In 2019, the US spent about $3.8 trillion on health care costs. This amounts to around $11,582 per person, as stated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Out of that spending, it is believed that 10% went to prescription drug expenses.
If you are devastated by the costs of prescription drugs in the market, you are not alone. Most people agree that prescription drugs help with their health. However, a lot would also say that the prices are unreasonable. This is why 3 out of 10 people don’t take their medication as the doctor prescribes.
How to Save On Medications
Despite the growing concern related to ballooning cost of prescription medicines, there are still valuable ways you can do to save some cash on your medication costs:
Go Generics
If your doctor prescribed you a brand-name drug, it doesn’t mean you have to buy that expensive medication. Unless the type of drug your doctor prescribed has no generic equivalent. Several brand-name drugs mostly have a generic version. Hence, you won’t have any trouble finding an affordable one.
You can freely ask your doctor to prescribe you a generic drug if you don’t have enough funds to buy an expensive brand-name medication. If the prescription you have in your hands right now has no generic equivalent written on it, there is no need to worry. A pharmacist can help you get the generic version you need.
Consider A Mail Order Pharmacy
Try to look for good and reputable mail-order pharmacies that can help you with your long-term prescription drugs. Your health plan might provide you with one. You can order a 90-day supply of your medications in a mail-order pharmacy and might have a lower copay.
You can freely search online regarding affordable mail-order prices. After finding one, you can check with your health plan to see if the prescription drugs you will be buying from the program will be covered.
Buy In Bulk
If your doctor has prescribed you a certain prescription drug for three months, it will help if you buy in bulk. Getting a larger supply can help you save some money in the long run. This is because buying your medication in small quantities tends to be expensive. Furthermore, another advantage to getting a larger supply is that you don’t need to refill your prescription as often.
Patient Assistance Programs
Drug companies can typically offer you patient assistance programs. These types of programs can help you get low-cost medication. Often, it can even help you receive free prescription drugs.
It is essential to know that you will need to apply and qualify for the program before you can avail of its services. Moreover, drug companies usually have different standards. Start by sending an intent letter to the drug company that offers a patient assistance program or ask your pharmacist how you can avail of one.
Compare Prices
It is vital to know that prescription drug costs tend to vary. Not all of the pharmacies in your town or city charge the same exact amount for a certain medication. That is why it will be best to call different pharmacies and compare their prices to know which pharmacy can help you save more cash before you fill a prescription.
Look For Discount Saving Programs
Besides comparing prices, it will also help if you search for instant savings and discount coupons online. Several online companies offer this kind of service to their clients. An example of this one is BuzzRx, an online platform that helps you search for discounted medication from your favorite pharmacy.
Type in the drug your doctor prescribes, place your location, and automatically see the prices of medications pharmacies charge near you. Most companies can even provide you with a free Xarelto discount card. This is not considered as insurance but a medication cost-saving program.
Request Drug Samples From Your Doctor
You can ask your doctor for free samples, especially if you noticed that the prescribed drug is quite expensive. In addition, you can test out the drug in order to make sure you will not experience any adverse side effects before you choose to fill in the prescription.
Reminder: Don’t Skip Your Doses
Skipping doses is obviously wrong. However, it is more common than what you actually think it is. In the US, there are about 12% or more adults that choose to skip their medication. Some even choose not to fill in a prescription to save some money.
Taking the prescription drugs your doctor prescribed is an advantage to your health. You should never skip doses, or else you might have an even bigger health problem than what you already have right now.
In a Nutshell
Your medication costs can add up fast without you even noticing it. Thus, it is best to look for ways to help you save some cash to pay off your medication costs. In that way, you can afford to buy what the doctor prescribed and continue your maintenance without worrying about the expenses.