The cost of prescription medications is rising faster than inflation, so it’s no surprise that more people are experiencing problems paying for their medicine. If you’re one of them and have been looking for ways to cut down on your medical expenses—without sacrificing your health—read on.
Shop Around
The first step to saving money on your prescriptions is to shop around. It can be tempting to automatically fill your prescription at the pharmacy you’re used to, but if you find a better price elsewhere, it makes sense to take advantage of it. With these tips, you can get the best price:
• Talk with your doctor about samples. If they have them available, they may be willing to give these out rather than prescribing the full-priced medicine (or even free). Even if they don’t have samples on hand, they might be able to write a prescription for something cheaper than normal and then tell you where else you could get that generic version at a better price.
• Consider generic drugs instead of name-brand ones—they usually cost less without losing quality or effectiveness.
Get a Saving Card
Getting an Rx discount card can help you save money on your prescriptions. It’s simple and free to use, so there’s no reason not to give it a try if saving some cash on your meds is something you’re interested in doing. They require no registration fee to sign up, are reusable, and are accepted at pharmacies countrywide. The good thing about this card is that you download it for free once and use it for all your prescription and medications.
Split Pills
Splitting pills is one way to get the most out of your medication, especially if you have multiple prescriptions. Most pills can be split or broken in half, but some cannot. Check the manufacturer’s instructions on your medication and decide if splitting it would be a good option.
If your prescription can be broken in half, try this easy method:
• Ensure the pill is intact, not damaged or exposed to moisture (as this will affect how long it will last).
• Place one half on a flat surface like a table or countertop with the cracked side facing up (this is important).
• Hold down the top part of the pill with one hand while gently tapping along its surface with another until it breaks evenly into two pieces.
Opt for Generics
With the help of your pharmacist, you can save a lot of money by choosing generic drugs instead of brand-name medications. Generic drugs are identical to the more expensive brand-name versions in terms of active ingredients and are made to the same standards as those brands. A generic drug will be just as safe and effective as its pricier counterpart, so there’s no reason not to opt for it if you’re looking to cut back on costs.
Ask for Samples
If you want to save money on your prescription drugs, one of the things you should do is ask for samples. While this may seem obvious, many people never try this method of saving money because they assume it won’t work or they don’t know where to get samples.
If you have insurance coverage, then asking your doctor, pharmacist, and insurance company for samples is one way that can save you money on your medicines every month. If these three parties cannot help you with free samples, look into asking friends or family members who might have some extra free medication lying around their house from past prescriptions that were not finished due to health problems or simply being too expensive at retail prices.
Negotiate With Your Drug Company
You can also ask your doctor to request a lower price from the drug company on your behalf. Your doctor may be able to get you a coupon or a free sample of the medication, which can help reduce costs.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that medication can be expensive, and even with insurance, it can be difficult to afford. However, there are ways to save money on your prescriptions by using coupons and price matching at pharmacies. Many online resources will help you learn more about how these methods work and provide examples of where they have been successfully implemented.