Talk, Eliminate, Ask
Here are some ways that drugs costs can be reduced:
1) Talk with the doctor – Doctors don’t think about the cost, only the cure, when prescribing. In fact, a Consumer Reports survey of doctors discovered that most ranked cost of medications at the bottom of their concerns, and many don’t know the actual out-of-pocket costs to their patients. That means it’s up to the patient to ask about alternatives and remind the doctor of the high costs she or he may be imposing. There may be a different path that can be taken.
2) Eliminate some drugs – Most patients never discuss their drug-taking with their doctor beyond the initial prescription. Drugs used should be reviewed every six months to ensure that the original purposes are being met, interactions avoided, and unnecessary drugs or doses are cut.
3) Generics are cheaper – Generics save money and are as safe and effective as the brand names, sometimes as much as one-third cheaper. If a generic is not available, there may be a different drug that can achieve the same results at a lower cost.
4) Split the pills? -- If you get a pill that’s twice the normal dose, you can split it. Ask your doctor about this, and only divide scored pills using a pill-splitting device. Extended-release drugs and continued-release drugs are not candidates for this procedure, so be careful.
5) Shop for bargains – Not every pharmacy charges the same price, and there may be bargains to be found at discount warehouses and online at AARP.org, Drugstore.com or Familymeds.com, among other websites. DestinationRX is a site for comparisons of drug costs and effectiveness. If you find a lower price, ask your pharmacy if it will match that price.