A new health plan offers many extra benefits we can all use.

Remember when taking care of your family’s health-care was simple? Your employer provided great insurance coverage with all the extras. You had a family doctor who maybe even made house calls. And you knew your pharmacist by name. But today, American family lifestyles are very different. Now many fathers and mothers work outside the home, often for companies who have had to cut insurance benefits. With many companies offering their employees the bare minimum of health coverage, without any "extras," a lot of American families are being forced to borrow from their savings in order to meet their needs.

The problem can be even more devastating to our senior citizens. Many live on fixed incomes. This often forces them to forego medical attention or delay having prescriptions filled because they are unable to pay. This can be extremely detrimental to their health and quality of life.

The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, wanted to find a way to help its members who may find themselves in this predicament. First, we determined which benefits would be most helpful and provide the most savings. After exploring many options, prescription drugs and vision care were chosen. These were the obvious areas for savings. In addition, the newest health-care benefit to hit the United States, 24-Hour Nurseline, was included at no extra cost to our members.

Another goal to attain was ease of use. We know that our families are very busy and do not have time to file claims or fill out a lot of forms. The prescription drug and vision benefits are point-of-purchase discounts, which means you get your savings immediately—no waiting. The nurseline service is absolutely free. The program is very simple to use. When you enroll, you will receive a membership card like the one pictured on the previous page. You will use this for your prescription and vision benefits. You will also receive a toll-free telephone number for the nurseline. Once you enroll, you will receive additional information about these benefits. Here’s a brief overview of how all these items work.

• Prescription Drugs: Your prescription drug card can be used at more than 40,000 participating chain and independent pharmacies in all 50 states. You simply show your membership card to the pharmacist at a participating location to receive the lowest price available that day. Whether at home or on vacation, you and your family can get the best price available on your prescriptions.
• Vision Care: A leader in the industry, Cole Vision Corporation, provides the vision care. Cole is the largest company owned and operated vision network in the United States with over 6,500 locations. These include Pearle Vision Centers, Sears Optical, Montgomery Ward Vision, JC Penney Optical, and Prime Sight. You will get savings of up to 60% off normal retail prices on all your eyecare needs, including eye exams, eyewear (frames and lenses), contact lenses, prescription and non-prescription sunglasses, and accessories.
• Twenty-four-Hour Nurseline: Access to the 24-Hour Nurseline is the most unique feature of our program. This is an around-the-clock service offering health and medical information, education, and support. Registered nurses can help you put your mind at ease, give you the information you are looking for, and assist you in understanding your healthcare options. They can offer suggestions for taking care of a minor problem at home or guide you to the appropriate level of outside care. Of Course, Nurseline should not be a substitute for emergency situations, in such circumstances, emergency medical facilities should be contacted.
  

These services were carefully selected for their proven effectiveness in improving the quality of health-care in families and seniors. In many cases, the first use of your card will provide enough savings to pay the annual membership price. We hope you will enroll in the Member Benefits Program and take advantage of the savings for you and your family.