never been more important,” said Gail Acebes, Director, AAA Partnership Programs.

 

Denise Bialek, manager of the Auto Club’s AAA Discounts program, offers the following tips to save money on both over-the-counter and prescription drugs:

 

 

AAA members can save an average of 15 percent on brand-name prescriptions and 35 percent on generic prescriptions at more than 60,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, including most major retailers such as CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens, Target Pharmacy, Walmart Pharmacy, and Rite Aid.* For people who do not have prescription coverage, or those taking lifestyle prescription drugs frequently not covered by insurance, the discount can offer substantial savings.  Prescriptions for family pets that can be filled at a traditional pharmacy are also included. For more information and to obtain a free AAA Prescription Savings Card visit AAA.com/prescriptions or call 1-866-AAA-SAVE (1-866-222-7283).

 

AAA also provides discounts on many other health-related items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The AAA Discounts program (Show Your Card & Save) is the largest member discount program in the world offering more than 164,000 locations for savings worldwide including 110,000 retail locations in North America and popular online retailers including Barnes & Noble and Sears.com. Through the program, AAA members save more than 2 billion dollars last year. Visit AAA.com/discounts for a complete list of retailers and offers.

 

* AAA Prescription Savings is NOT insurance. Discounts are only available at participating pharmacies. Savings may vary by pharmacy, drug strength, dosage, and quantity. Savings are based on actual 2009 drug purchases administered by CVS Caremark for this program. The program administrator may obtain fees or rebates from manufacturers and/or pharmacies based on your prescription drug purchases. These fees or rebates may be retained by the program administrator or shared with you and/or your pharmacy.

 

** Valid AAA membership required.  Discount off tag price.  Valid on multiple pairs.  Frame and lenses purchase with valid prescription required.  Cannot be combined with any other offer, previous purchases, or vision and insurance plans.  Some restrictions apply.  Some brands excluded.  See store for details.  Void where prohibited. Valid at participating locations.  Eye exams available by Independent Doctors of Optometry at or next to LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical and Target Optical.  Doctors in some states are employed by the location. In California, optometrists are not employed by LensCrafters, Sears Optical and Target Optical, which does not provide eye exams.  For LensCrafters, eye exams are available from optometrists employed by EYEXAM of California, a licensed vision health care service plan. For Sears Optical and Target Optical, eye exams are available from self-employed doctors who lease space inside the store.