Lower Prescription Bills
Lower Prescription Drugs - How To Afford Prescriptions At A Price That Won't Make You Sick
Unlike many other parts of your budget, prescription drugs are not something you can remove at will. Sure, you can do without fancy meals or frapaccianos, but skip your heart medication at your peril. Still, there are many ways for you to save money on your prescription drugs.
Here's a list of proven ways to the medicine you need for less money:
Purchase from mail-order pharmacies. Many of these pharmacies specialize in bulk orders, allowing you to earn great discounts for prescription drugs you'll be taking for a long time.
Go long term. If you need to take medication for three months or so and a mail-order pharmacy's bulk orders are too large, ask your local pharmacy for a 90 day supply. This cuts down on the fees they charge for every prescription filled.
Pretend it's Costco. When you are prescribed a new drug, ask for a free sample to start with. This can cover you for anywhere from one week to one month before you have to pay a cent.
Avoid name brands. Just like cereal and makeup, you are often paying extra money for nothing but a brand name. Ask your doctor for any generic brands of your prescription; chances are, there are at least one or two out there.
Go for the strong stuff. Remember how we said pharmacies charge a fee to fill your prescription? Another way to get around those fees is to ask your doctor to prescribe a stronger dose of your medication, which you can reduce by splitting the pill. Same number of pills, but they last twice as long - thereby cutting your fees in half. Consult with your doctor first, of course!
Check out a drug assistance plan. Many of these organizations were created to help people get the medicine they need, but not necessarily afford. Check out Merck's, a well known provider of discounts regardless of income. To learn more, visit the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at www.pparx.org.
Shop around at a few pharmacies. If you are uninsured or have a large copay, it's wise to check prices at pharmacies in your neighborhood. The price differences can be eye opening.
With these tips you should be able to reduce your prescriptions bills by at least 10-20%. A word about discount cards, though: while they seem like a good value, many are not worth it due to their restrictions. For example, generic medicine may not part of the discount plan, or the cards only work in specific locations. |
