Tired of paying through the nose for prescription drugs? Check out these strategies for discount pharmacy options to stop paying full price.
Prescription drugs are expensive.
Even something as simple as a drug to control “bad” cholesterol levels caused by a hereditary disease can cost $14,000 a year.
While insurance may help, it doesn’t usually cover everything and few people can realistically afford such a high cost. This is particularly true of the people who usually need prescriptions the most, elderly people on fixed incomes.
We all wish we could live a healthy lifestyle and not need medicine. But that’s not always possible and many people have to turn down the medicines that can help them because they can’t afford them.
But there are some discount pharmacy options out there that can help. The savvy shopper can save big and still get the proper medicine they need.
Here are a few suggestions for how to do that.
Use Coupons
If you want to find some great discount pharmacy deals you should clip coupons. Instead of tossing that direct mailer or flyer in the garbage, take a look through it. Chances are, you can find some great coupons for prescription drug savings.
Another great option is to search the Internet. You can use sites like GoodRX to comparison shop and find some great deals, discounts, and coupons. This makes it easy to find what you need all in one place.
Ask for Free Trials
When your doctor prescribes you a new drug, don’t be afraid to ask for a free trial. It might only save you the cost of a 2-week supply, but that’s better than nothing.
Plus, it makes a great way to try a prescription for a few days before you buy. That will help you decide if it’s right for you and worth shelling out the cash.
Choose Generics
All drugs are expensive, but name-brand ones are even more so. There’s a reason that 80% of the drugs that Americans buy are generics. Most generics represent an 80-85% savings over the name-brand option.
If you’re nervous about taking a generic, talk to your doctor. The majority of them are bio-identical to the name-brand version, so you won’t be shortchanging yourself.
Consider Over-The-Counter Alternatives
Another way to save is to use an over-the-counter alternative. Fewer regulations apply and less work, in general, go into over-the-counter options. Thus they are often significantly cheaper.
Of course, this won’t be an option for everyone, it depends on the type of drug you need. Ask your doctor if there is any over-the-counter option that may work just as well in your situation.
Consider a Pill Splitting Strategy
This is another way to save that will not work for everyone. Higher dosage pills are often a much cheaper option than their lower dosage counterparts. Thus, if it works for the medication you take, you can buy a pill at double the dosage you need and split it in half.
Always ask your doctor before resorting to this strategy. It’s perfectly fine to do this with some pills, but not all. For example, it doesn’t work with time-release capsules or capsules that are coated.
Buy Online
It seems that you can get anything on the Internet these days, even prescriptions drugs. You do have to be careful what site you buy your drugs from as many online pharmacies are scams.
But, from a reputable source, you can find some great discount pharmacy deals. Find out more about this great option to see if it will work for you. This option has the added convenience of shipping the drugs right to your front door!
Join a Discount-Drug Program
Many large pharmacies or big box stores offer a great discount-drug program. In some cases, the savings can be quite dramatic.
For instance, even when you have insurance, you often have to pay a co-pay. Sometimes you can get a generic version through a discount-drug program for less than your co-pay! Then you don’t even have to worry about insurance and can use your benefits elsewhere.
What if you prefer to work with your local mom and pop pharmacy? There’s nothing quite like the service that you receive from this type of pharmacy. They know your name and you know that they are a trustworthy source for your drugs.
The good news is that even these types of pharmacies offer a discount-drug program, especially if you are a regular customer. Don’t hesitate to ask, they may even be willing to work out a special deal for you.
Government Assistance
It may benefit you to check into any assistance programs that your state offers. Are you a senior looking for help with prescriptions? Are you simply seeking help paying for a necessary treatment?
Most states have some kind of program available. The benefits vary and you will have to see if you qualify, but this can be helpful for getting medical assistance you need.
Find Your Discount Pharmacy Deals
The bottom line is that there are plenty of discount pharmacy deals out there if you are willing to dig for them. Will they make your prescription medications free? Probably not, but they can make them much more affordable. That ultimately is what you need anyway, not free drugs.
Try researching out a few of these methods and see how much you save. Let us know in the comments below how it goes. If you know of any other great ways to save, let us know that too.
By sharing your discount pharmacy tips you can help all our readers find more affordable medicine.
In the meantime, be sure to keep an eye on the health section of our blog for lots of great tips.
We’re always sharing something new to help our readers live the best life they can.