Whether you are experiencing a short-term illness or a chronic condition, doctors most likely turn to prescribe you medication. This can either be an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, a blood thinner, or any other drug type. However, it is vital to know that many prescription drugs tend to carry a hefty price tag. Hence, it would be best to know how you can save some money on them.
Save on prescriptions by applying the tips below:
Talk To Your Doctor
When it comes to saving money on your medications, communication is key. It will help if you will be honest with your doctor. That way, your doctor can provide you other ways that might make it easier on your budget, such as the following:
Most drug companies provide doctors with multiple drug samples to give to their patients. If you are only taking the medication for a short time, your doctor might provide you the full quantity of the drug you need. Moreover, these samples also give your doctor a chance to test a new drug for you. This helps ensure you can put up with the product before prescribing you with a month’s supply.
Some doctors automatically write brand-name drugs on their prescriptions. If this is the case, you can ask your doctor to provide you a generic equivalent. That way you can save some money. This is because generics typically cost less than brand-name drugs.
Not all brand-name drugs have a generic equivalent. If this is so, you may ask your doctor to prescribe you a different drug that costs less. It would be best to ask for a cheaper alternative that works as well as the first drug your doctor prescribed.
Some drugs tend to be available in different dosages. For example, there are drugs available in 5 and 10-milligram tablets. If your doctor prescribed you a 5-milligram tablet, but the 10-milligram tablet costs less, ask your doctor about pill-splitting. Your doctor can prescribe you the 10-milligram tablet instead and show you how to split the tablet accurately and safely.
Talk To Your Pharmacist
If your doctor has prescribed you a brand-name drug and you prefer a generic version, you can also ask your pharmacist for help. Pharmacists in our country are allowed to make such kinds of substitutes. This is according to the US Office of Personnel Management.
However, it is vital to know that there are cases where pharmacists can’t substitute your brand-name drugs into their generic equivalent. This happens when your doctor specifically writes on your prescription that you can only use brand-name drugs. On the other hand, if this is the case, your pharmacist can communicate with your doctor and ask for a cheaper drug alternative.
Shop Around
The place where you buy your medication might make a big difference in the costs. Most of the time, drug manufacturers suggest a retail price for their drug products. However, they don’t have any authority as to how much pharmacies and other stores should charge.
To compare drug prices, you can call the pharmacies near you. Moreover, you can also use search tools available on the internet. You can simply type the specific drug prescribed by your doctor, and these tools will automatically show you the prices at different pharmacies located near you.
When you are shopping for prescription drugs, it will help if you also look at mail-order pharmacies. These are online pharmacies that deliver your needed drugs by mail. Moreover, they tend to have lower overhead costs. This means they typically cost less.
Community Charity Pharmacy (CCP)
Community charity pharmacies or also known as CCPs, are licensed drug companies. They are designed to provide drug products to uninsured, low-income, and underinsured consumers. Moreover, these drugs are typically dispensed to these consumer types for free.
CPPs usually stock hundreds of the most commonly used prescription drugs. This includes those that are for diabetes, anxiety, asthma, depression, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Furthermore, you can get these same drug products in retail pharmacies and other stores.
If you are having trouble looking for a CCP near you, you can check the official website of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Simply type your location and see where the nearest CCP in your area is located.
Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
Patient assistance programs tend to offer discounts to people with low income. These programs are usually run with drug companies. Moreover, they usually offer their products for free or at a low cost.
It is vital to know that PAPs have their own rules and requirements to determine eligibility. However, most PAPs require you to prove that you are a US citizen and that your income is low (according to their terms). Moreover, you might also be required to confirm that you don’t have any prescription drugs insurance.
Prescription Drug Discount Cards
Taking advantage of prescription drug discount cards is also a way to lower your prescription drug costs. These cards are available in multiple different organizations. This includes state governments, membership organizations, nonprofits, and for-profit companies. Moreover, you can also look for a prescription drug Discount card from BuzzRx online.
It is essential to know that prescription drug discount cards might not be available to all consumer types. Some might be available only to people who have a monthly income below a certain level or people over a certain age. Hence, it would be best to do some research first.
With many prescription drug discount cards available, it might be challenging to know what card is best for you. Moreover, most pharmacies typically don’t tell you how much you can save with a prescription drug discount program unless you present the valid prescription and the card. To address this, it would be best to collect several different free discount cards and ask your pharmacists which one can give you a huge discount on the drug you need.
Your prescription drug expenses might be heavy on your budget. However, it is vital to know that your medications should not be taken for granted. Hence, it would be best to look for ways to save money on them. That way, you will not risk your health, and you will still have some extra cash for your other necessities.
