It aims to help consumers buy certain medications

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — A new program from Kmart aims to make it easier for uninsured or underinsured consumers to afford certain prescription drugs and other pharmacy products and services.

The discount store chain on Wednesday launched Kmart Pharmacy Savings Plus, in which 10 commonly prescribed generic drugs are available at $3 each. To get the savings, customers can go to any Kmart Pharmacy and enroll in one of two membership plans: an individual membership for $10 per year or a household membership for $15 per year.

Medications being offered at $3 each, for a 30-day supply, include the following:

• Amlodipine besylate 2.5 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg (30 count), a treatment for high blood pressure.
• Amoxicillin suspension 125 mg/5 ml (150 ml), 200 mg/5 ml (100 ml) or 250 mg/5 ml (150ml), an antibiotic.
• Fluoxetine HCL 10 mg, 20 mg or 40 mg (30 count), an antidepressant.
• Fluticasone propionate spray 50 mcg (one bottle), a nasal spray for allergies.
• Ibuprofen 400 mg, 600 mg or 800 mg (60 count), an anti-inflammatory pain reliever and fever reducer.
• Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg (30 count), a diuretic used to treat high blood pressure and edema (excess fluid in the body).
• Lisinopril 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg (30 count), used to treat hypertension and heart disease.
• Meloxicam 7.5 mg or 15 mg (30 count), an anti-inflammatory pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
• Metformin HCL 500 mg, 850 mg or 1000 mg (60 count), a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
• Simvastatin 10 mg, 20 mg or 40 mg (30 count), a cholesterol-lowering drug.

Pharmacy Savings Plus also offers free flavoring for liquid medication, 25% off immunizations, 10% off pet medications (as prescribed by veterinarian) and healthy savings offers each quarter (starting in April).

Kmart noted that the program can save hundreds of dollars a year for customers who pay cash for some or all of their prescriptions.

“We are pleased to introduce the new Pharmacy Savings Plus program as another example of how Kmart Pharmacy is focused on the overall health and well-being of our Kmart shoppers,” Kmart Pharmacy president Phil Keough said in a statement. “We are committed to offering discounted prescriptions and other health-related benefits to make it more cost-effective to be healthy.”

In addition, the Pharmacy Savings Plus program can be used with Kmart’s Shop Your Way Pharmacy Rewards Program, which was launched last April. The Rx rewards program gives members $10 back in points, or 10,000 points, for every five qualifying prescriptions — also including vaccinations and pet medications — filled in a rolling 12-month period at Kmart pharmacies. The points can be redeemed for qualifying nonpharmacy merchandise at any Kmart or Sears store, both in-store and online.

Overall, Kmart operates about 700 pharmacies in its approximately 950 store locations.