An alternative that is gaining popularity to providing employees with affordable prescription drugs, prescription drug card plans are not insurance. Companies that furnish these plans have arranged partnerships with drugstore chains to drive business to those outlets.
Many insurance providers, however, have arranged with these companies to package their services as part of their group health plans.
Because prescription drug card plans are not insurance, they often allow for pre-existing conditions, eliminate any limits on the number of prescriptions that may be filled, and can vastly reduce costs for businesses, as well as paperwork.
Prices employees pay may be higher than what they might pay under a traditional group health plan. Also, employees may be restricted to having to purchase prescriptions at designated pharmacies. This may be a challenge for businesses in smaller communities.