Stay on the ball about making sure you can pay for your prescriptions.
Prescription drugs can be difficult to afford, especially if you don't have insurance or if your insurance only covers some of your prescriptions. However, health-care providers and advisors as well as pharmaceutical companies have responded to patient concerns over high costs with a number of possible solutions. If you can't afford your medications now, or you suspect you will have trouble paying for all of your prescriptions in the near future, take action now to avoid being without your medication later because of poor planning. Not taking the right dosage of your medication, or not taking it as regularly as directed, can have negative health consequences that are costly, too.
Seek Out Rebate Coupons
Many pharmaceutical companies are beginning to issue rebate coupons that help defray copay costs that patients in the past have had to shoulder. These coupons often bring down the price of brand-name drugs to the same level as their generic competitors. Although the Food and Drug Administration certifies that generic drugs have the same dose, strength, safety and effectiveness, if you use a brand-name drug for certain reasons, ask your pharmacist and doctor if there are any coupons available, and visit the website of the pharmaceutical company as well.
Talk To Your Pharmacist
One good habit to get into is to converse with your pharmacist regularly about lowering your drug costs. For example, sometimes if you begin a new medication, you might be able to stop taking another. Your pharmacist can explain the options to you and help your doctor choose the right medicine for your needs. Pharmacists are often notified directly about less costly options in a certain class of drugs. Asking about possible differences between generic and brand-name drugs is another good conversation to have when starting a new medication, so that you can immediately learn of ways to save money on that prescription. Another short-term way to save is to ask your doctor if she has any free samples of medications you take.
Patient Assistance Programs
Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to those who have no way to pay for medicines they need. You can search a comprehensive database of different programs at RxAssist.org, an organization that can help you reduce medication costs. RxAssist also recommends looking for information about reducing medication costs at places such as community health centers, local social service programs and charitable programs.
Medicare Extra Help
Some Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for up to $4,000 of additional government support to defray costs associated with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and co-payments. Your resources and income must fall below a certain level. Apply through your local Social Security office, online or over the phone.
Tags: pharmaceutical companies, your prescriptions, brand-name drugs, medication costs, that help, your doctor
