St. Louis County senior citizens wanting to save money on their prescription drugs now can learn which discount cards and area pharmacies have the best deal for them, according to a news release from the Missouri Association of Homes for the Aging.

By going online to www.medicare.gov and entering information, including ZIP code and medications used, Medicare recipients can compare the cost of their monthly drug bill using various discount cards and pharmacies.

Comparative information also is available by calling (800) MEDICARE.

More than 35 Medicare-approved drug discount cards now are being offered by private vendors to Medicare recipients throughout Missouri, including the estimated 158,862 Medicare recipients in St. Louis County.

The cards can be used to receive discounts off the retail price of many prescription drugs. Savings are expected to average about 20 percent.

Depending on location and types of medications used, savings vary among cards. Annual enrollment fees also vary, but can be no more than $30.

Medicare’s online price comparison displays prices and fees to help people choose the best card for them.

“There are many choices available to senior citizens,” Denise Clemonds, executive director of the Missouri Association of Homes for the Aging, stated in the release. “That’s good because greater choice usually means greater savings. Still, a card that is a good choice for one consumer might not be the best choice for another. That’s why the comparison is so important, and Medicare can help with that to keep it from becoming confusing.”

Medicare recently added extra counselors to help callers sort through the various card programs.

Once the choice is made, the consumer must contact the private vendor to enroll. Card enrollment began in May and will continue throughout the year.

The drug discount card is the first step in the Medicare prescription drug law passed by Congress and signed by President George Bush last year. That law provides prescription drug benefits for the first time in the history of the Medicare program to people age 65 and older and to people with disabilities.

In addition, low-income seniors — incomes of less than $12,569 for singles and $16,862 for couples — can get the discount card at no fee, plus can receive an annual credit of up to $600 that can be applied to the cost of medicine. More than 170,000 Missouri residents are eligible for that benefit.

All Medicare beneficiaries, except those with outpatient drug coverage through Medicaid, can sign up for a drug discount card, but it is voluntary. If a person chooses not to enroll, it will not impact his or her Medicare status.

“Many senior citizens and people with disabilities will be able to save hundreds of dollars a year with the discount cards. Everyone on Medicare should be encouraged to at least look into the program to see whether it benefits them,” Clemonds stated in the release.