Discount Prescription Drugs

Consult Your Doctor and Pharmacist

Before you set out looking for deals, do a “brown bag” with your doctor or pharmacist. This is where you literally put all your drugs, vitamins, and other supplements in a bag and arrange for a drug consultation.

If you’re only taking one kind of medication and a multivitamin, chances are you can ask the nurse in your physician’s office to ask the doctor for a re-evaluation. Pharmaceutical companies launch new drugs frequently, and research changes often. A quick review assures you’re taking the most health- and-cost effective drug available.

But if you or a family member are taking a number of different medications, a brown bag consultation is a valuable tool to determine if:

• All the medication is necessary.
• Any quantities or brands can be adjusted.
• Another medication solves more than one problem.
• Generic drugs are as effective as brands.

Many pharmacists are more than happy to schedule this consultation. While they can’t take action to change prescriptions without physician’s consent, they often have more time for conversation and the specific drug knowledge to help you take the next steps.

Check Your Insurance Plan

Many people opt to purchase discount prescription drugs because their insurance policy doesn’t have a good prescription plan. But it’s helpful to understand the medication guidelines of your coverage before looking for deals.

• Many prescription plans allow for mail order purchasing of maintenance drugs in higher quantity, such as blood pressure and cholesterol medication.
• Coverage for discount prescription drugs is only permitted on generics, not brands, and vice versa.
• Some insurance policies will not cover drugs purchased out of the country.

If you have good or even adequate insurance coverage for prescription drugs, it’s best to understand how much and to what degree your plan will cover.

Discount Prescription Drug Options

Ask for Free Samples

Most doctors’ offices have an ample supply of promotional packets from pharmaceutical reps. Instead of paying outright for a new medication, or to help tide you over until next payday, ask your practitioner or nurse for a few samples. Often, they’ll give you a large enough dose to determine if the medication will work or to help you fill the prescription in a couple of weeks. This is a very common practice and one encouraged by drug companies to get certain medication into circulation.

Change Pharmacies

Sometimes a simple transfer of your prescription can make a difference in medication costs. Depending on overhead, pharmacies charge a retail price on many types of medicine, so it never hurts to do some comparison shopping for a more reasonably-priced pharmacy.

Take into consideration some of the other services you may need from the pharmacy, such as convenient hours, consultations, ease of access, and so on before switching.

Membership Drug Cards

A relatively new phenomenon, prescription drug cards work as an insurance coverage might work. Drug card providers negotiate deals with pharmacies and drug companies for discount prescription drugs. Customers show the drug card to the participating pharmacy, and receive the discount: no claim forms, no additional paperwork. Many report securing discounts of 30-to-50 percent on brand and generic drugs.

It’s important to note that using a drug card is not the same as using an insurance card, so certain restrictions may apply. Membership in a quality program averages $50 a year, which can be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually, and only varies a little from single coverage to family coverage.

A couple membership drug card companies include Rx Drug Card and Companion Care Card.

Do considerable research into this option, and contact local pharmacies to see what cards they accept.

Check Online

There are a number of clearinghouse sites that help you compare the quantities and costs of discount prescription drugs. Many online discount drug distributors are based in Canada, as the United States still has very particular laws about the pricing of medication.

One of the best comparison sites is HealthPricer.com. This site allows for a search of resources for prescription medication, general over-the-counter products, supplements, and contact lenses. You can search by brand name or product, and if it doesn’t come up, it’s likely that it is not available as a discount drug.

If you’re looking to buy direct, Best Net Pharmacies.com has a comprehensive website that explains a lot of factors about your medication as well as informational health articles. It also features a live chat to talk with a pharmacist.

Prescription Drugs the Wal-Mart Way

Wal-Mart made news in 2006 by offering scores of medications through its pharmacies for a mere $4. At Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets, consumers can fill generic prescriptions for $4 for a 30-day supply. More than 300 generic medications are available, for a number of different conditions.

In some American states, certain medications cost more than $4, even if they are generic, and at this time, the discount is not available in North Dakota. The savings apply whether you have insurance or not, but all orders must be picked up in person. Not every drug prescribed has a generic alternative, and some don’t work as effectively as brands, but your physician can help you make that determination.

Free Medicine

There are a handful of programs that partner with pharmaceutical companies to provide medicine to people in need. The pharmaceutical companies do this as a goodwill effort, but the requirements are often rather stringent.

One such organization is the Free Medicine Foundation. The application process can take a while, but if you are in true need, the outcome could be worth it.

If you need a particular medication, you can also contact the manufacturer directly and ask if they have an assistance program.

Be Diligent

The key to finding good discounts on prescription drugs lies in using many of reliable shopping tips:

• Have patience and perseverance.
• Plan your course of action.
• Keep an eye out for rebates, coupons, and free samples.
• If ordering online, monitor shipping costs.

Finding discount prescription drugs is just one way to take care of your health, but you can also save more money in the long run by eating a proper diet, exercising regularly, and reducing stress. No coupon or rebate can take the place of caring for yourself.