Comments on: How I Save Money on Prescription Medication

By: Lily

Lily — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:42:19 +0000

It takes great courage to question the doctor. I asked the doctor why he said my son had mono (meaning what are the symptoms?) and he answered, “My examination!”

By: lupie

lupie — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:52:11 +0000

I understand exactly how expensive prescriptions can get even with insurance, taking over $3,000 worth of medication every single month I learned how to lower my co-pays really fast since I was paying 10-20% each month. I always ask if a generic version is available and have made sure I know as much as possible about the medications I do take and the ones used to treat my condition. That does not mean I was able to reduce co-pays on everything but I did find a few resources for when that isn’t possible. 1. some doctors get a regular and large supply of samples for certain medications, I always ask if this is the case when given a new script for a name brand med with no generic 2. I am disabled so I qualify for programs that others might not 3. I ask for help when the choice is between getting my meds or paying bills/ eating. 4. I use mail order when I can because this saves a lot of money through my prescription insurance company.

By: ElleX

ElleX — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:15:29 +0000

Thank you for this post. I love your tenacity. When I think about it, I do ask for samples or genetics especially for new prescriptions. My parents, who are on a fixed income, do as well. However, no matter what kind of prescriptions I get from the doctor, I take time to look up the drug on the internet so I can review side effects and ingredients before I go to the pharmacy. (More than once, I have taken a prescription to the pharmacy only to be told that the prescription can’t be filled because I am allergic to certain ingredients.) I encourage everyone to do the same. You can save time AND money on your prescriptions.

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:24:42 +0000

I hope people aren’t really considering always asking for free samples from their doctor. I understand that, in this case, the receptionist offered the meds to Single Ma to get the situation resolved, but I don’t think free meds should be sought every time. I’m a med student too and I know that many practices try to keep the free samples for people with serious diseases requiring long-term use of an expensive medication, especially patients who are low-income earners. Alternatively, the meds get used in the doctor’s pro bono or charity work (often collected up by other doctors if yours isn’t him/herself actively involved). I guess it’s just something to think about. That said, I really admire Single Ma’s tenacity to get the best price by phoning around and being an informed consumer.

By: cyg

cyg — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:11:16 +0000

Here’s another one. Drug companies almost always provide vouchers/coupons/cards to save money off your copay for brand name medications. For those meds that you must take the brand, remember to ask your doc if they have a voucher. I work in a physician’s office and we try to remember to give them out, but don’t always. I use a lot of brand products prescribed by my dermatologist that my bootleg insurance doesn’t cover. These surely come in handy!

And if there’s anyone with a low-income without insurance, every drug company offers a Patient Assitance Program that will provide you with the medication for free (or a minimal copay) if you qualify. Your doctor’s office should know about this and can help you with the paperwork for FREE! Don’t get suckered into paying a company a fee to do the paperwork for you!

My two cents!

Great tips! Especially about the low income assistance. Thanks! [-SM]

By: Serenity23

Serenity23 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:09:20 +0000

Can you call my insurance company and find out why they did not pay for my lab charges? Makes no sense to me and I keep forgetting to call them.

By: Frugal Mama

Frugal Mama — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:44:22 +0000

Good job Single Ma!

Here’s how this Frugal Mama does it:

1. Always ask for free samples from the doctor.
2. Determine if generic will do the job. For my DD, anti-seizure and thyroid must be name brand. Once the insurance co. refused to pay for the brand name and insisted she could do with generic, she had a grand-mal seizure - the worst. You better believe I and her neurologist fought with the insurance co and I am happy to report she’s been back on brand name for two years and has been seizure-free
3. For maintenance or on-going meds I have the dr. write the RX for 90 day vs. 30 day. As stated, it’s cheaper to get them this way.
4. Check Costco, BJ’s, Wal-Mart, and Target’s price to see if it’s lower than my co-pay.
5. See if there’s a coupon out there to get a gift card for a new or transferred RX. CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens & Target frequently puts these in there sales flyers. Often times this can be a money maker.
6. For those 30 day meds, I always fill them 5 or so days before the due date. The insurance will allow anywhere from 3 - 7 days before the due date. This gives me several more pills over the years time.
7. Lastly and most important, determine if a health change will eliminate the need for a drug. I kicked my exercise up a notch (OK I started working out regularly) and was able to eliminate high blood pressure meds.

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:53:27 +0000

Awesome. I know that if I ever go through a bad patch again I may have to get on another antidepressant. So I plan to talk to my doctor about the different generic options, how well each of them works, and ask her to start me out with those. Because I do not want to be paying $85 outright or $25 with coverage (depending on whether or not I’ve met my deductible). Thanks for the tip about calling the insurance company too.

By: Tara

Tara — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:24:51 +0000

Also make sure you check out the RX list at Wal-Mart, they have expanded their $4.00 generic list and I have heard that some Target’s also offer it…

Also at some walgreens they have a walk in clinic that is open 7 days a week and in the evenings, called Take Care. They accept insurance and you pay what your copay would be for the dr… It was a lifesaver for me when my doctor couldn’t get me in for 3 days, I was able to walk in there and be seen and they called me the next day to check on me!

By: Rufina

Rufina — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:07:16 +0000

Edie, Synthroid-actually its generic forn-Levoxyl 30 day supply of 125mg costs $19.99 at CVS

however if your health insurance company has a set amount of co-pay for generic/brand medication then it does not matter that it costs $19.99 in this case

if co-pay is $30 for generic meds -then you pay $30 and not $19.99 as you would expect.

That is how insurance companies balance high pharmaceutical costs-they loose some on higher cost meds, but gain on lower costing meds

Thanks for providing the additional explanations. [-SM]