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Editor’s Note: This story was originally live on the cheap.
When my friend Mark developed whooping cough for the second time, he knew what to expect. is ready.
his only mistake? On this go-round, instead of heading to Costco like he used to, Mark called the nearest drugstore for a prescription.
When he went to pick them up, the bill was a shocking $73 instead of the $12 he had expected.
When we spoke a few days later, he said he could kick himself.
Like many Americans, Mark has no prescription drug coverage. He has health insurance through his Affordable Care Act, but many plans still have high deductibles or no prescription coverage at all. And many people are uninsured or uninsured.
Whether you need a prescription right away because of a sudden bout of the flu or you’re on medication for a chronic illness, you can find ways to save on prescriptions here. Here are some tips for reducing .
compare prices
It may take a few phone calls, but shop around.
Call supermarkets, retailers (such as Target and Walmart), drugstores, warehouse club pharmacies.
Ask your doctor to put the prescription call on hold until you know which pharmacy has the best price, or give you a paper prescription that you can take to your pharmacy of choice.
Yes, you already feel sick and the thought of comparison shopping stinks, but sticker shock can make you feel even worse.
Cash payment at cost plus pharmaceutical company
Billionaire Mark Cuban (owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and famous for his role on the TV show “Shark Tank”) aims to lower pharmacy prices by getting rid of pharmacy benefits managers. launched a new prescription drug service.
This means cost plus Not covered by insurance, only generic drugs are available. But if you don’t have prescription insurance anyway, it’s worth investigating.
The website makes it easy to look up medications and see how much you can pay with Cost Plus. You may find it cheaper than your insurance will pay out-of-pocket, as is the case with prescriptions for the thyroid medicine Levotrioxin.
30 days of Cost Plus was half the co-payment of a major chain pharmacy.
go generic
Always ask your doctor if generics work as well as brand names.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, generic drugs cost an average of 85% less than the cost of brand-name products.
Generic drugs always pay less, with or without insurance.
Many pharmacies offer discounts on medicines for 30 or 90 days. For example, Target and Walmart sell hundreds of generic drugs for $4 for 30 days and $10 for 90 days.
No membership, no problem
Consider a warehouse club.
Many people don’t realize that you don’t have to be a member of Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJ’s Warehouse to use the in-store pharmacy. it’s the law.
Add these warehouse stores to your list. In many cases, that bulk buying power also applies to pharmacies, where you can save big.
When issuing or picking up prescriptions, all you have to do is tell the person who checks your membership card at the entrance that you are going to the pharmacy.
However, membership may pay
If you are a member of the Warehouse Club, you can also ask about discounts on prescriptions.
for example, sams club We offer a prescription discount program for Plus and Business Plus members. Certain generic prescriptions in certain amounts are available free of charge in 35 states.
These include escitalopram oxalate (generic for Lexapro), metformin (generic for Fortamet) and montelukast (generic for Singulair).
Additionally, over 200 generic prescriptions are available for $4 and over 400 generic prescriptions for $10 daily at all club locations with a pharmacy.
Provided by Costco prescription discount at a participating pharmacy.
Join the Prescription Discount Club
It’s not insurance, it’s a prescription discount program, but it can significantly reduce pharmacy costs. Offers at Albertson’s, Sav-on, and Osco myRxCare.
of walgreens prescription savings club It costs $20 a year for individuals and $35 a year for families.
of CVS Carepass It costs $5 a month or $48 a year and comes with perks like same-day prescription delivery.
Similar prescription savings clubs can be found at: light aid, kroger and Kmart pharmacy.
Be sure to read the fine print. Program discounts cannot be combined with insurance. However, if your insurance deductible is too high or your coverage is limited, you may choose to use a prescription drug discount program.
Also, prescriptions processed under these types of programs do not count toward your insurance deductible and cannot be used to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Prescriptions paid in whole or in part by publicly funded health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are not covered.
please consult your doctor
If you need help paying for prescription drugs, it’s most important to talk openly with your doctor.
If your doctor is aware of your money problems, they may be able to provide you with a free drug sample. My dermatologist always sends me home with a “goody” bag.
Doctors may be able to change prescriptions to cheaper and more effective alternatives.
Consider mail order
Mail-order pharmacies may offer a one-time out-of-pocket purchase for 90 days. Compare this to his 3 out-of-pocket charges for every 30-day drug supply from the pharmacy.
Your doctor will need to change your prescription for 30 to 90 days, but most mail-order pharmacies will contact your doctor on your behalf to take things forward and approve refills.
use coupon
internet drug coupons and good rex Three great resources for prescription and non-prescription drug coupons.
Seek help from a private group
There are many closed groups such as medicine needed, reception assist and Rx Hope, help you find free or affordable medicines. Disease-specific foundations may also provide prescription drug assistance.
Check to see if your state has assistance programs
Many states offer financial assistance to people who can’t afford prescriptions. State Drug Assistance Program.