Drug Discount Programs Help Members Save on Their Out-of-Pocket Costs
Blue Daily
| 3 min read
Key Takeaways
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network’s four discount programs saved members more than $100.3 million in out‑of‑pocket costs in 2025, helping prevent prescription non‑adherence caused by cost.
- The High‑Cost Drug Discount Optimization Program, powered by PillarRx, and the newly launched HelpScript infusion program together saved members roughly $48.5 million and $180,000 respectively in 2025 by matching them with manufacturer copay‑assistance programs.
- The Drug Adherence Discount Program and Price Edge program added further savings—over $665,700 and nearly $51 million in 2025—by rewarding on‑time refills and automatically applying the lowest available generic prices.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network now offer four programs that help our members save money on their prescriptions so that they can keep taking the medications they need to stay healthy. In 2025, the four programs combined saved our members more than $100.3 million on their out-of-pocket costs.
About one in five Americans say they haven’t filled a prescription because they couldn’t afford it, and one in seven say they’ve skipped doses of medication or cut pills because of the cost, according to KFF, a national health policy information organization formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Blue Cross’ discount programs cut or eliminate member copays for certain prescription drugs, ranging from high-cost infusions to routine generic drugs, to help members take their medications the way their doctors prescribed. This helps members stay healthier and avoid bigger health care costs in the future.
High-Cost Drug Discount Optimization Program, powered by PillarRx
This program matches members with manufacturer copay assistance programs to significantly lower their out-of-pocket costs on certain specialty and other high-cost prescription drugs. More than 300 drugs are eligible, including 50 frequently prescribed drugs for diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and migraines.
In 2025, the program saved members about $48.5 million on their out-of-pocket costs. It’s saved members about $185.9 million on their out-of-pocket costs since we launched the program in 2020.
One member said this about the program: “My doctor told me how much this medicine is, and I had no idea how I was going to pay for it. I am so thankful that you are involved. This is easy.”
HelpScript
HelpScript matches members with manufacturer copay assistance programs to eliminate their out-of-pocket costs on certain expensive specialty medications that are given through infusions or injections. Members pay no copayments. This is our newest program we launched in July 2025 for our HMO fully insured plan members and January 2026 for our PPO fully insured plan members. We’re expanding the program July 1, 2026, to members of our self-funded plans.
HelpScript saved HMO members about $180,000 on their out-of-pocket costs from July through December 2025.
Drug Adherence Discount Program, powered by Sempre Health
Blue Cross and BCN members can save on certain brand-name medications they take to treat chronic health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and respiratory conditions through this program. Members receive refill reminders and earn bigger discounts each month when they refill their prescriptions on time.
The program saved members more than $665,700 on their out-of-pocket costs in 2025.
One member told us, “I’m grateful for this cost-saving option, as I otherwise would not have been able to afford this prescription that I really need!”
Price Edge
This program automatically finds members the lowest price for certain non-specialty generic drugs, including those that aren’t covered by their prescription drug plans. It works behind the scenes by searching for drug discount cards, like GoodRx or SingleCare, that have contracted with your pharmacy and applying the discounted price if it’s less than what you would pay using your insurance card. This program helps members at both retail and mail-order pharmacies, but the discount cards and prices offered may differ depending on the pharmacy you use.
Price Edge saved Blue Cross and BCN members nearly $51 million on their out-of-pocket costs in 2025, with an average savings of $15.25 on each prescription. Members have saved a total of $98.9 million since we launched Price Edge for our HMO plans in June 2023 and expanded to our PPO plans in January 2024.
Image: Getty Images
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