Do you have difficulty making ends meet due to the cost of medications? Would you rather spend $50 on a night out than on a prescription drug copay?
Here are 5 ways to keep your hard-earned money in your pocket.
1. Look for coupons from pharmaceutical companies. If you bother to use a 50-cent coupon for a can of beans, wouldn’t you love to save $50 on medicine? Even if you have prescription drug coverage, you can easily save $10 to $50 on your copays. In recent years, pharmaceutical companies have raised drug prices to allow brand-name drugs to more effectively compete with generic drugs by raising prices, then offering coupons to defer out-of-pocket costs. Do a search online or try entering the drug name as a domain name.
two. Look for pharmacy coupons. Pharmacy chains try to attract new customers by offering coupons or discounts on new or transferred prescriptions. These coupons are often worth more than the cost of the drugs, typically $20 to $25 for store merchandise. Check online at chain store websites and keep an eye out for deals in the mail or in your local paper. Transferring a prescription to a new pharmacy doesn’t commit you to staying with that pharmacy forever, although the store certainly hopes you will.
3. Enroll in a patient assistance program. If you don’t have insurance and your income is less than 2 or 3 times the federal poverty level, you may qualify for free medications under a pharmaceutical company’s patient assistance program. Instead of saving $10 or $20 on medications each month, you can save up to thousands of dollars each year. Many expensive diabetes medications are available at deep discounts through the Together Rx Access program on the website of the same name.
Four. Ask your doctor for samples. If you don’t qualify for a patient assistance program but need one of the newer diabetic medications, ask your doctor for samples. Although your doctor may not be able to provide you with a continuous supply, even a week’s worth every few months could add up to hundreds of dollars a year. If your doctor doesn’t have samples, you can request them through the pharmaceutical company. Your doctor may also have coupons that are better than what you can find online.
5. Ask your doctor about generic medications. Just because your doctor prescribed a brand-name drug doesn’t mean that’s the final answer. Your doctor may not be aware of your finances or insurance situation. You may not even know the cost of the prescription drug. Print out a copy of a $4 list from your local chain store and take it with you to your doctor, who can then find an affordable option for you.
Copyright ©2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, MD
