How to Save Money on Prescriptions – 6 Simple Steps
Category: Prescription Related Questions
Americans spend on average around $1,200 each year for prescription medications. Is there a way to save money on prescriptions?
Plenty of people are unable to afford the cost and as a result, go without the medications that their doctor told them they need.
How can you get the medicine you need without spending more money than you can afford?
If you want to save money on prescriptions that you need to be healthy, keep reading to learn about how you can make that happen.
Why Are Prescriptions So Expensive?
Pharmaceutical companies used to claim that their high prices were due to innovating new products. They argued that the new and improved drug options on the market were more expensive because they were better.
A 2019 study is suggesting that the main reason for the rising costs is that companies are raising the price of drugs that have already been on the market. This is especially true for name-brand drugs.
Rising costs are being driven by pharmaceutical manufacturers and not by the increase of new products on the market.
The study found that between 2008 and 2016, the price of name-brand oral drugs went up by 9% each year. Injectable drugs cost went up by 15% each year.
Some of the increases appear to come from the entry of new medications that do similar things to the market, but generally, that’s not the case.
Americans that don’t have insurance are more likely to skip getting a prescription filled at all because they are not able to afford these rising costs. Even some Americans that do have insurance are unable to afford their prescriptions.
How to Save Money on Prescriptions
With all of the expenses attached to getting prescription medications in the United States, many people are looking for a way to get well without breaking the bank.
1. Ask for the Cash Price
When you have insurance, you probably don’t think about how much medication would cost if you don’t use it. It makes sense that insurance would decrease the cost, right?
In some instances, you actually pay more when you attach it to your insurance. You can ask the pharmacy how much the cost of the medication is with insurance and how much it costs without it.
2. Patient Assistance Programs
If you use a search engine to look up patient assistance and the medication you need, you may find that the manufacturer offers help with purchasing their medication.
It may be a program or a coupon that you can use from the company itself or from the umbrella group the company belongs to.
This is not always the best method to use because there are some stipulations. For instance, you may only be able to get an amount to cover a couple of months of the medication. You may not be able to qualify if you get government assistance.
Using these programs allows manufacturers to write off this assistance on taxes, so there may be higher insurance premiums nationwide to cover the cost of the aid.
3. Talk to Your Doctor
If you are unable to afford your medication, you should speak with your doctor about this. They are well aware of the cost of medications and want you to be able to afford what they prescribe whenever possible.
Speaking with your doctor about your insurance and getting it to work for you as best as possible is a great idea. You can tell them that you prefer to have lower copay drugs or generic drugs whenever it is possible.
4. Use an Online Pharmacy
Shopping online is one of the best and quickest ways to compare the prices of prescription medications. You can save a lot of money this way.
Many online pharmacies offer big discounts, especially if you are buying a lot of one drug or buy a drug often for maintaining a condition.
You are able to fax, mail, or upload your prescription to the online pharmacy and order online. The medication will then be delivered right to you or a local store, depending on the pharmacy you choose.
Price Pro Pharmacy is a great option if you live in the United States and want to get discounted medications shipped to you from a certified and licensed Canadian pharmacy.
5. Look for a Generic Option
If you know you will be taking a medication and that there is a generic option for it, request that your prescription be made out in the generic name instead. These cost much less than name-brands and do the same thing.
There are rules that specify if a name-brand drug can be manufactured and then sold in its generic form later. These rules may change the price and status of the medication.
You also want to look out for over the counter options that may work for you. Some of the allergy medications that used to be prescription-only, such as Claritin, can not be bought over the counter.
There are also medications that are both over the counter and prescription depending on the dosage.
It is important to do your research about this and find the solution that works best for your wallet. Generic and over the counter medications can save you a lot of money in the long run.
6. Ask for Samples
Your doctor may have some full-size or small-size samples available to give you if you ask. They won’t usually offer them up unless they know that you are interested in them.
For maintenance medications, like an inhaler or blood pressure medication, your doctor is likely to have something on hand to give you.
Even if they give you a name-brand to sample, you can still ask for a generic prescription if it is available for that medication.
Ready to Save Money on Prescriptions and Fill them for Less?
It is easier to save money on prescriptions now than it was in the past with the use of online pharmacies.
You need your medication and shouldn’t have to wait for it because it is too expensive for you to have right now. Use an online pharmacy to get the medication you need and save money at the same time.
If you want to check out Price Pro Pharmacy, read more about us online. It’s easy to search for your needed prescription medication when you’re ready to order!
