5 Ways to Spend Less Money on Medication at the Pharmacy
Prescriptions are expensive. Both with insurance and when you pay out of your pocket. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, about a quarter of adults taking medicine say it is hard to afford their medication. Check out this list of 5 innovative ways to save money for your medication before you fill the next prescription.
Buy in Bulk
It is no surprise that getting more of your medication can cost less than you think. It is a good idea to ask your pharmacist to sell you a 90-day prescription instead of a standard 30-day supply. This is especially true for patients with chronic conditions requiring long-term medication use.
The good news is that most insurance plans offer mail-order pharmacy options to allow patients to take 90-day prescriptions. Thus, if you are on regular medication, this can save your bills. Of course, you are not allowed to order other types of drugs in bulk. These include painkillers or anything that a doctor recalibrates often. Ensure to consult your doctor before you order any drug in large quantities.
Ask For Generic Brands
Some brand-name drugs can break your bank, especially when a person pays out of pocket. Choosing a less expensive alternative can save you the bills. In this case, go for generic drugs. These medicines contain the same ingredients as brand-name drugs. They also have the same quality and efficacy that FDA requires for treating your condition. Just consult with your doctor for a medication that offers a generic version. This can save you anywhere from 30-80% of your medication bills.
Get a Prescription Saving Card
Prescription saving cards, like RX discount cards, can help you save up to 80% on generic and brand medications. These cards are free and easy to use. You only need to download the app and begin saving. One of the fascinating things about prescription discount cards is that you can use them in more than 60,000 pharmacies across the USA. Also, these cards offer an extra discount as a bonus if it is the first time filling a prescription. However, you won’t use your insurance if you use a prescription card.
Join Paid Pharmacy Membership Programs
There are plenty of prescription-saving programs out there. Chain companies like CVS and Walgreens offer a lot of perks when it comes to saving on prescriptions. Or, you can join Amazon Prime, which recently launched drug saving program for its members. However, this comes with a subscription fee. It is a good idea to compare medical savings minus the fee before you invest in paid programs.
Ask for Discounts Offline or Directly from the Manufacturer
Find coupons in person through trusted pharmacists if shopping online isn’t your thing. There are a lot of pharmacies out there offering discounts to encourage people to fill their prescriptions with them. Additionally, compare prices before you fill a prescription at a pharmacy. This can reduce costs, especially if you need the prescription regularly.
You can also search online for drug names and learn about the manufacturer’s discount programs. Sites like SingleCare and GoodRx can help you easily compare prescription prices from one pharmacy to another. They are great tools for people to know their drug costs beforehand. But remember, you have to meet specific criteria. You must satisfy the income and geographic requirements to be eligible for the discount.
Why Are Prescription Medications Expensive?
One of the reasons why prescription prices skyrocket is because pharmaceutical companies always manufacture new drugs. While this is better for innovation, it also means no generic alternatives you can find. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies what to cover their production costs. The best way to do it is to retail the prices of their new medicines.
What to Do If You Can’t Afford Prescription Medication
If you cannot afford your prescription medication, you can consider help from non-profit organizations, government programs, and drug manufacturers. Medicare also offers assistance tools to connect those with potential assistance programs based on eligibility. However, these programs require a person to prove that they can’t afford the prescription or can’t access insurance coverage.
Prescription costs can skyrocket, especially for regular medicines or branded drugs without generic alternatives. Thankfully, you can save money on prescriptions by following the above ways, whether you have insurance or not.
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