For the City Times

The FamilyWize Prescription Drug Discount Card continues to make an impact on south Wood County by helping individuals and families save money on prescription drug costs.

To date residents have saved $446,056 since 2008.  This number has grown significantly over the years with almost $60,000 in growth in 2016 alone.

FamilyWize helps the uninsured, or underinsured, save up to 70% on prescription drug costs.  Anyone can use it – there are no age or income restrictions.  United Way of Inner Wisconsin distributes FamilyWize cards to help families keep more of their money in their pockets; and so our local seniors do not have to choose between food and life-saving prescriptions.

In 2016 United Way of Wisconsin published a study of financial hardship, called the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) Report.  According to the report a single adult living in Wood County needs to earn at least $11.05 per hour to afford basic necessities; a family of four needs to earn $26.86.  Individuals and families who make less than the bare minimum are considered ALICE.

We also know that 9% of people in Wood County live in poverty and 29% are ALICE.  According to the report, “even a bare-minimum budget doesn’t allow for any savings leaving a household vulnerable to unexpected expenses.”  This also prevents families from getting ahead.

Programs such as FamilyWize can help individuals and families keep more of their hard-earned money by spending less on prescriptions.

How Can You Help?

We are looking for organizations who would like to distribute the FamilyWize cards.  We can provide cards in bundles of 300.  These are free to United Way and made possible by national sponsorships.  You can also request a FamilyWize card for yourself, or a friend or family member.

To receive FamilyWize cards:

• call 2-1-1 or the United Way office at 715-421-0390.
• download the FamilyWize card (in English or Spanish) from our website atwww.uwiw.org/familywize.
• text “family” to 700700 from your cell phone.
• download the FamilyWize mobile app from itunes or the Google Play Store.

Visit www.familywize.org for more information.