Meijer Free Prescription Program Saves Customers More Than $500 Million

Retailer's program filled nearly 40 million prescriptions since October 2006

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Jan 05, 2017, 10:00 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Meijer pharmacies marked a major milestone earlier this month when its free prescription program surpassed $500 million in savings for customers. The program – a first of its kind when launched in October 2006 – has since filled nearly 40 million free prescriptions.

"Meijer is a family-owned company committed to meeting the needs of families in the communities we serve," said Jason Beauch, Vice President of Pharmacy Merchandising. "We do this by providing positive solutions to everyday problems, which includes access to necessary medications. We are pleased this program is used by so many families across the Midwest."

The retailer's free prescription program helps ensure the health of families and individuals by enabling Meijer customers, regardless of insurance or co-pay, to have their prescriptions filled. The program began by covering leading oral generic antibiotics, with a special focus on the prescriptions most often filled for children. The program expanded over the years by offering free prenatal vitamins in May 2008, metformin, the most commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, in 2010, and the generic substitute for Lipitor®* (atorvastatin calcium), the cholesterol lowering medication, in 2012.

The most popular free prescription filled at Meijer has been the generic cholesterol lowering medication. In 2016, Meijer pharmacy customers filled more than 3.2 million atorvastatin calcium prescriptions, followed by more than 1.4 million metformin prescriptions, more than 1.3 million antibiotics, and more than 480,000 free prenatal vitamin prescriptions.

In addition to the free prescription program, the Meijer mPerks pharmacy rewards program has rewarded pharmacy customers with more than $13 million in rewards to spend at Meijer last year.

"We're proud that we've helped millions of families improve their health and wellbeing without impacting their budgets," Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes said. "Providing these solutions for the customers who rely on our pharmacies is part of our commitment to the communities we serve."

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 230 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the "one-stop shopping" concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, garden centers and electronics offerings. For more information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.