Do you have regular medication you’ve been taking for years, that somehow has been costing you more and more? Have you recently fallen ill or made plans to get surgery?
Whether prescription drugs are something you’re used to or a totally new subject for you, it’s worth saving money however you can. These medical costs are more expensive than you might think, and traditional pharmacies don’t show signs of cutting costs anytime soon.
But, there are ways to save money on prescription drugs, you just have to know what you’re doing! Here are eight things you can do to lower your prescription bill.
1. Ask About Alternative Medications
Before you buy into that top-shelf prescription, see if there’s anything else you can take to treat what you’re experiencing. Your doctor may have an alternative suggestion off the top of their head, or you may need to get a second opinion.
Don’t rule out alternative medicines, either. These are things like fresh herbs or forms of massage therapy to help you deal with internal and/or external medical issues.
2. Buy Generic
If you’d rather go with the first suggestion you get than do more research, at least look into generic brands. These are lesser-known providers of prescription drugs, who offer the same level of quality in their medication.
Think of it like the Pepsi vs. Coke debate or FedEx vs. UPS – the two brands do the same thing, it’s just a matter of personal preference. In the case of discovering how to save on prescription drugs, generic may be the best choice when you look at things from a financial perspective.
3. Search, Search, Shop
Just when you think you’ve found the cheapest prescription drug offer out there, check again. The more time you spend researching local and online pharmacies, the better price you’re bound to find.
Never heard of an online pharmacy? Click to discover more.
Many of these sites are cutting out the middleman. Without drug companies having to pay for location overhead or as many employees, it’s easier for them to get their medications in your hands at a lower price! That’s something everyone can enjoy.
4. Split Your Doses
Another thing you can try is to split your doses. This isn’t to say you undercut the total amount of medication you’re supposed to take. Instead, it’s a matter of buying and using your medication in a smarter way.
See if there’s a higher dosage of your prescribed pill available – like a 100mg instead of a 50mg. Order the 100s, then split each pill. For a little bit of a price difference, you get much more value out of each dose.
5. Order Every 90 Days
Not only does the suggestion above stretch your wallet, but it will allow you to go a longer amount of time without ordering another prescription, too. To go even longer without spending money on your medication, sign up to purchase it every 90 days.
Many pharmacies will offer a bit of a discount for ordering in bulk. This may just be the simple trick you need to shed a little bit of money off your bill. Even if it doesn’t seem like much of a difference at first, the savings do add up.
6. Look Into Loyalty Programs
You’ve heard of gas cards for pump stations and stamp cards for restaurants and juice bars. But, have you heard of prescription drug loyalty programs?
Such a thing exists, and it’s a great way to save money on prescription drugs. All you need to do is find the best pharmacy that works for you and ask if they offer a system like this. If they don’t, it might be best to keep looking until you find a pharmacy that does.
7. Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need
Just as you shouldn’t spend money on clothes you don’t need or experiences that are too pricey for your budget, you shouldn’t invest in prescriptions that aren’t benefitting you. Stop stocking up on things you don’t need, or trying to find every little thing that’s wrong with you.
Some people truly need to fill their weekly pill organizer to the brim, while others just go overboard. There are many different ways to take care of yourself that don’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Once you start feeling better or doing other things to improve your level of health, talk to your doctor about cutting back on all the prescriptions you’re taking.
8. Double-Check with Your Insurance
This one may sound a bit obvious, but it’s one that many people forget!
Talk to your insurance whenever you’re about to purchase a prescription. They may be able to offer you some sort of reimbursement or cover the cost of a certain prescription entirely.
These situations are often determined on a case by case basis. Don’t take your coworker’s or family member’s word for it until you’ve done the research yourself. Even if someone has an identical insurance plan as yours, they don’t have the same conditions and needs that you do.
It’s always best to double-check, even if you don’t get the financial support you’ve hoped for. After all, the flipside of this is to not check and miss out on savings you could have had.
Living Well: Save Money on Prescription Drugs, Save Time in the Gym, and More!
If you feel like you’ve been overpaying for your prescription, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s not like knowing how to save money on prescription drugs is common sense.
In fact, most wellness choices and tools are the result learned behaviors. To learn how to do fast, effective workouts, eat better, and more, click here.
