Weis expands cheaper generics program

SUNBURY, Pa. Weis Markets on Thursday added 50 generic prescription drugs and antibiotics to its 90-day, $9.99 prescription plan, expanding the program's overall total to more than 400 medications.

"With the tough economy, increasing unemployment rates and record low consumer confidence, our challenge is to offer our customers long-term savings to complement our weekly promotions," stated David Hepfinger, Weis Markets president and CEO. "In January, we introduced our 90-day Price Freeze program, which freezes the prices of 2,400 staple items through April 1 and now we're expanding our 90-Day, $9.99 Generic Prescription plan to give our customers more choices and to help them save money on their prescriptions. … In 2008, our generic prescription plan has helped our customers and their prescription benefit plans save more than $2 million and they will save even more money in 2009."

"Our 90-day, $9.99 generic prescription plan offers our customers competitive prices which are quite often lower than their mail-order co-pay in a full-service pharmacy that also offers medication management and counseling services," Hepfinger said. "Ultimately, our plan offers both savings and service along with increased choices, which are increasingly important to many of our customers."

New additions to the 90-day, $9.99 plan include generic drugs and antibiotics used to treat high blood pressure, arthritis, ulcers, sinus infections and strep throat. The plan continues to include generic drugs and antibiotics used to treat allergies, asthma, arthritis, cholesterol, diabetes, infections and digestive ailments and the new generic drug Altace, which is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.