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Finally, as she hangs up the phone, the pharmacist notices that one of the patients is arguing with the clerk about his insurance co-pay. Why is it $25 and not $15? The pharmacist walks past your almost-ready prescriptions to explain to the angry man the pharmacy has no idea what co-pays are for any given plan. That knowledge is the responsibility of the patient. Read the entire post…
With the cost of medications always rising, it’s very hard, and sometimes impossible, for some people to afford their medications. While some people have bought prescriptions overseas or online, there are are safer methods to save money on your medicines.
First, if the medication is only to be used for a brief time, ask your doctor if he can give you samples of the drug. Pharmaceutical salespeople sometimes leave samples with doctors, who will usually give them to you if you ask for them. You may need to ask about availability, as your doctor might not think to offer the samples.
If you will be taking a specific medication for an extended time and have a prescription insurance plan, make sure you understand exactly what your plan will cover. Your health insurance plan will keep a formulary, which is a list of certain medications that they prefer. Drugs on the list are usually less expensive than drugs that don’t appear on the list. If the medication your doctor prescribes does not appear on the formulary, ask for comparable medication that is on the list.
It is wise to use generic medications whenever you can. If you have to pay for your medications yourself, you can really save a great deal of money this way. If you use generic medications, you may have a lower co-pay from your prescription plan. Your doctor can help you determine whether a generic medication will work as well for you as a brand-name drug.
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