These are just a few tips you can use to help you find the most savings on prescription drugs.
Look into drug-company prescription savings programs. Most major pharmaceutical companies have drug savings programs for people with low to modest incomes and no insurance coverage. These programs offer savings on medicines either purchased at the pharmacy or mailed directly to you.
Visit a centralized source for information on hundreds of prescription savings programs -- the Web site for The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (toll-free, 1-888-4PPANOW; www.pparx.org) provides a single point of information on the more than 475 public or private patient assistance programs, which include more than 150 programs offered by the pharmaceutical industry. They can help you find information to save on more than 2,500 medicines. The PPA educational effort is supported by America's pharmaceutical research companies working with doctors, pharmacists, healthcare providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups across the US.
Shop around for the lowest prescription drug prices. Call your pharmacy and a few others to check on prescription drug prices. If you find a lower price than your pharmacy offers, ask if they'll match it.
Consider using mail-order pharmacy services. You can usually order up to a 3-month supply of your prescription medicine for less than what individual prescription refills would cost at a local retail pharmacy. If you use an Internet pharmacy service, be sure it carries the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program (VIPPS) seal.
Generic drugs. Once a brand-name drug goes off patent, other drug companies are legally allowed to manufacture the drug without undergoing FDA testing and approval. Generics typically cost 30 percent to 80 percent less than the equivalent brand-name drug, according to the FDA
Over-the-counter medications. Medications that the FDA approves that can be sold without a doctor's prescription are considered OTC. In some cases, run-of-the-mill, over-the-counter drugs can be just as effective in treating the symptoms of an illness or disease as an expensive brand-name drug.
Several external sources for price comparing drugs:
- Rxaminer.com. Register for free and find out about generic and OTC alternatives and comparison shop among retailers for the lowest price.
- DestinationRx.com. This site offers information and education on drugs and alternatives and a price-comparison tool.
These are just a few ways to save more on prescription drugs. Talk to your doctor to see if you still need to take all of the medications you have. Eliminating a drug from your regimen that is no longer useful not only saves you money, but may also eliminate side effects.
Look into healthcare benefit discount programs offered by reputable organizations and companies. These “discount cards” often offer significant savings on drugs and other healthcare services for a modest monthly or annual fee. Make sure that you are dealing with a company you trust and check on the actual savings that they promise.
There is some controversy about the safety and efficacy of non-U.S. drugs. Drugs made and sold overseas may not adhere to the same manufacturing and storage standards as in the U.S. While most drugs companies are huge multi-nationals, not all of them sell the same drugs in the same countries.
