With the costs of prescription drugs rising by the day, everyone is concerned with how to find discounts on their medications at their local Rx pharmacy. Visiting an Rx pharmacy and being unsure if you’ll be able to afford your medication is stressful, especially when you require medications regularly to manage a chronic condition. Approximately 41 percent of all Americans take at least one prescription medication, while 17 percent take three or more prescriptions. Those costs can add up quickly, but it is possible to find discounts on your medication regardless of your insured status.
Pharmacy Discount Card
Rx pharmacy discount cards are an excellent option for patients regardless of their insured status. Pharmacy discount card companies negotiate directly with the drug companies to provide lower rates for patients, so you don’t have to shop around at different pharmacies or worry about whether or not your insurance covers your medication. Pharmacy discount cards generally apply to all FDA-approved medications, regardless of whether they are generic or brand name, so even patients with insurance may find that they receive a lower price when using a pharmacy discount card as compared to insurance. It’s recommended that individuals price out the cost of their prescriptions to compare the costs when using a pharmacy discount card and when using insurance to maximize their cost savings. There is no cost associated with pharmacy discount cards.
Request the Generic Version
One of the easiest ways to save money on prescriptions is by requesting the generic version of your medication from your doctor. While not all medications are offered in a generic form, many are, and the cost savings are huge. Generic medications undergo the same rigorous testing by the FDA as brand name medications do prior to being sold, and they use the same active ingredients. The difference between generic and brand name forms of prescription medication have to do with the inactive ingredients (ingredients that do not affect treatment). Inactive ingredients may affect cosmetic details like color, shape, and size of the medication, so the generic version of a drug does not necessarily resemble the brand name version. However, the treatment offered is the same.
Insurance Programs
If you are fortunate enough to have insurance coverage, your medication may be covered by your insurance, especially if it is generic. While it might seem like processing your prescription savings through your insurance is always going to be the cheapest way to purchase your medication, many Americans are underinsured and have poor prescription drug coverage. It is recommended that patients check the cash price, look for coupons, research patient assistance programs, or purchase the drug with a local pharmacy discount card, as you may be able to save even more than when purchasing the drug through insurance.
Coupons and Rebates
Most manufacturers do not offer coupons or rebates on the generic forms of medications, they will sometimes offer coupons or reduced copays on the brand name form of the medication. Make sure to ask your doctor if they are aware of any existing discounts or coupon codes that may be available, as sometimes these offers are extended upon receipt of a sample from your doctor’s office. The next step is to perform an internet search to see if any offers or promotions are available. Some offers can be easily printed off directly from the website, while others may require registering online and activating a coupon card or completing a questionnaire.
Patient Assistance Programs
Patient assistance programs are offered by manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies as a way to provide free or low-cost medications to low income, uninsured, or under-insured people who meet certain criteria. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may not be eligible for a patient assistance program, as individuals who are covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid are not eligible for these programs. Some programs set a limit on the amount of income a patient may earn each year, while others have no specific income criteria. Patient assistance programs can be available for a specific period of time (such as six months), for the life of the prescription, for new prescriptions only, or for patients taking the medication on a long-term basis. To identify patient assistance programs that may apply to you, check the website for your medication.
from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/health-and-wellness/rx-pharmacy-how-to-find-discounts/
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