Ways to Cut
Your Prescription Drug Costs
1. You May Qualify for Free Drug program
There are over 1,100 drugs that are made
by 100 manufacturers who have free drug programs. Most
major drug companies provide free medications, but rarely,
if ever publicize their programs. An estimated 2-billion
dollars of free medication is given away annually.
John’s father has prostate cancer and
takes Casodex every day, which costs $300 a month in
the US, and $180 from Mexico. He sent his father’s information
to see if he qualified. He recently found out his father
did qualify to receive the drug free. Larry just happened
to see a small article buried inside the newspaper.
He never knew these programs existed.
For medicare prescription drug coverage
information please pay a visit to
Medicare Education. You may also go-here for
medicare prescription drug plan information and
details on generic presciption drug coverage and costs.
2. Get a Free Pharmacy Discount Card
AdvanceRx offers a free discount card
to anyone that saves 13%-25% and covers all drugs dispensed
at a pharmacy. There are five free discount cards for
Senior citizens. The discount cards cover over 200 popular
medications.
3. Save Up to 93% by Asking for a Generic
Use generics whenever they are available.
Both brand name and generic drugs contain the same active
ingredients, are the same in strength and dosage, meet
the same government quality control standards.
According to Mark Erblat, Pharmacy Director
and owner of Rx For You, cost savings on brand name
vs. generic will vary from drug to drug and pharmacy
to pharmacy but can be significant. For instance:
- Prozac brand 20mg, 100 tablets cost $280.19
and generic sells for $29.99 (Savings 89%)
- Vasotec brand 5mg, 100 tablets costs $103.59
and generic sells for $18.19 (Savings 82%)
- Zantac brand 150mg 100 tablets costs $173.39
and generic sells for $10.99 (Savings 93%)
- Zestril brand 10mg 100 tablets costs $96.29
and generic sells for $39.99 (Savings 58%)
4. Veterans Now Qualify for More Benefits
Recent laws have changed that grant veterans
medical benefits for certain illnesses like diabetes
and hypertension, provided the veteran is subject to
qualifying conditions like agent orange exposure. See
if you qualify for benefits by checking with the Veteran’s
Administration.
5. Cut Your Costs in Half … by Using
a Pill Splitter
Most pharmacies should stock pill splitters.
Sometimes, medications can be broken in half and save
you 50%. The reason is because several pharmaceutical
manufacturers price some of their medications the same
for all strengths.
Lipitor is essentially the same price
for all strengths. It is possible to save as much as
$100 on a one month supply of Lipitor just by getting
the larger strength and cutting in half. Ask your pharmacist.
This method may not be appropriate for
all medications and could be dangerous if used with
the wrong medication. Begin by asking your doctor or
pharmacist if your medication is available in a dose
double your normal dosage (ex, if you usually take a
20 mg. pill, is a 40 mg. pill available?). If it is,
ask whether there would be any problems with splitting
the tablets or capsules.
Now, do a cost comparison between the
two dosages. If the higher dose is less than double
the cost for your regular dose then you will be saving
money by having your doctor prescribe the higher dose
and then splitting it. Cost savings is typically 32%
to 50%.
Viagra is another medication that lends
itself to being split in half or quarters to save 50%
to 75% depending upon the dosage required. The average
Viagra user who uses two doses per week can save over
$400.00 per year.
This method is not appropriate for all
medications. Check with your pharmacist. Some easily
split medications include: Ambien, Aricept, Buspar,
Effexor, Lipitor, Luvox, Paxil, Remeron, Risperidal,
Seroquel, Serzone, Viagra, Zoloft, Zyprexa. (Ask your
pharmacist about others)
6. Save by Buying a 90 vs. 30-Day Supply
Most pharmacies have higher savings on
a longer days supply. In addition, when it comes to
people who have insurance prescription coverage, there
may be other savings by getting a larger day supply.
For instance, if you have a $10 co-pay, the insurance
company will let you get only a 30 days supply in general
for that $10. A 90-day supply bought with out insurance
may only cost you $18. This would be/ much cheaper than
paying $10 per month ($30 for 90 days). It would also
save you two trips to the
pharmacy.
