CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. is stepping up its wellness+ for diabetes program by offering support and exclusive benefits and savings to diabetes patients in all of its 4,600-plus stores.
The drug chain also said Monday that in recognition of of American Diabetes Month, all stores are raising funds throughout November to support the American Diabetes Association.
Introduced last fall as an extension of Rite Aid’s wellness+ customer loyalty program, wellness+ for diabetes gives members access to pharmacists with special training in diabetes management, along with access to year-round savings on many common diabetes products. Customers can sign up online at riteaid.com/diabetes or in stores, where they are welcomed to the program with a free Diabetes Lifestyle Management Kit that includes Rite Aid’s informational guide on diabetes and a $100 coupon book for diabetes products.
Support resources and savings offered to wellness+ for diabetes members include free wellness consultations with Rite Aid pharmacists specially trained in diabetes care, access to a toll-free number through which they can be connected during regular business hours with a pharmacist who can discuss diabetes management, 24×7 access to chat with a Rite Aid pharmacist online, free 12-page Diabetes Health guides, and a monthly e-mail newsletter with information on living with diabetes and additional product savings.
Wellness+ for diabetes members also can earn a recurring $10 +UP Reward for every $50 spent on participating diabetes products at Rite Aid. +UP Rewards can be used like cash toward a qualifying purchase at a future Rite Aid visit.
In addition, Rite Aid wellness stores plan to hold health events on Nov. 14 and 17 that will focus on diabetes and immunization awareness, which is vital for diabetes patients given that flu and pneumonia account for the deaths of 10,000 to 30,000 diabetes patients annually, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The events will provide assessments for diabetes risk, COPD and blood pressure.
"Living with diabetes can feel overwhelming, but Rite Aid is committed to making it easier by being a year-round destination for diabetes support," Robert Thompson, executive vice president of pharmacy at Rite Aid, said in a statement. "By enrolling in wellness+ for diabetes, our customers instantly get a wide range of resources, including the ability to call or chat online with a Rite Aid pharmacist specially trained as a diabetes care specialist."
During November, Rite Aid — a long-time national sponsor of the American Diabetes Association — will raise money for the organization by selling $1 paper pinups in all stores that declare the customer’s support for the ADA’s Stop Diabetes (R) movement.
Each pinup has coupons to Rite Aid’s online store, including a $5 off $25 purchase coupon and 25% off cough, cold and flu items. The drug chain said that to date, its customers and staff have raised more than $2 million to build awareness and raise funds for diabetes research and advocacy.
