Five Quick Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs
Prescription prices are skyrocketing out of control. The average
person is now spending over $250 a month at the pharmacy
counter. With the new Medicare Part D plan, the government is
stepping in to try and alleviate some of these expenses. The
plan is riddled with problems, delays, and confusion. Taking
control of your own healthcare is truly the only way to lower
your costs. What follows is a quick list of five ways to lower
your costs.
Shopping around to various pharmacies can save you a few dollars
here and there. Consider your time, gas, and effort when making
the decision to drive out of the way to save a couple of
dollars. Is it really worth five dollars to drive an extra 15
miles round trip every month? Some pharmacies will match a
competitor's price. Ask up front is they will match, then find
the lowest price. Call them back, give them the lowest price and
where you found it. They should then reduce their price for you.
Getting a generic is always the smart thing to do. Some people
are apprehensive about generic medication but it must contain
the same active ingredients as the more expensive brand. The
difference is with the fillers or dyes used in the
manufacturing. There are rare allergies to some of these fillers
and dyes, but they occur is so infrequently, there is no need to
worry. Brand name drugs are so expensive because the
manufacturers must recoup the money spent on research and
development before the patent runs out. When the patent does
expire, any manufacturer who can prove to the FDA that they can
make a similar product, can produce it and charge what they feel
is necessary. This brings out competition and lower prices.
Splitting tablets is common in the nursing home and hospital
setting. These institutions know how to lower costs. You can do
the same by asking your doctor to double your dose and cut it in
half. Most medications do not double price when they double
strength. In most cases, this will save you about 40%. Be sure
your medication can be cut. Often times, drugs are released
slowly in the body through a mechanism in the tablet. This
mechanism cannot be cut or the medication will be released at
one time. If you have insurance with a set co-pay, this
technique will not work. You will pay the same co-pay regardless
of the quantity of pills you buy.
A few popular prescription medications are available
over-the-counter (OTC) in lower doses. For example, Prilosec
recently became available OTC. The cost for the OTC version is
much less than the prescription and you do not need to see your
doctor, an added expense in time and money. Motrin, Zantac, and
Pepcid are other examples of medication available in both
prescription and OTC strengths.
Going online to find a pharmacy can be worthwhile. These
companies will mail you your prescription at a lower price than
you can usually get them at the retail level. They can do this
because they are set up in a very efficient warehouse setting
with little overhead. When shopping online, you must be
cautions. The FDA has now determined that almost half of the
seized drugs that were supposed to be from Canadian pharmacies,
were from some other country. When looking for an online
pharmacy, by sure they display the VIPPS symbol. This signifies
that they are following all the rules and regulations set forth
by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. This is the
same governing body that regulates traditional pharmacies.
Medication is essential for the health and wellbeing of many
people. Anything this important is not going to be cheap. By
using one or all of these quick tips, you will see your costs
reduced at the pharmacy.