Do you need help paying for prescription drugs and other things at the pharmacy? West Deerfield Township can help.

West Deerfield Township Supervisor Julie Morrison rolled out two new programs Thursday and neither cost the resident nor the Township any money.

All residents can take advantage of the Coast2Coast Rx card regardless to income level or need, according to Morrison. She also received a $4,000 grant from Highland Park Hospital which she has turned into Walgreens gift cards for those who need assistance buying medicine.

Morrison is thrilled with both programs because she deals with people seeking help with health care issues on a frequent basis.

“I see people who come into my office all the time looking for help with prescription drugs,” Morrison said. “This is a way to help them.” She is being proactive with both opportunities.

The Coast2Coast card can be used at most pharmacies throughout the area to purchase not only pharmaceuticals but in some cases hearing aids and veterinary medicine. There is no cost to the individual.

“We hope to alleviate some of the stress that many are facing right now in this financially unstable time,” Morrison said. “It’s available for anyone who might need it. It can help with Medicare or Medicaid. It costs the Township nothing.”

Coast2Coast representative Debby Karton explained the card is helpful to people whether they have a prescription drug benefit with their insurance—either Medicare or private plans—or not.

“It’s for people without insurance first off,” Karton said. “It works for seniors who have to worry about the doughnut hole (when Medicare drug benefits do not apply) and people who have high co-pays.”

If people have both cards, Karton suggests they let the drug store examine both pay possibilities so they can select the least expensive. “Let the druggist run both,” she said. “It’s perfectly legal.”

Morrison received the grant Thursday and very quickly purchased the gift cards. They will be available at the Patty Turner Center, the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Center and the Highland Park Senior Center. A few will remain at the Township office.

“I’m keeping a few here,” Morrison said. Most will be at the three senior facilities. “The social workers will do a good job of distributing,” she added referring to the primary allocation at the three senior centers.

Coast2Coast cards can be acquired online or at the Township office.