More Americans are buying more medicine for their pets. If you're reading this blog, you likely are too. Retail sales of pet medications in the United States reached $8 billion in 2013 alone – an increase of $160 million from 2012. And there are no signs of slowing down. By 2018, the market will top $10 billion.
There are several new products on the market.
Veterinarians are selling more non-flea and tick drugs.
Pet ownership has increased.
The last point is the most significant. According to the American Pet Products Association, pet ownership among all U.S. households increased to 68 percent, which is an increase of 82.5 million pet-owning households in 2012. More households own a dog (47 percent) than own a cat (37 percent).
As pet ownership increases, prescription purchases do too.
If you own a pet, you care for your pet. If you are lucky enough to have pet insurance, your premiums may have increased. With more pet medication and supplements ensuring longer, healthier lives for pets, you can save on care for your dog or cat today.
Your pet deserves the best care, and that’s where we help you.
With RefillWise, you can save up to 80% – or an average of $15 – per prescription.
As a pet owner, it makes the most sense to use RefillWise since your pet's prescription can be aggregated into total prescription savings. For example, if you are picking up a prescription for yourself or a friend or family member – paired with your pet – you can get savings and rewards faster than you normally would.
Think about it:
You receive a $5 gift card (as good as cash) the first time you pick up a prescription — for yourself or your pet — using your RefillWise card.
For every tenth prescription you purchase – you earn an additional $5 gift card – usable for anything in store, not just prescriptions.
By using your account to purchase additional prescriptions for your pets and for your family members, you will likely get faster turnaround on savings.
RefillWise is accepted at all chain pharmacies and most independent pharmacies nationwide. By using RefillWise for your pet, you can save more and get rewards faster – easily and conveniently.
It's a New Year, again. 2017 is here with all the hopes and plans of any new year. And like with any new year, it will come with the plans we love to make for growth and fresh starts. If you are like most people, you probably have goals related to your health this year.
According to Nielsen's the top 5 New Year's Resolutions in 2015 were:
Stay fit and healthy
Lose weight
Enjoy life to the fullest
Spend less, save more
Spend more time with family and friends
Three of these top five are related to health, which is not surprising. These resolutions are so common that magazines and newspapers will be filled with articles about how to accomplish these goals - workout plans, new diets, and advertising from the health industry about how they can help you achieve your goals.
Goal out of reach?
Of course, the reason these resolutions are so common year after year is because we have to try again every year after failing to keep them. The goals themselves are not bad, but there are barriers to achieving these goals that are difficult to overcome. While we each have to be responsible for our own choices, the cost of health care can be a significant problem if you are trying to achieve any of the health related goals.
Will you go in for that well-check, or avoid it since you have to pay out of pocket?
Will you schedule that appointment about your recent weight gain, or avoid it because you know the tests will cost too much?
Will you choose to pay for the expensive medication or your child’s tuition?
Increasing Cost
The cost of healthcare is increasing and it is having a real impact on our health. When health care costs go up, more people have to avoid necessary medical care including doctor's visits and medications. Or they spend the money and are unable to afford other things that they need.
Costs have been growing significantly in the past few years and are expected to continue to grow 6.5% this next year. You may find your premiums increase or that your deductible is higher. Certain prescription drugs you use may be excluded from your prescription plan.
Achieving Your Goals
So if you want to achieve your health related goals, but the cost of healthcare is keeping you from doing so, what can you do?
Shop smart. There are simple ways to lower your health care costs such as asking for discounts and shopping around.
Start the conversation. Let your doctor know your goals and financial limitations. They may be able to help you find something that works for you without breaking the bank.
Use RefillWise. If you need prescription medicine to keep resolutions like losing weight or quitting smoking, your card may save you up to 80%. If your medication costs are keeping you from achieving other goals, use your RefillWise card at the pharmacy to save money and earn cash rewards.
Carrying out our mission of helping our neighbors and partners, the RefillWise team volunteers at The Senior Source, Dallas' go-to nonprofit for aging services. For more than half a century, The Senior Source has assisted, protected and connected older adults to resources, opportunities, and independence. Its mission is to enhance the overall quality of life and empower ALL older adults to thrive. This December, RefillWise donated items needed by a nursing home near our headquarters, making spirits bright, and participating in games with residents — including Bingo!
There are many nonprofits that help older people, so what distinguishes The Senior Source?
Longevity. Originally called The Senior Citizens Foundation of Dallas, The Senior Source has been serving the community since 1961, a time when Dallas had a population of about 700,000. The population of the Dallas area is nearly five times the size now, and at about 3.3 million, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the nation. The Senior Source's presence and commitment has made a real, long-lasting impact in the community.
Efficacy. The Senior Source has kept pace with Dallas’ growth and corresponding needs and serves more than 30,000 older adults and their family members every year in Dallas and Collin Counties.
Diversity of Programs. The Senior Source offers several programs and life-changing services, from a senior employment program to a guardianship and money management program.
Elder Support Program – specialists provide case coordination, supportive counseling and problem resolution to older adults and their caregivers.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program – staff and volunteers work to improve the quality of life in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Guardianship and Money Management Program – trained volunteers and staff help manage the personal and financial affairs of frail, vulnerable elderly.
Senior Employment Program – professionals provide mature job seekers with job search techniques, seminars, job leads, networking opportunities and computer training.
Senior Companion Program – older adults serve as in-home companions to elderly with special needs so they can remain independent.
AGE (Advocacy Group for Elders) – community members come together to address issues affecting older adults such as housing and healthcare.
