How to Get Your Prescription Drugs for Less

1. Ask for generic drugs at the pharmacy. Also ask your doctor if there is a cheaper medication that would work for you.
2. If the price with insurance sounds high, ask the pharmacy for the price of your medication without insurance. Strangely enough, sometimes the non-insurance price is cheaper! (For example, Sam’s Club Pharmacy offers extra discounts to Sam’s Plus Members and offers some medications for just $4.)
3. Use mail order for new prescriptions and refills when possible. This method will usually allow you to get 3 months of prescriptions for the amount of 2 co-pays.
4. Shop around. Check different pharmacy prices. Download the OneRx app (iOS and Android) for price comparisons of local pharmacies. You can also use the Costco pharmacy without being a Costco member. (I have found one prescription I like is $11 at my local pharmacy and as much as $30 at a bigger pharmacy.)
5. Use your FSA or flex spending plan to buy prescriptions with your pre-tax money. Talk to your company’s HR department to learn more.
6. Ask about an injection. Some medications (especially anti-psychotics) are being prescribed in an injection that has a one-time fee and lasts for 1-3 months.
7. Ask for samples, especially if your prescriber is trying something new to you or a newer medication. Many medications can be used as a sample before you have to pay for the on-going costs. Also, if you run out of your prescription and can’t get in to see the doctor quickly, you can ask for the office to give you a sample to get you by until you can see the doctor again.
8. Check the manufacturer of your medication for discounts. Google the name of the medication and see who manufactures the medication. The manufacturer will often have coupons on their web site for free or very low cost medications.
9. If you can’t afford your medications, check the manufacturer web site again and look for anything that says “Help paying for my meds.” Many manufacturers have programs where you can complete an application or write a letter explaining your situation and they will provide a year’s worth of the medication for free or for a lower cost. For example, here’s Pfizer’s program for medication assistance: www.pfizerrxpathways.com. You never know unless you ask.
10. Look for discount programs through the following web sites:
    www.NeedyMeds.org
    www.PatientAdvocate.org
    www.pparx.org
    www.PatientServicesInc.org.
11. During open enrollment, list the medications that you currently use and check if your insurance plan covers the those prescriptions. If not, look for another plan that does. Sometimes you can pay a little more for a plan with much better medication coverage. The extra $20 or $30 a month may dramatically decrease your prescription co-pays.

We hope these tips for saving money on prescription medications are helpful for you and your family! Please share or pin this page if you found it helpful.
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