Money Saving Academy

Prescription drug costs can be difficult to bear even for those with health insurance coverage. Typical health insurance policies offer a copay for prescriptions – this can be $10, $20, or $30. For the uninsured, the costs to fill a prescription can be over $100 or even $200. Many companies have increased the copay to offset the high threshold of prescriptions needed to make a profit. More than ever we need to find ways to save money on the high cost of prescription medicines.
Ask Your Doctor about Generic Drugs

If you check your health insurance policy, you should be able to identify if the insurance policy offers smaller copay amounts for generic drugs, as opposed to the brand name medication. Talking to your doctor about generic drugs can be a great way to save money, and reduce your annual cost for the medication.
Ask Doctor to Prescribe Larger Dose Pill to Split in Half

Some drugs do not have generic alternatives. This can be really disappointing, especially for those who do not have health insurance coverage. In these instances, some doctors can prescribe a larger dose than necessary so the patient can split the pill in half for their actual dosage. This method can be done using pill splitters that are readily available in most pharmacies.
Ask Doctor to Prescribe Medication Fulfillment for Longer Period of Time

Other doctors may write the prescription to take advantage of a longer period of time. This way the buyer only has to pay one copay for more medicine. If you think you’ll be on a medicine for a while, consult the doctor while he or she is writing the prescription to see if they can write it for a longer period of time.
Ask Doctor for Samples

Most doctors understand the high cost of prescriptions. If you’re uninsured or just don’t have the money for the copay, you can ask the doctor to provide you with enough samples to get you to the point where you can afford the prescription.  Doctor’s receive samples of many, many types of medications, so it can’t hurt to ask if the one you need could be filled this way.
Shop around for Best Deal

It can’t hurt to shop around, but when you’re thinking of small copays check with the big players coming into the market, like Walmart and Kmart. Both have been vying for prescription drug business with reduced copays that mean better prices for consumers. It’s a drug war with a different angle. Take advantage of the lowest copay, and call around to request quotes if you’re filling a large order of medication.
Use a Mail Order Prescription Service

Mail Order services cater to both the insured and uninsured. These companies offer the same prescription drugs for less through the mail. Usually these companies require you to buy in larger supply than you would in the store, but the savings can really add up. For those without insurance, many of these companies will sell prescriptions at reduced costs if you qualify under their income provisions.
Talk to Your Doctor about the Medications You Take

Over the course of a few years, it’s not uncommon for many individuals to be given prescriptions for a multitude of symptoms. Fairly soon, the kitchen table has a section dedicated to the prescription pill bottles. Take some time on your next visit to go over all those medications with your doctor and ask if they are all needed. Often times, some prescriptions may provide multiple benefits to take the place of two or more drugs. It’s a good idea to consult your doctor before you stop taking anything, but if he or she agrees that you need not take one or more, then you have saved yourself money.
Preventative Medicine

Many conditions that require medication can also be treated by an alternative method. For instance, lack of exercise and a poor diet can lead to a number of health conditions. Consulting a doctor when they prescribe a medication about alternative measures can reduce your overall cost. For instance, you required a pill once a day for one year, but the prescription only offered a two month supply, then you would be out a total of $60 a year if you had a low copay, and $180 with a $30 copay. Now multiply that by the number of medications and it can become really burdensome.
Conclusion

Your health is a serious matter, and none of our suggestions should be taken as the word from your doctor. Be sure to consult a medical professional before making any decisions about your medications. We wish you good health.