Foster Grandparent Program – seniors are paired with children in early education settings, homeless shelters, community centers and hospitals.
RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) – volunteers help people look for a wide variety of volunteer activities for older adults.
ElderCare Partners – an arm of The Senior Source, this fee-based program delivers a level of expertise to the elderly and their families that no other geriatric care management service can match.
Elder Financial Safety Center - A unique collaborative partnership between The Senior Source, the Dallas County Probate Courts and the District Attorney’s Office, The Elder Financial Safety Center helps older adults to avoid the dangers of financial uncertainty and exploitation. The partnership is the only one of its kind in the nation dedicated specifically to older adults.
Relevance. The number of Americans aged 45-64 who will reach 65 over the next two decades has increased by 31 percent during this decade. By 2030, there will be about 72.1 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000. RefillWise recognizes the needs of this growing aging population, which is why RefillWise serves so many who fall in this category.
Inclusivity. The Senior Source does not discriminate and offers life-changing services for older adults at all income levels, from the most active to the very frail.
To learn more about volunteering at The Senior Source, click on this link for more information. You can also like The Senior Source on Facebook and LinkedIn, follow them on Twitter, and donate online.
If you knew that you had a big expense coming up next year, perhaps purchasing a car, or doing some remodeling at your house, you would likely conduct research, compare costs, and make sure that your money was buying you the best option for your needs.
Even with small purchases - groceries, household products, electronics - we want to be certain that we are getting the best value for our needs. It isn't uncommon to check sales, use coupons, and join rewards programs that earn you rewards and discounts.
Why not do the same with your healthcare?
The average family of four will spend around $10,000 a year on health insurance premiums. Then there are additional expenses for doctor's visits, tests, procedures, surgeries and prescription medication. Every year American families are spending thousands of dollars on healthcare, yet we aren't treating our healthcare the same way we do other major expenses. Being a savvy consumer can help you save money on your healthcare.
Ask Questions
Is this test necessary? Is there a generic version of this medication? How much will this cost? You do not have to accept your care without questions, and you might find that there is a more affordable way to receive the same quality of health care. You don't always have to sacrifice excellent health care for affordable health care.
Research insurance plans
If you have an employer-sponsored plan, check its coverage against what is available on your health exchange. Hire a broker to see if there is a policy that better fits your needs. You will want to check not just your premium, but your deductible, what is covered, and if the insurance plan covers your preferred doctors and prescriptions.
Research health care providers
Check with your physician to compare the cost of paying out of pocket versus using your insurance. You may find a provider offers a sliding scale fee or a separate price for people paying out of pocket. If you are having a complicated procedure done, such as surgery, you can check to make sure that every provider, including the anesthesiologist and the facility, is covered by insurance, not just the surgeon. Also, make sure you know which hospitals are in-network for your plan and don't head to an ER for something you can have taken care of at an urgent care clinic.
Ask for a Discount
If you receive a large bill for a medical procedure, call the billing department and see if they can offer you a discount. They may be able to give you a percentage discount, sometimes a quite substantial one, if you pay cash rather than using your insurance. Or you can even call ahead if you're planning a non-emergency procedure such as a birth or elective surgery.
Ask for a Gap Exception
If a provider you want to use is not covered by your insurance, you can request a gap exception if they are the only provider of their kind in your area. A gap exception gives you in-network coverage for an out-of-network provider.
Join RefillWise
RefillWise not only offers discounts on prescriptions, but it also rewards you for using it. Just like the reward programs at grocery stores, you can earn RefillWise and grocery store or pharmacy rewards at the same time when you purchase the prescriptions you need.
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 marks the 28th anniversary of World AIDS Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV. And while the annual number of HIV diagnoses has declined 19 percent over the last decade – representative of a true decline in new infections – one in eight Americans don't know they have the disease. That's why the CDC encourages you to ask your healthcare provider for an HIV test. No one is immune to HIV, and everyone should get tested.
The RefillWise team recognizes the seriousness of this pandemic, which is why we are proud to partner with The Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, which offers testing, prevention, case management, and support services to the public. For more than seven decades, the Council has been improving the health, safety, and productivity of communities by preventing problems with drug and alcohol abuse before they begin, intervening when they do, and promoting recovery for those already affected. The Council also focuses attention on HIV & AIDS. Among its services and resources, The Council offers:
Early Intervention program — provides services to people facing the unique set of challenges of living with chemical dependency and HIV.
HIV Outreach and Prevention program — locates and supports people affected by substance abuse and who are already HIV positive and don’t know it, and those who are at risk for contracting or spreading HIV infection.
HIV Resource Guide that publishes services and resources about HIV / AIDS available in North Texas.
Information Helpline — provides telephone assistance to North Texas callers matching their unique needs with local community alcohol and other drug prevention, intervention and recovery resources 214.522.8600 or Toll Free at (800) 246-HOPE (4673).
If you have contracted HIV or know someone who has, you can use your free RefillWise prescription discount card to save money and earn cash back on medicines needed to manage HIV, including PrEP. Prescription PrEP medicine like Truvada is used with other medicines to treat HIV and, with safe sex practices, prevent HIV transmission in high risk persons. PrEP medicine is not a cure for HIV. You can use our Find Your Drug page to see if RefillWise provides discounts and savings on any prescriptions you may need to manage chronic illnesses like HIV. But before considering purchasing any PrEP medications, including Truvada, consult with your healthcare provider about what medicines and preventative measures work best for you.
To learn about more ways to get involved with The Council, click on this link for more information. You can also like The Council on Facebook and LinkedIn, follow them on Twitter, and donate online.
