Northern Prescription Discount Plan

What is the Northern Prescription Discount Plan (NPDP)?

The Northern Prescription Discount Plan is a way for residents who lack prescription drug coverage to get prescription drugs at an average discount of about 25%. If you have a NPDP card you can get medicine for less at participating pharmacies throughout the U.S.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible you must be a resident of a participating health department county.

How much less will I pay for medicine?

People who present a NPDP card at a participating pharmacy can expect to save about 25 percent off the retail price of a typical “market basket” of drugs. Savings will typically be between 5 and 30 percent. Discounts as high as 70 percent are possible but not typical. Savings depend on the kinds of medicines used, where you shop, and if the pharmacy is already having a sale on the medicine. If you spend $5,000 on medicine during a program year, you may be eligible for a bigger discount. With this card, you pay 100 percent of the discounted price (if lower than the pharmacy’s retail price). When you start spending more than $5,000, you will become eligible for 75 percent of the discounted price instead of 100 percent (25% off). This bigger discount has a maximum benefit of $7,000 in prescription purchases in a program year (October 1–September 30).

How does it work?

Take your prescription and your NPDP card to your pharmacy. Almost all pharmacies participate, even out-of-state pharmacies that are part of the large chains like Rite-Aid, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Walgreen’s and CVS. Give the pharmacist your NPDP card and prescription. The pharmacist will fill the prescription and charge you the discounted price. You will be expected to pay for the medicine at the discounted prices. Always show your card for refills.

Are all drugs covered?

The discount is good on any medicine the pharmacy stocks and your doctor prescribes that is not an over-the-counter drug. Over-the-counter drugs are not covered even if they are prescribed by your provider.

Does it cost anything to get the card?

There is no cost for the card or to enroll in the program. You just pay the discounted price to the pharmacy.

Why should people use a NPDP card?

If you are without a prescription drug benefit you are a “cash customer” at the pharmacy. That means you pay the full cost of the drugs you need at retail prices set by the pharmacy. The prices you pay may vary from pharmacy to pharmacy but they are always higher than the prices negotiated by pharmacy benefit managers operating on behalf of insurers. The NPDP card levels the playing field for you. You will be able to get medicine at a lower price.

Who is sponsoring this program?

The program is sponsored by a partnership of Northern Michigan local health departments.

Medicare recipients

While Medicare recipients are eligible to participate in the NPDP, it is important that they determine their eligibility to participate in the State of Michigan ’s Elder Prescription Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program. The benefits of that program are significantly better than those of the NPDP.

How can the Northern Prescription Plan get me a discount?

The NPDP works with a pharmacy benefit manager called Claimspro. Claimspro has negotiated prices with pharmacies that are lower than the retail prices that you pay as a cash customer. The lower prices are made available to you when you show your NPDP card at pharmacies.

How can I apply for the program?

To apply for the NPDP program:

Over-the-phone registration can be taken by calling us at 1800-221-0294 or 989-356-4507.

Applications are available and can be printed by clicking this link NPDP and then can be faxed to 989-356-3529.

Applications can also be filled out on-line by clicking this link NPDP

Remember to complete one application for each individual.

Once the application is completed and processed your card will be mailed to you along with a list of participating pharmacies in the area. You will receive your card in two to three weeks.