6 ways to save money on prescription drugs

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the average American pays $1200 a year for medications—more than any other country in the world. A survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 29% of U.S. adults do not take medications as prescribed, skip or split doses, or switch their own medications just to pay less. You can’t save on your health, but you can still save on medications: here’s how to do it effectively and safely.

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Ask questions

Find out why your medicines are so expensive, offers Time. "It's important to find the root cause that will lead to a better solution," says Erin Bradshaw, chief of missions at the nonprofit Patient Defense Fund.

Bradshaw explains that even if your doctor won't tell you why the drug costs so much, pharmacists often know. They can suggest ways to save in the short term, such as using manufacturer rebates, coupons, and similar opportunities.

Study your insurance plan

If you are insured, take the time and find out the details of your plan: monthly premium, deductible and important details (plan form, list of generics covered by insurance and well-known drugs). You can find out more using the tool for estimating the cost of drugs on the website of the insurance company. Commercial insurance companies may limit the choice of pharmacies or assign mail order service.

Often patients simply do not understand how their plans work. “They may feel like they are being rejected. The prescription may be covered by insurance, but you will have to pay the deductible out of pocket,” says Bradshaw.

In other plans, there may be additional charge collectors: instead of counting the amount pledged by the manufacturer to the franchise and reducing the patient's expenses before the insurance starts, the drive requires the payment of the full deductible from the patient. The system redistributes the discount so as to reduce the burden on the insurance company.

“So you might find a solution that works for you, but three months later you'll find that you still owe a $5000 deductible,” Bradshaw says. “It takes some people by surprise.”

If you have Medicare Part D, fill out prescriptions at one of the insurance pharmacies that should be listed on the company's website, and your co-pay will be lower.

Go to generics

Generics, or generics, are cheaper versions of brand-name drugs, one of the common tips for reducing the cost of treatment.

"Generic drugs are cheaper because companies don't have to spend money on research and development," explains Florida pharmacist Teresa Tolle. “Without these additional costs, generics copy the formula and spend less on production than companies that bring originals to market.”

Although FDA-approved generics and brand analogs are usually considered identical, they may have small differences that are important for some consumers.

“The Food and Drug Administration has strict requirements for generic drugs that must be met before they can be marketed,” says Tolle. For the FDA to approve a generic drug, the original and the copy must be bioequivalent—meaning the active ingredient must be the same and enter the bloodstream at approximately the same rate and amount. Where these numbers vary are the inactive ingredients: fillers, coatings and flavorings. Although the FDA requires evidence that these ingredients are safe, they can still cause side effects such as allergic reactions.

If you have insurance, check the form to determine comparative coverage for a generic or brand name drug and possible limitations for both. And, of course, consult your doctor before making any decisions.

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Pay attention to charity programs.

Currently, 8 national charity programs are operating in the US that offer assistance to patients who meet certain criteria. For example, to qualify for the Counseling for Patients Foundation Assistance Program, you need to have insurance, reside and receive treatment in one of the 50 states or in the District of Columbia, and have income at or below 300% or 400% of federal poverty level, taking into account the cost of living index and household size. Requirements vary from program to program.

Be smart

Prescription drug prices can vary from store to store, and unless you do your research, you may not find the best deal. Even if you have insurance coverage, it's worth being careful: You may find that the copay is actually higher than the full price discounted through a membership program (some are free, others have an annual fee) or with a coupon. While these out-of-pocket expenses may not count towards your deductible, it can be a short-term solution to reduce the price tag. Both Bradshaw and Tolle recommend the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (pparx.org), an online resource for patients to help find programs based on your medication needs, age, location, income, household size, current health insurance, and coverage for prescription services.

Other purchasing strategies include:

• Coupons: Find a site like GoodRx that compares prices for generics and brands in nearby pharmacies and offers coupons. But be careful: qualification requirements are imposed on some coupons. You cannot qualify for a brand-name discount if you are eligible to receive insurance coverage under a program funded by the state or the federal government. Since some coupons and discount cards are issued by marketing, rather than pharmaceutical companies, check to see if the company protects the privacy of patients, and only then provide personal information.
• Discount cards: There are many discount cards for prescription drugs that promise ease of use and discounted prices. Nevertheless, on them there will always be the very small font that can introduce a lot of restrictions in a tempting offer. Read these details carefully.
• Mail order service: For medications you take regularly, this method may be more cost-effective than filling a prescription at your local pharmacy (especially if you can purchase a 60- or 90-day supply). If you tend to wait until the last minute or need medications urgently, mail is not the best choice, since processing and delivery can take up to two weeks. Mail order services differ from online pharmacies: both deliver your medication, but online pharmacies may not accept your insurance.
• Savings programs from manufacturers: Some pharmaceutical manufacturers have their own ways to help consumers. For example, the Pfizer patient care program offers people with an income above 400% of the federal poverty level free medications through the company's doctor’s office. The Pfizer savings program also allows qualified uninsured patients to receive discounts on brand-name drugs. If you do not have insurance financed by the state or federal authorities, but you are still insured, you can apply for individual cards to lower the prices of certain brand drugs. The pparx.org website provides a complete list of available programs.
• Free trial programs: Newbies may be eligible for a free trial of some brand-name medicines. Information about trial programs, including qualifications and duration, can usually be found on the brand's website.

Order less pills at a higher dose.

Depending on your medication, you can save money by ordering fewer pills at a higher dose, and then dividing each in half. Many tablets have a line that makes it easy to break it into two pieces. You can buy a special tablet cutter at the pharmacy or the Internet. However, first ask your doctor and read the instructions for the drug, and only then share. The fact is that not all drugs remain effective in the separation (for example, it does not work with drugs that release the active substance for a certain time). There are tablets of this structure that can irritate the stomach, being in a broken form. Unusually shaped small tablets or tablets may be hard to break. Capsules generally can not be opened or cut.

If you are in a pharmacy and received a very heavy bill, explain your financial situation. Your doctor and pharmacist will help you find the right alternative. Tolle explains that if you need a branded drug with no cheap alternatives, the person who wrote the prescription might have free samples. This will give you the opportunity to at least check its effectiveness before spending large sums, and provide a temporary odds so that you can explore the possibility of participating in programs.

The right drug can change and even save your life. But it will not help if you can not afford to buy and take it as prescribed by the doctor. Knowing the options available will allow you to get the right course of treatment at the right time.

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