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Home > Blogs > Here's the Deal > Archives > 2009 > May > 02 > Entry
4 ways to cut prescription costs
ShopSmart;) and Consumer Reports Health, savvy sister publications, have come up with four ways for you to save money on prescription medications.
It is no surprise that medical expenses such as prescriptions can be costly.
ShopSmart noted that a recent analysis by Wolters Kluwer Health found that more than 20 percent of costly new prescriptions — with co-pays of $100 or more — were never picked up from pharmacies in 2008. But, the study found, only 4 percent were abandoned if their co-pays totaled $10 or less.
So here are some other tips that can save you money:
Ask your doctor for options, like if you can take a lower dose or if you can split your pills. Request generic. And don’t be afraid to inquire about the price tag on your prescription. A recent Consumer Reports National Research Center survey found that only 4 percent of patients ask their doctor how much medication will cost.
Call around to pharmacies in your neighborhood, the same Consumer Reports survey found that the same pills can vary by more than $100 between drugstores.
Look into prescription-drug assistance programs.
Use caution when offered free drug samples, which can end up costing you more in the long run.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Savings
Comments
By Pharmacist
May 2, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this
Also look at the 4 dollar drug programs. They have atleast one drug in almost all classes of medications. For example if you take lipitor 10 mg for cholesterol and pay a copay of 20 $ a month. You could switch to Pravastatin (same class) 40 mg and pay only 4$/ month
By Virginia
May 2, 2009 9:59 PM | Link to this
If you have prescription coverage, try using a mail-order pharmacy. I save over $3000 a year by using that service!
By britt
May 2, 2009 11:37 PM | Link to this
Those of us who require pain meds ar the hardest hit of all. An extended release opiate such as oxycontin or mscontn can cost 220-1200 per month. While the copay may only be 7 bux it will wipe out the 2500 limit in 6 months or less
By britt
May 2, 2009 11:38 PM | Link to this
Those of us who require pain meds ar the hardest hit of all. An extended release opiate such as oxycontin or mscontn can cost 220-1200 per month. While the copay may only be 7 bux it will wipe out the 2500 limit in 6 months or less
By Ed
May 3, 2009 6:00 AM | Link to this
Do a Google search for “Ohio discount prescription card”. Ohio sponsors one. There are others available too. Will save you money if you have no coverage.
By Leah
May 3, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this
Go to: www.internetdrugcoupons.com
By dhampton100
May 3, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
There really should be a law against allowing pharmaceutical companies to rip off the American people. Most of these same drugs, while being made here in America, cost us hundreds but are being sold in Canada for a fraction of our charges. That’s because Canada will not allow their people to be ripped off. If the politicians would stop taking political contributions (bribes) to block legislation regulating this crap we would be much better of and this entire subject would not be on the table. Companies always claim the reason drugs cost so much is because of the cost of “research and development”. That is not true! In fact, we the American people finance much of that, too. The real costs associated with these high costs is marketing.
By Kate
May 3, 2009 8:33 PM | Link to this
My sister’s social worker told us to look at ohiohealthhelp.com. It helped her get her prescriptions. I was happy with it.
By Frank
May 5, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
95% of presrictions in the USA treat symptoms. Live healthy, look for natural alternatives and just say no to the drug pushing MD! Health care should not be costing us anywhere near what it does if we are just honest about the care we need. If that were so we could all have free healthcare on the current medicade budget!
By Frank
May 5, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
The second biggest rip off in the USA is insurance. Not just medical insurance but, home insurance, auto insurance and all the others. First thing the insurance company does is seek a way to not pay pay the claim you paid them for in hte first place. Again if the system were honest the current medicade budget would just about cover all necessary medical treatments needed in the USA. Next insted of ripping off the consumer with taxes we should pass legislation to tax the crap out of the companies who produce the things that are killing Americans and driving poor health. 1) Soda, 2) swwets, 3) High Fat foods, 4) foods with additives that cause cancer, 5) foods packaged in containers that cause cancer…. Need I say more?