Have you ever felt burdened by the cost of your medications? It’s like you have to choose between getting groceries, paying the rent, and filling your prescriptions now and then. You are not alone in this dilemma. In fact, millions of Americans are experiencing the pain of sticker shock as they purchase their prescription drugs with or without insurance.
While there is not yet a concrete solution to stop the soaring cost of prescriptions, there are ways that consumers like you can do to minimize its effects on your healthcare. It is important to emphasize that medications’ prices must not hinder you from getting your prescriptions filled.
Read on to know how you can maximize pharmacy discounts on your prescriptions.
Look For Discount Cards
Pharmacies offer savings on prescription drugs through discount cards or coupons. Such discounts are negotiated directly with the drug manufacturers before they set an agreed-upon price. Typically, it won’t cost you anything to obtain a discount card. But there may be some that will require you to pay an annual or a monthly fee to use the card.
If that’s the case, just make sure that the savings you’ll get are greater than the fees. But as much as possible, look for free discount cards with substantial savings. Discounts can range from 10 to 85 percent on your prescription drugs if you use the right card. It may help to visit websites like https://www.buzzrx.com/ when looking for reliable discount cards.
Shop Around Several Pharmacies
Most consumers assume that all pharmacies charge the same amount for their prescriptions. But the pharmacy industry is complex, meaning drug prices can dramatically vary from one pharmacy to another. If you want to get more discounts on your medications, take the time to shop around several pharmacies.
You can call pharmacies and ask for the cost of your prescriptions. However, there are also drug price comparison tools you can utilize online. By just typing in your medicine and location, you can get the information that you need. Once you find the pharmacy with the lowest price, use the discount card to get more savings.
Compare Discount Cards
Besides comparing prices from different pharmacies, it’s also essential to compare discount cards. It’s worthy to note that no single card has the best price on every prescription. Nearly every discount card has a search function where you can draw up prices for your medication at the nearby pharmacies.
Remember that the card you use will make a big difference in the savings and purchasing abilities you’ll get. Thus, knowing the restrictions of the discount card is also significant. Does the card qualify your prescriptions for a discount? Or is it acceptable to your preferred pharmacy? Choose the card that makes the most sense to your preferences and needs.
Ask For Generic Alternatives
Nearly all medicines have a generic equivalent, which has the same active compound as brand-name drugs. If you want to maximize savings on your prescriptions, ask for generic alternatives. According to several studies, generic counterparts can be as much as 80 percent less than brand-name drugs.
That’s a lot of money to save, especially if you have maintenance medications. But many people think of generics as knock-offs, and they are hesitant to use them. It is important to emphasize that generics are chemical clones of their brand-name counterparts. Although they can look quite different, they have the same strength, purity, and quality.
Use Mail-Order Pharmacy
Another way to get discounts on your prescriptions is to use mail-order pharmacy. You can fill a 90-day supply of your prescriptions at the same cost it would be to get a 30-day supply. Since most insurance providers often jointly own and manage mail-order pharmacies, it also means smaller copay.
Besides money, you can also save time if you fill your prescriptions in a mail-order pharmacy. But to maximize savings, try to search online for good mail-prices. Also, don’t forget to check with your health plan to ensure that the medicines you purchase from the program will be covered.
Talk To Your Physician
Physicians don’t always have an idea of the overall costs of the drugs they prescribe to patients. Thus, it is essential to open up to your doctor about prescription costs, especially if you have financial concerns. Although they cannot control your medications’ prices, they may be able to give you options that can help you save money.
Takeaway
Skipping prescriptions isn’t the right response to skyrocketing drug prices. As consumers, you have several options to explore when it comes to reducing the cost of your medications. It may take some time and patience on your part, but the savings you’ll get can be substantial. Bear in mind that health should be at the top of your priorities no matter how frustrating the prescription costs can get.
