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9 Ways to Save Big on Prescription Drugs.

Posted in Save Money.
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How many of you flinch when the pharmacist tells you the cost of your medication? I know I do. Prescription costs seem to be rising exponentially year after year. But, by thinking and planning ahead, you can save a Lot of money. Here are 10 great tips to save a ton of money on prescriptions:

  1. Don’t take medications you don’t need. If you are having a problem with your weight, skip the prescription weight-loss pills and set up a plan to eat right and exercise more. Use prescription drugs only as a backup for serious conditions that can’t be fixed in a natural way.
  2. Ask for a generic equivalent. This is probably the easiest tip to implement. Many doctors do this automatically because they know there is little difference between the name-brand medication and its “just get the job done” generic competition. When you pay for name-brand medication, you are paying for the marketing campaigns the drug companies run.
  3. Check out the “big boxes”. Target showed their interest in the prescription drug market in a big way by offering over 300 prescription drugs for $4. Wal-Mart soon followed by also offering over 300 prescription drugs for $4. Since then, many other large stores have gotten in on the action. Publix is now offering FREE antibiotics and K-Mart is now offering 90 day supplies of over 300 generics for $15. With these huge companies giving steep discounts on many generics, it is easier than ever to find a great deal!
  4. Buy in bulk. As with most anything you buy, many pharmacies will allow you to pay less per pill by buying in bulk quantities. Ask your doctor to prescribe a 90-day quantity of pills you take regularly. This also has the added benefit of not having to visit the doctor as often. This will save you not only the financial cost of a doctor’s visit, but the time you would have had to take to visit the doctor.
  5. Ask for free samples. Asking for free samples helps you save money in two ways. First, the samples, as the name implies, are free. Second, by taking samples of the drugs, especially if they are new, will allow you to test for any reactions you may have to them. If you have an allergic reaction, you can ask your doctor to prescribe something else or give you another free sample of a similar drug.
  6. Use discount cards. Several organizations provide cards that can be used to save significantly on prescription drugs. AARP has a wide range of programs to save on prescriptions for members. FamilyWize, through many United Way branches, offers another great discount card for those that don’t have any other form of coverage. Aside from consumer and charitable organizations, some drug companies are also getting in the act. Merck, maker of Vioxx and Cingulair, and Pfizer, maker of Celebrex and Lipitor, each have unique programs for those who have trouble affording full-price prescription drugs.
  7. Look for state drug assistance programs. A large number of states provide drug assistance programs for both low-income and elderly citizens. In my case, Illinois has a drug assistance plan for senior citizens and those without insurance. One interesting program in Illinois is the I-SaveRx program. This program allows you to purchase 3 month supplies of prescription drugs from “licensed, state-inspected and approved pharmacies in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.” Check this site to see if your state has an assistance plan.
  8. Open a flexible spending account. This is more of an indirect way to save on your prescriptions. If you take certain medications regularly, estimate the yearly cost of that medication and insert that amount into your company’s flexible spending account (if it has one). You aren’t paying more since you are buying the medicine anyway, but it will allow for a decent tax deduction at the end of the year.
  9. Stay healthy! Eating properly and exercising regularly will not only prevent you from needing more prescriptions in the short term, but can also save you a large amount of money by preventing serious health problems in the future. Visit FoodFit.com to find healthy recipes to get started on eating right.


Combined, these tips could save you hundreds of dollars a year (if not more). If you know of other ways to save money on prescriptions, please leave a comment.

(Disclaimer: As always, consult your physician with any questions regarding the safety of any workout program, diet, or prescription purchases.)

Source: www.getting-green.blogspot.com

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