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Living a Better Life
How to Save Money on Prescriptions by Cory P., Intro by Michelle Jones
This month I'd
like to share with you a special article from one of our readers about how to
save money on prescription medicines. Well, actually, this started as a
money-saving tip submission that was so good, I asked this reader if she would
add more information to it so that we could feature it as a full page
article. I hope you enjoy the article and I hope it will save y'all some
extra money! More...
There are lots of ways to save on your Rx medications, whether you have medical insurance coverage, or not! In 2005 I developed back problems which continue to prevent me from working a traditional job, due to my inability to stand and/or sit for extended periods of time. Since I lost my job and insurance in 2005, I have strived to get my medications at the lowest price possible, and I get most of them for free since I have no income. Many people don't know this, but if someone can't afford their medications, the company who makes that drug must provide it for free or deeply discounted. You have to fill out an application (on paper or online) to qualify for discounted or free medicines. All of the companies I have used have been easy to work with and I have saved TONS of money over the years. Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has connected millions of individuals who are uninsured or lack adequate healthcare coverage to programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. Patients who need help should call the PPA's toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW), where trained operators field calls in more than 150 languages, or visit the easy-to-use Web site (www.pparx.org). In addition, the PPA provides information on nearly 10,000 free healthcare clinics. PPARx.org Free Clinic Finder Reference: PPA Press Release 7-23-07 If a medication you need is not available through PPA, find out which company produces the drug by checking the label or searching the drug name on the internet to find the drug maker’s site. Then, contact the drug maker about their Patient Assistance Program. The following links were helpful to me. Drug
Company Patient Assistance Program Contact Numbers Another great Patient Assistance Program that I use is Rx Outreach. They also provide affordable medicines for those who qualify financially. They do NOT charge for shipping, they are ALWAYS adding to their list of available medications and there is no age restriction. Check out their website at: www.rxoutreach.com or you can reach them by phone at 1-800-769-3880. If a medication you take is not available through a Patient Assistance Program or you don’t financially qualify for Patient Assistance, you can still shop around for the best price on your prescription. Check out FreeDrugCard.us for free savings on prescription medications. They have two programs which provide Medication Pricing as well as a Pharmacy Locator. This tells you how much your medication will cost at the participating pharmacies in your area (usually grocery stores, convenience stores, etc.). Just fill in your name and print out your savings card to show at the pharmacy you choose. This program gave me the best price on one of my medications which was not covered by a Patient Assistance Program. Warehouse stores like Costco do not require a membership to use their pharmacy! Because these pharmacies deal in such bulk, they usually have very competitive prices. Costco also has a convenient online pharmacy which will ship your medications to your home at no additional charge. Just go to Costco.com then click on “Pharmacy” and select “Drug Pricing” to get started. You can also just call to speak with an operator or a pharmacist from their Online Pharmacy at 1-800-607-6861. If you don’t see the type or strength of medication you take, call the pharmacist; they can also give you the price for larger quantities so you get bigger savings! Wal-Mart Pharmacy is always adding to their $4 Rx List, so keep checking back for your medications. There are even more ways to save, which many people don’t know about! If you don’t have prescription coverage and your doctor writes your prescription for a 30 day quantity, you can tell the pharmacist you only want to pay for a week's worth at a time. The remainder of your Rx is still there when you need more. This is especially helpful for high-cost medicines. This is also helpful if it's a new medicine your doctor wants you to try and you don't want to buy the whole Rx until you know it works for you. Many people fail to use one of the best free resources: A
Pharmacist. They know more about medicines than your doctor does! If you have
questions about how to save on your medications or have a medical question, ask
a pharmacist!!! They are there to help and you don't have to pay them for their
guidance! Article Copyright by Cory P. of Jacksonville, FL
* * *
Published by Michelle Jones, Founder of BetterBudgeting.com and Author of... Dealing with Debt, Frugal Family Recipes Cookbook, The Better Budgeting Class: A 5-Week Course, and 101 Coupon Tips... To Help You Save More at the Store!
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