Our sister blog, Consumer Reports Health, has some much-needed tips on how to save money on your prescriptions.
Interestingly, a recent analysis performed by Wolters Kluwer Health found that just over 20 percent of costly new prescriptions—with co-pays of $100 or more—were never picked up from pharmacies in 2008, whereas only 4 percent were abandoned if their co-pays totaled $10 or less. Here are some other tips that can save you money:
1.) Ask your doctor for options, like if you can take a lower dose or if you can split your pills. You can also request a generic version of your medication. And don’t be afraid to inquire about the price tag on your prescription—only four percent of patients ask their doctor how much medication will cost, according to a recent Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of just over 2,000 adults.
2.) Call around to pharmacies in your neighborhood, since a recent Consumer Reports National Research Center survey found that the same pills can vary by more than $100 between drugstores.
3.) Look into prescription-drug assistance programs.
4.) Use caution when offered free drug samples, which can end up costing you more in the long run.
How are you saving money on your prescriptions? If you have tips, let us know!
Beatrice
02:57:59 PM on Fri May 29 2009
Everyone has to watch out for themselves. No one else is going to take care of you. Even folks with insurance should pay attention. If you've got a $10 co-pay on a generic ask what the cash price is because it might be less than $10!! I found a prescription discount card to help with my meds. It's at www.rxdrugcard.com. They tell you right there on the website what you'll be paying if you use their card. And the membership fee is only $4.95 a month for the whole family. Don't pay more than you need to. Do some research. It's YOUR money.
Robert
02:28:06 PM on Fri May 28 2010
Beatrice -- I tried it. Saved $400 this month by using RxDrugCard. Yeah, I probably take more meds than most, but it sure worked for me!