Try Connecticut’s Medication Discount Card

By Andra Moss

Norfolk residents feeling the pinch of ever-rising prescription drug costs may want to investigate ArrayRx, a free prescription savings card provided by the state to anyone living in Connecticut.
The program was created by the legislature through Public Act 23-171 and launched in October 2023 by Gov. Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon. It is the state’s first prescription drug discount card and is provided through a multi-state consortium with Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

According to the office of state Rep. Maria Horn (D), Connecticut sponsors the free program but does not pay or subsidize medication costs. Instead, ArrayRx negotiates discounts with pharmacy benefit managers. Those discounts are then passed along to the cardholder. All FDA-approved prescriptions are eligible for discounts, and the card can be used at 98 percent of pharmacies statewide.

More than 24,000 residents have registered for the card, according to statistics released in August by the state comptroller, whose office administers the program. By the comptroller’s account, users can save up to 80 percent on generic drugs and 20 percent on brand-name prescriptions.

There is no membership fee to join ArrayRx, and no limits on age, income, immigration status or whether one has health insurance. Any person with a valid physical Connecticut address—whether residing in the state full- or part-time—is eligible. The program also requires an email address.

Those considering the card are encouraged to use the tools found at arrayrx.com to search for real-time prices of medications at participating local pharmacies. Some over-the-counter drugs may also be covered; check first whether the item has the necessary National Drug Code, indicating FDA approval.

As with most healthcare-related activities, using the ArrayRx Discount Card will require some mental gymnastics. For example, a user may find that the discount associated with the card offers a better price than their insurance or Medicare plan. However, ArrayRx card out-of-pocket purchases will not count toward a deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. It is up to the user to decide which option provides them with the greatest savings in the end.

Full information on the ArrayRx Discount Card program is available online at arrayrxcard.com or by calling the ArrayRx enrollment line at 1-800-913-4146.