Secrets to Cutting Prescription Costs
So, your doctor prescribed you a new daily drug to take;
while you know it may help you to maintain your health, you can’t help but
worry about the cost. According to recent research, millions of Americans are
feeling the burden of increasingly costly prescription drugs, and they're
making choices that could jeopardize their health[1].
So, you’re not alone when it comes to your concerns. But, there could be a way
to remedy your empty wallet and your worries. Keep reading below to found out
how.
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Looking for some surefire tips to help you save on
prescription medications? Everyday Health1
is here to help! Read below to start saving today!
1. Try Generic
Drug Options
More than 80 percent of all drugs today are generics, which
use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way
but tend to cost a lot less than their pricey brand-name counterparts. The
cost-saving news is that manufacturers of generic drugs do not have to repeat
the animal and clinical (human) studies that were required of the brand-name
medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. Also, the competition among
multiple companies producing a generic version of a drug helps keep the prices
low for consumers. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to gain
approval a generic drug must be the same as the brand-name product in the
following ways:
-Able to reach the required level in the bloodstream at the
correct time and to the same extent
-Manner in which it is taken (whether inhaler, liquid, or
pill)
-Strength
-Testing standards
-Use and effects
-Working ingredients
Generics may differ from brand-name counterparts in terms of
other characteristics that don’t affect the drug’s performance or safety, like
flavorings. What you should do: Talk
to your physician and pharmacist about generic equivalents of your brand-name
drugs and consider switching.
2. Search for
Discount Coupons Online
A simple Google search of your prescription drug,
over-the-counter medicine, or healthcare supplies will bring up pages of
websites offering money-saving coupons. Drug coupons cannot lower your copay,
but your pharmacist may apply the coupon to your drug purchase to lower the
price. Scroll through the available sites online to find rebates for your
medicine, too. Because pharmacists may run prescriptions through insurance
first, make sure the pharmacist is aware of the discount coupon or rebate
before you pay the final cost. What you
should do: Before you head to the pharmacy to fill a prescription, do a
quick Google search to check for money-saving coupons and rebates.
3. Use an App to
Compare Local Drug Prices
There are several websites and mobile applications that can
help you find the best price available for a prescription drug. One of the most
widely used is GoodRx, which allows you to comparison shop and get coupons
toward medications. GoodRx collects and compares prices and discounts that you
didn’t know existed from more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including CVS, Rite
Aid, and Walgreens. It allows you to print free discounted coupons or send them
to your phone by email or text message. You can then use a GoodRx discount
instead of your health insurance or Medicare Part D or Advantage plan if the
cost is lower than your copay. When you go to GoodRx.com, they will ask for the
name of the drug, the dosage, the number of pills, and your zip code. Click the
“Find the Lowest Price” button. You will see what you might pay at different
chain pharmacies with a GoodRx discount coupon or voucher. You can then print
or download the generated coupons and vouchers to your smartphone and show your
pharmacist to get savings on your drug purchase.
4. Join Your
Pharmacy’s Prescription Club
No insurance or not enough coverage? You can find in-store
pharmacy prescription clubs at many drugstores. These money-saving programs can
lower drug and supply prices. Also, the in-store programs provide up to an 85
percent savings on thousands of prescriptions, including commonly prescribed
generic medications for heart health, diabetes, asthma, mental health issues,
women's health, gastrointestinal health, and other conditions. While these
savings clubs are not health insurance, they can save you money at the pharmacy.
What you should do: Compare
different in-store pharmacy prescription clubs to get the best prices when
checking out. In-store pharmacies at retailers like Walgreens and Kmart also
offer prescription clubs.
5. Shop Local or a
Preferred Pharmacy Network
Independent pharmacies may beat major chain drugstores,
supermarkets, and big box discounters on price — and by an impressive margin.
Independents can also easily beat membership warehouses and clubs. In contrast,
the preferred pharmacy network is a group of chain pharmacies that likely give
insurance plans a larger discount than other pharmacies. The point is that
drugstores have different prices — they can vary by hundreds of dollars — so be
sure to ask ahead before you pick a specific pharmacy. What you should do: Call your local and preferred retail pharmacies
before filling your prescription to find the lowest prices.
6. Use a Verified
Internet Pharmacy
Verified internet pharmacies are those that have passed
stringent reviews by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
These pharmacies often include ".pharmacy" in their URLs to show that
they are in compliance with the NABP, although some verified pharmacies are
.coms or .orgs. They also carry the designation VIPPS, for Verified Internet
Pharmacy Practice Site. While verified internet pharmacies have passed inspection
and are deemed safe, be careful not to use a rogue internet pharmacy that is
not verified. Check your internet pharmacy against the Find a Safe Site list to
buy safely. In a revealing 2018 study, Consumer Reports sent secret shoppers to
150 pharmacies in six cities across the country to ask for the retail cash
prices for a one-month supply of five commonly prescribed drugs — essentially
the prices someone without insurance might pay. The widespread range in prices
they uncovered was shocking. What you
should do: It pays to shop around, and don't forget to check internet
pharmacies like HealthWarehouse.com for greater savings.
