However, we have all seen those pharmaceutical advertisements on television that don’t let up with their happiness, complete with bowing-in-nature people and a soothing voiceover, but, it is always exhausted by forthcoming-side-effects (mostly it includes nausea, fatigue, chest pain, vision loss, and spontaneous combustion). But behind the glossy commercials lies a brutal truth: the price of the since they are most common for people without the insurance. Getting stuck paying the infamous “retail price” puts most drugs out of reach for ordinary people.
What’s an everyday patient to do? Just grin and bear the symptoms? Split pills in half and hope for the best? Here are five savvy tips for scoring discounts on medications and squeezing every last drop of value out of your prescriptions:
Table of Contents
Go Generic
You’ve probably heard it before, but it bears repeating: the lowest of all categories is the cost of generic drugs that thus helps to cut your bills at pharmacies down. A brand-protected drug that is eligible for patent protection, once it has been robbed of its paternity protection all over the place, someone who pays a fraction of the cost is allowed to purchase the same active elements as the original drug. Generics are secure and reliable, and though drug manufacturers of brand names would make you believe otherwise, even the FDA can attest to that.
Shop Around
The jump of drug prices by the pharmacies may depend on previously mentioned reasons – supply costs, wholesaler mark-ups and each particular store’s profit strategy. Spending on prescriptions may run as low as when one shops with retailers like Costco or Walmart compared to the much higher rates charged by small independent pharmacies. Have a go in all your neighborhood pharmacies and check their prices. The most striking fact from my side is a saving which can be very significant as you can check over-the-counter drugs for those you are prescribed on a regular basis.
Befriend Your Pharmacist
Strike up a conversation with your friendly neighborhood pharmacist and let them know if you’re struggling to afford medication. They have insider knowledge about discount programs and coupons that can make drugs more affordable. For example, Rx pharmacy coupons provided by drug manufacturers can massively reduce what you pay at the pharmacy counter.
Go Direct
If you’re prescribed an especially expensive branded medication, try contacting the drug manufacturer directly to ask about financial assistance programs. Many pharma companies offer special coupons and even free medication to customers who meet income requirements and lack drug coverage. Just be prepared to share personal financial documents to determine your eligibility.
Split the Tab
Pill-splitting – cutting tablets in half – could be a way to stretch your medication budget. First, ask your pharmacist or doctor if a pill is safe to divide; some drugs have coatings or slow-release mechanisms that pill-splitting can disrupt. If you get the green light, you can often get two months’ worth of a drug for the price of one by cutting each dose in half. Just invest in a proper tablet splitter – no need to go all guillotine with a knife and risk uneven pieces.
You don’t have to give up everything that you use and that sustains you in order to stay healthy. If you utilize your knowledge and insider information wisely, you can see the obvious difference between your original prescription drug costs and the cut down ones. Initially it was a bit hard to get used to those mean generic alternatives instead of the usual branded drugs, but soon enough I got over it and now I am in good terms with my pharmacist and there is nothing holding me back from trying new medicines, and squeeze the most out of every pill!
