Action 9: Prescription card advertises savings up to 50 percent

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With all these health care changes, consumers may be getting a lot of mail or calls.

People may be having a hard time figuring out which offers are legitimate.

Several people brought one mailing to Action Nine Investigator Jason Stoogenke and he spent the next few days seeing whether it is a scam.

It looks very official, like it's from a federal agency.

It has United States in the name and a mailing address in Washington, D.C. and the word "form."

The company promises savings of an average of 50 percent on all your prescription meds and that the card works at all of these pharmacies: Walmart, Publix, Costco, Safeway, Target, Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid.

So far, no one's complained to Charlotte's Better Business Bureau, but at least one other BBB in Nashville, Tenn., said the business was its top inquiry recently. It stated it's not a scam, but it's not insurance either. It's more like a coupon, though the savings aren't near 50 percent, but more 5 to 10 percent.

If you have insurance, it may not be worth it. However, if you don't, it may be better than nothing.

N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper said he hasn't heard complaints about U.S. Prescription Discounts, but warns consumers about discount drug programs in general.

"It's not real health insurance. All it is a discount card that sometimes works," Cooper said.

In its mailings, U.S. Prescription Discounts clearly says it's not insurance.

Still, they're so similar to official government paperwork, Action 9 reached out to the company to see if it would consider making its marketing less confusing.

Action 9 has not heard back.

If consumers want to use the card, ask the pharmacy if it accepts it and be careful about sharing personal information.

WSOC