7. Use Mail Order
for Medications and Supplies
Many pharmacies offer online ordering for drugs, diabetic
supplies, over-the-counter medicines, hair supplies, and even pet medications.
And you don’t have to have insurance. After placing your order, you will
receive the drugs and supplies in the mail. Make sure the pharmacy is VIPPS
accredited and certified. Your doctor will send the Rx by e-prescription to the
proper phone number. What you should do:
Generally, it will take one to five business days to process your mail order
prescription, so it’s important to plan ahead.
8. Get Free or
Low-Cost Birth Control Online
Not only can you get great prices on medications online,
several newer websites offer free or low-cost birth control to women in many
states. Planned Parenthood Direct, Nurx, Prjkt Ruby, and Maven Clinic offer
telehealth services, virtual clinics, and prescription drugs delivered right to
your door — and no insurance is needed. What
you should do: Explore telehealth services and virtual specialty clinics
that can save you time and money on birth control and other necessary
medications.
9. Talk Openly
With Your Doctor
Be vocal with your
doctor about any financial issues you may have, and be sure to try one or
more of the following five things at your next office visit:
Ask your doctor for
free samples or coupons. Doctors usually have samples and coupons given to
them by drug reps. It doesn’t hurt to try a free sample pack before filling a
pricey prescription to make sure this drug will work for you.
Ask your doctor for a
90-day supply. This gives you one copay every three months instead of one
every month.
Ask about mail order.
If your drug plan has a mail-order option, you may be able to get the 90-day
supply of medications at an even lower cost.
Ask about
pill-splitting. Your doctor can prescribe a higher dose of medicine at the
same price of the lower dose. You can split the drug in half or fourths to
save. Scored pills are easier to split, but use a pill splitter (usually
between $3 and $9 at most pharmacies) to avoid crushing the medication.
Ask for an exception.
If you and your doctor can’t find an affordable option together, speak with
your insurer about making a formulary exception and providing coverage for your
drug. The formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by a prescription
drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits. Your doctor will most likely need to submit a
supporting statement, detailing that your drug is medically necessary and that
any alternatives would have an adverse effect.
What you should do: Be open and persistent. If your insurer denies
your request for an exception, file an appeal. This requires that you work with
your doctor to submit an application or letter of appeal.
10. Consider
Patient Assistance Programs
Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are typically offered by
pharmaceutical companies to provide free or low-cost prescription drugs to
patients who lack health insurance or prescription drug coverage. You will need
to fill out an application on the drug company’s website with your financial
information. Your doctor may need to provide information about your prescribed
medications. The drug company will review the application and tell you if
you’re eligible for assistance. If approved, many companies will ship a supply
of the drug to your home or your doctor’s office. Your doctor will need to
place a new order several weeks before the supply runs out. What you should do: Check out
RxAssist.org, an online database of drug companies offering patient assistant
programs that provide free or affordable drugs and copay assistance. (14)
11. Learn More
About Medicare Part D
If you are 65 years or older and on Medicare Part D or
Medicare Advantage, it’s important to understand how to get discounts on drugs.
Medicare Part D is an optional program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for
prescription drugs. Medicare Advantage Plan is a type of Medicare health plan
offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare. The insurer’s
formulary of drugs that they cover can change at any time, so be sure to check
the prescription medications you take on the Medicare.gov site to find the best
Part D plan that works for you. While some people are able to use discounted
coupons with Medicare Part D, most cannot unless they're paying cash only. Of
course, if you have a coupon for a drug not covered by your prescription drug
plan, you can use this to lower your costs. What
you should do: Take advantage of online education such as the Drugs.com
Medicare Support Group to ask questions, share opinions, and stay up with the
latest news. Also, check the
Medicare.gov site for more understanding on how Part D works with other
insurance.
12. Get It for
Free, if You Can
Some large supermarket chains, including Publix, Harris
Teeter, Schnucks, Price Chopper, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and ShopRite,
will fill basic antibiotic prescriptions like amoxicillin for free. Supermarket
pharmacies may give prenatal vitamins, metformin, antibiotics, children’s
vitamins, and other commonly taken medications and supplements for free if you
have a valid prescription. These meds and antibiotics are free for as long your
doctor prescribes them. You just have to ask. What you should do: You never know until you ask at the pharmacy to
find out what drugs they provide customers for free. So be vocal!
Saving money on your prescription medications is a wonderful
thing, but saving your own life - is truly amazing! So how can you do that?
With some help from Life Alert Protection. While wearing their emergency
pendant, you can summon an help fast with just one touch of a button. No matter
if you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, LifeAlert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast. With over 25
years in the medical alert industry, Life Alert can offer you the safety you
deserve. Cut costs not corners when it comes to your personal protection and
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Works Cited:
1.
Bruce, Debra Fulghum PhD. “A Consumer’s Guide to
Drug Discounts.” Everyday Health.
8 April 2019. <https://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/consumers-guide-drug-discounts/
>.