7. Ask for an Older Medication That is
as Effective
Many pharmacists agree, that antibiotics
are probably the most over prescribed, or incorrectly
prescribed medications. Often, the physician will prescribe
a newer antibiotic that as been promoted as more effective.
What this really means is that it is considerably more
expensive. The newer antibiotics are often no more effective
than the older antibiotics. However, they are new and
covered by patent protection. Therefore, the newer medication
is more effective in ensuring a nice profit for the
drug manufacturer for many years. Since many generics
are made in the same factory as the brand name ones,
make sure you ask your doctor for a generic antibiotic.
A great generic broad- spectrum antibiotic costs 80%
less than a new antibiotic. In dollars, it costs you
$20 instead of $100.
8. Over-the-Counter Drugs May be as Effective
as Prescription
Many doctors still prescribe Pepcid 20mg
to their patients. A one-month supply of Pepcid 20mg
cost approximately $60. Pepcid AC, over-the-counter
in 10mg strength, taking double the dose costs approximately
$23. Most prescription cold medications average $20
to $60 for a one month supply and contain the same decongestant
that is available over-the-counter for less than $2.
9. Get Only a 7-day Supply of New Medication
If the doctor does not have samples, ask
your pharmacist to give you only a one-week supply to
try. It is a federal law that medicines can’t be returned
once they are dispensed. If you get a month's supply
and can’t tolerate the medicine, you have just lost
that money.
10. Stop Using Drugs You No Longer Need
Review all your prescriptions with your
doctor at each visit. You may be paying for some drugs
you no longer need. You can get a free, no obligation,
Cost Screening to find out how much you can save. Also
ask your pharmacist to review your medications in addition
to your doctor. Here is why. A pharmacist's valuable
services and knowledge are free. He may also find something
your doctor missed.
A lady developed a persistent cough after
she had been taking a blood pressure medication for
approximately 3 months. Her doctor treated her cough
with antibiotics and cough syrup for 6 months. She asked
her pharmacist about her cough lasting so long. The
pharmacist found that a possible side effect of her
new blood pressure medication was a persistent cough.
Her doctor argued but changed her medicine and her cough
stopped. The lady had spent over $750 in doctor’s fees
and medication just to treat the cough.
A mother was giving her daughter antibiotics
to treat a kidney infection. Her daughter consistently
had a fever. This continued for several months. The
baby’s pediatrician prescribed several antibiotics unsuccessfully.
After searching the literature, the pharmacist discovered
that the antibiotic had a side effect of persistent
low-grade fever. In the end, the mother had spent over
$500 on doctor visits and prescription cost.
Don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist
questions, their advice is free and can often save you
money and aggravation. Ask questions about side effects,
and drug interactions.
11. Order Your Prescription Drugs by
Phone
You can save 20%-50% by ordering prescription
drugs over the phone. Bonus, you do not have to pick
them up at the pharmacy. Make a list of your medications,
including strength and number taken daily. Then list
at least six pharmacies you are going to call. Don’t
forget about discount mail order sources too, several
are listed at the end of this booklet. Then call and
get prices, ask if this is their best price available.
Compare the costs.
12. Pay Attention to the Quantity
Find out how much medication you really
may need, and make sure your doctor doesn't order you
more medicine than is necessary to treat your condition.
13. Ask Your Doctor for Samples at Every
visit. They Have Plenty
14. Take Only Those Drugs You Really
Need
When your doctor prescribes medication
for you, understand exactly what it's meant to do and
for how long. If you are prescribed two drugs for the
same symptom, ask if you really need both.
15. Buy Home Test Kits
Kits for determining ovulation, pregnancy
and colorectal cancer, can be purchased as home tests
instead of paying twice as much for similar kits at
your doctor's office.
16. Cross the Border
If you live close to either Canada or
Mexico, you can buy some medications in either country
for 75% off the U.S. price.
17. AARP Members are Eligible for Many
Discounts, Including Mail-Order Pharmacy Discounts.
Ask for an AARP discount.
If you have questions about these generic drug prescription tips,
your medications or
drug store prescriptions, please ask your doctor and pharmacist.
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