September 23, 2005

LANSING – In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that 30,000 uninsured seniors and people from working families have signed up for the MI-Rx prescription drug discount card since it became available one year ago.

“The cost of prescriptions is such a huge burden on families in Michigan and across America, where consumers are spending more than $200 billion a year on pharmaceuticals,” Granholm said.  “With the costs rising further at an incredible 12 percent annually, the MI-Rx card is an important way to help our citizens afford the prescriptions they need.”

The MI-Rx prescription drug discount card has helped seniors and families across Michigan save hundreds of dollars a year by offering an average savings of 20 percent off everyday medications at the register.  The service is free and the card can be used at more than 2,000 neighborhood pharmacies statewide.

Unlike discount programs in other states, MI-Rx isn’t just for seniors.  To qualify for the card, family members must only be Michigan residents, have no other prescription drug coverage, and have an income below the state’s median income.  This means an uninsured family of four that makes $56,000 a year, or a single individual without health insurance who makes $28,000 a year, only has to fill out a simple application to sign up.

With health care costs increasing across the board, the MI-Rx card is one of many steps the Governor has taken to help Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens.  Granholm has fought against any effort by the Legislature to deny healthcare to the most vulnerable and has helped open 14 new federally qualified health centers in Michigan since 2003.

Applications for the MI-Rx card are available at pharmacies and service counters throughout Michigan, or by calling 866-755-6479.

The Governor’s weekly radio address is released each Friday at 10:00 a.m. and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state through an affiliation with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.  The address will also be available on the Governor’s Website on Mondays as a podcast for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.

Broadcasters Note: Governor Granholm’s radio address can be accessed through Sunday evening exclusively though the Members Only page of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters website: www.michmab.com.

Publishers Note: The text of today’s address is attached.