Published:
08/19/2011 12:54pm
18 Tips for Saving Money on Prescriptions
According to a report written in 2000 from Families USA they estimated seniors would spend $2810 a year in prescription drug costs, an increase of 133% from 2000 to 2010. It’s difficult finding updated statistical information, or whether their projections were correct in 2010, but I would venture to guess it wasn’t too far off. Many seniors are forgoing important medications due to the rising costs. These tips may help prevent significant health consequences for those struggling to pay for medications.
1. Physicians often have samples of a variety of drugs in their offices, given to them free of charge. Ask your physician for samples. Especially if the physician is prescribing something new and you don’t know if the drug will work, or cause adverse reactions or have intolerable side effects. A previous patient of mine did just that and came home with a huge bag full!
2. Physicians order medications without cost consideration. Their focus is treating the problem at hand with the drug they feel will work best, without thinking about cost. Newer drugs always cost more because generics are often unavailable. Ask if a generic is available for the drug they want to order. If not, ask for an alternate order for something a generic is available.
3. Price check! The prices can vary a significant amount from pharmacy to pharmacy. If the medication is too expensive, call the physicians office and ask for a cheaper alternate drug. The pharmacists can also give you that information before you call the physicians office, so you can request a replacement order of a specific drug.
4. Check with buying clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club. You do not need a membership to utilize the pharmacy. Just tell the person at the door checking cards that you’re only using the pharmacy. As an incentive to purchase a membership these Clubs typically will offer drug discounts on some drugs with specific membership levels, only if you’re uninsured. The discount can’t be used for all medications, so check with the club pharmacist about your specific medications, and see if the discounts are worth spending money on a membership. Remember you do not need a membership to utilize the pharmacy.
5. Insurance companies allow you to refill your medications 1 week prior to being out of the current prescription. Filling prescriptions one week early will allow you to save 4-6 weeks of medications in a year if you refill monthly.
6. Ask your physician if there is a higher dose of the medication you can split in half to save money. Check with the pharmacy on both dosages, because higher dosages may come with higher costs.
7. Mail order through your insurance companies approved mail order pharmacy may be cheaper, especially if you order medications for 3 months. Again check prices.
8. If you are prescribed a new medication you haven’t taken before and your physician doesn’t have samples, see if your pharmacist will allow a partial fill of the order, until you see if the medication will work, or how you react to it. Some medications cannot be partially filled by law. This is especially true for individuals with previous sensitivities to medications. Lots of money is wasted on prescriptions that cause a reaction or intolerable side effects after a dose or two.
9. If you do not have insurance, small independent pharmacies may have discounted prices for uninsured. Let all pharmacies know when you price check that you are uninsured.
10. Many states now have drug discount cards for the uninsured. Price check and tell them you have the discount card. Using a drug discount card may even be less expensive than your cost with health insurance prescription coverage. Have the pharmacist check the cost using health insurance and off insurance using the discount card. You can find several discount drug card companies, or go to Free USA Drug Plan and check the cost of your medications from your local pharmacies right on the site.
11. Drug companies offer discounted or free medications for individuals who fall below a specific amount
