Free Prescription Drugs? All You Have to Do is Ask

Free prescription drugs. It sounds like a dream--or a scam. In fact, more than two hundred different drugs, from scores of pharmaceutical companies, are offered to tens of thousands of patients each year. There are two primary ways that consumers can access these free prescription drugs: samples, and free drug programs from the companies themselves.

As prescription drug costs increase at a rate higher than inflation, and when, according to Katharine Greider, author of The Big Fix , in 2000, 29% of Americans failed to fill a prescription because they could not afford the prescription, managing personal medication expenses is a major issue for millions of Americans.

Doctors are inundated with free samples of various drugs; the pharmaceutical industry spends an average of $21,000 per doctor on advertising, freebies, face-to-face meetings, conventions, and free samples. Doctors receive free samples for blood pressure medication, cholesterol drugs, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication, heart medication, ADHD drugs--the list goes on. In some doctors' offices the cabinets can't hold all the samples; patients can ask for free samples, and most doctors are happy to oblige. Simply asking for a 2-week or a 4-week supply of meds can save you twenty, fourty, or even a hundred dollars in prescription drug costs--all for just asking.

In addition, while drug companies are posting profits of 15% and more (and drug costs for patients increase nearly as much per year), the big drug companies also offer assistance programs for consumers. These programs are not as well-advertised as the drugs the companies promote, but for patients these free prescription programs can offer one more form of savings. Drug companies gave away more than $3.3 billion dollars worth of drugs to over 6.1 million patients last year, so the opportunity is certainly worth pursuing. Many of the programs limit patients to a three month supply, or have other restrictions. For more information on these programs, go to NeedyMeds.com and find your medications. Print the applications for your drugs and follow the directions as listed.

These programs are designed to help lower-income families to maintain their health in spite of higher medication costs. Being a careful consumer means learning when to ask for samples and when to ask for help. Your health is worth it, and knowing how to use these programs can help relieve the stress of medication costs. Even families who earn considerably more than the poverty level can qualify for some programs; anyone, regardless of income, can ask for a sample! Use these strategies to help save money.