Because so many health care plans have a set limit as to the amount that they will pay every month for prescription drug costs, you may find yourself having to pay the entire cost of some medications yourself. This is especially hard for seniors who are on a tight budget or families with children who have special drug needs for medical conditions every month. There are a few ways that you can keep the high cost of buying prescription drugs every month down to where you can handle the budget.
Generic vs. Brand Name Prescription Drugs
One of the ways to keep your costs down is to ask your doctor to prescribe a generic version of the medication you’re buying now. Many plans charge a much lower co-pay amount for generic-brand medications than the much higher brand-name drugs. Be sure to check if the medication you’re taking now has a generic substitute that your health care plan will cover before you have your doctor change your prescription.
Even if the higher-costing brand name medicine you’re taking now doesn’t have a generic equivalent, there may be another drug on the market that could treat your medical condition at a lower cost. Always be sure to check with your doctor before you make the decision to switch drugs.
Buying Drugs in Bulk
Another way to save on drug costs is to buy in bulk whenever possible. Many drug plans offer volume discounts when you purchase three-month supplies of medication at once.
Finding Cheaper Pharmacies
You can also look for a cheaper pharmacy to buy your medications. Target and Wal-Mart have plans in place that allow them to sell most generic drugs for as low as four dollars per prescription. There are also many mail-order pharmacies that offer discounts for orders placed through the mail.
Ordering from Canada
Many people needing medications every month are finding cost relief by shopping for their medications in Canada. You can now purchase a 90-day supply of drugs without having to stop at the border by customs agents. U.S. government officials will also no longer seize mail-order prescription drug orders from Canada.
