New Discount Pharmacy in Meriden

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-- A new discount pharmacy opens giving patients the chance to save big money on their prescriptions. The new discounted pharmacy is operated by Walgreen’s and is located in Meriden.

The ribbon cutting in Meriden this morning marked a marriage that's never been tried before in the United States, but hailed by many as long overdue. Local and state officials joined members of the community to celebrate the joining of the federally qualified Community Health Center on Main Street and nationwide drugstore store chain Walgreen’s.

A new pharmacy will now be conveniently located within the health center and be able to provide uninsured patients with prescriptions at an average savings of 50% on wholesale prices.

Walgreen’s, the nation's largest retail pharmacy chain, is now the first to operate a pharmacy within the walls of a health center.

Connecticut has some of the highest health insurance costs in the country and has about 400,000 uninsured residents. That number is equal to the combined populations of the state's four largest cities.

So how much can you save by going to this new drug discount drug store, as opposed to a regular Walgreen’s? Here's what we found, by looking at prices for some of the most popular medications.

A 30 day supply of the cholesterol drug Lipitor sells for just under $100, but at the new discount Walgreen’s, it's almost $13 cheaper. As for the depression drug Zoloft, it sells for almost $110 at a regular Walgreen’s, but the discounted price at the new center is just over $90. And if you're taking the popular sleep aid Ambien it will cost about $135 at a regular Walgreen’s but only about $116 at the discount rate.

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