Study Evaluates Health Discount Cards

NU Online News Service, March 14, 2005, 3:20 p.m. EST

Medical discount programs have problems but sometimes work well.[@@]

Health policy researchers at Georgetown University published data supporting that conclusion in a study that was critical of many medical discount card providers.

The researchers tested 5 of the 9 cards available in their market and found that many card provider directories were out of date. Even when the researchers could reach providers, many providers refused to take the discount cards or discuss the discounts they might offer card holders.

But the researchers noted that 7 of the 7 providers affiliated with 1 card were aware of that card program. That card program advertised that provided discounts of up to 40%, and the 7 providers called said they would offer discounts ranging from 4% to 34%, the researchers write in a report on their study.