10 Ways to Save on Prescription Medications
Category: Drug Information
According to the Commonwealth Fund, Americans’ per capita pharmaceutical spending is almost three times more than the average of other OECD member nations. So, it’s no wonder that in 2022, one in five U.S. adults 65 and older skipped, delayed, missed, reduced, or used someone else’s medication.
Are you in the same boat? If so, it’s time to learn how to pay a much lower price on pharmacy orders.
Join us at PricePro Pharmacy as we share ten ways to reduce medication costs!
1. Go Generic
Generic prescription medications are copies of brand-name drugs. They have identical active ingredients and must meet the U.S. FDA’s standards for bioequivalence. In Canada, Health Canada is the regulatory board that sets bioequivalence standards.
Bioequivalent Drugs: A Quick Overview
Bioequivalent drugs are equal in the rate and extent to which their active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) works.
For example, suppose you need to take Glucophage for diabetes. Glucophage is a brand-name drug. It’s the “original” or the first of its kind.
Glucophage’s API or generic version is metformin. Metformin costs less than Glucophage because it’s a “copy,” so its maker didn’t spend the same amount of resources developing its formula. Glucophage’s maker (Bristol-Myers Squibb) did, which is why it was expensive for a long time until its patent expired and generic metformin became available.
The same goes for all other brand-name medications with expired patents. Generic versions are typically already available for these drugs.
How Cheaper Are Generic Drugs?
According to a Johns Hopkins Carey Business School article, generics have an average price discount of 80% to 85% compared to their brand-name counterparts. It also pointed out that many experts regard generics as “molecular replicas” of brand-name drugs and deliver the same therapeutic value.
Before You Make the Switch
Now that you know how generics can reduce medication costs, you likely want to switch to them immediately. However, please consult with your doctor first.
Yes, generics are generally safe and bioequivalent to the original formulations. However, some may have “excipients” to which you could be allergic. Excipients are ingredients other than the API and may include gluten or lactose.
2. Look for Lower-Cost Alternatives
Not all brand-name drugs have generic versions, making it trickier to enjoy savings on prescriptions. An example is the brand-name drug Xarelto. It’s a blood thinner whose patent in the U.S. remains valid, so a generic version isn’t available here yet.
Fortunately, Xarelto has brand-name alternatives, including Eliquis (Apixaban). Eliquis is the brand-name drug; Apixaban is the generic version. Like Xarelto, this medicine can help with conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
Do your research, and you’ll find that Eliquis’s cost can beat Xarelto. Its per-unit price can be lower if purchased in bulk.
The same goes for other medications, so be sure to ask your doctor if they can put you on another drug that costs less than what you’re taking now.
3. Order From a Reputable Online Pharmacy
You can save up to 80% on your prescription costs with a reputable online pharmacy like PricePro Pharmacy.
At PricePro Pharmacy, we aim to make high-quality medications more accessible to Americans. We know the U.S.’s lack of drug pricing control can push people to skip medications, so we provide a platform to deliver budget-friendly pharmacy solutions. Enjoy some of the most sizeable savings (again, that’s up to 80%!) when you order your prescriptions from us today.
4. Use Discount Coupons
One of the most practical discount pharmacy tips you should abide by is using coupons. They can save you at least $10 to $20 on your prescription orders!
At PricePro Pharmacy, we regularly roll out discounts on top of our already affordable medications online. Our discounts range from $10 to $20 for first-time buyers and many common prescriptions.
5. Ask About Price Match Guarantees
Protect yourself from buyer’s remorse and save even more money by ordering from a pharmacy with a price-match guarantee. With this policy, the pharmacy you ordered from should match another accredited pharmacy’s lower price on an identical item.
Rest assured, at PricePro Pharmacy, we offer price-match guarantees.
6. Order in Bulk
You can usually order up to a 90-day supply of most prescription drugs, such as those for diabetes and high blood pressure. You’ll pay more upfront if you buy them in one go, but if you do the math, you’ll see that it can save you a lot in the long term. Medicines usually cost less per unit if you buy them in higher quantities.
7. Look for Flat-Rate Shipping
Another good reason to consider buying your medications in bulk is to save on shipping costs. A reliable pharmacy like PricePro Pharmacy offers flat-rate shipping of $9.95 without quantity restrictions. So, regardless of how many medicines are in a single order, you’ll only pay $9.95.
So, within a year of ordering 90-day supplies, you’d only have paid about $40 for shipping. If you buy every month, your shipping costs will be around $120 a year.
8. Use the Right Credit Card
Some credit cards offer rebates or cashback for online purchases, including pharmacy orders. Check with your credit card issuers, as they may be running this kind of rewards program. It can help you save more since you can often use the rebate to offset a portion of your credit card bill.
9. Pay by Check
If you can pay by check, consider doing so to avoid extra credit card convenience or service fees. Plus, at PricePro Pharmacy, we offer a one-time 5% discount on your order if you use our check payment option for the first time. Use the code “CHECK5” to enjoy the discount!
10. “Lock In” Prices
Another great way to save on prescriptions is to “lock in” their price by ordering them from us at PricePro Pharmacy and using a check to pay for them. It can protect you from future price hikes.
Get a Better Price on Pharmacy Orders Today
From going generic to ordering online and using coupons, these are the top ways to get a better price on pharmacy orders.
So, why not let our team at PricePro Pharmacy help you find affordable medications online that cost up to 80% less than you usually pay? Plus, our many discounts can help you save even more.
Reach out today to learn how we can help you fill your prescriptions for less!
WORKS CITED:
- https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2024/jan/how-prices-first-10-drugs-medicare-negotiations-compare-internationally
- https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/abbreviated-new-animal-drug-applications/bioequivalence
- https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/product/glucophage/
- https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/metformin-cost-without-insurance-breaking-down-the-numbers/
- https://carey.jhu.edu/articles/generic-brand-medication-cost
- https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/product/xarelto/
- https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/product/eliquis/
- https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/eliquis-vs-xarelto-cost-comparison/
- https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/7-reasons-to-choose-pricepro-pharmacy-today/
- https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/contact-us/
