Save Money on Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs/Medication

Being self-employed, I don't have the luxury of having health insurance, but unfortunately, I have had the expense of health care! In today's economy, especially with more people being laid off and companies having to cut back on expenses, health insurance is often one of the things people consider a 'luxury'.

Health insurance truly isn't a luxury, but there are ways to save money on prescription and over the counter drugs or medications, legally and easily.

Save Money on Prescriptions: Ask for Samples

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if they have any samples of a particular drug or medication that you need. In fact, ask both! Drug reps visit doctors regularly and pass out samples to help the doctor promote the medication. A lot of people don't realize they visit pharmacists too! If you can get samples from both the doctor and the pharmacist, you can probably avoid paying for one or two months of a long-term medication, and might get another short-term medication completely free.

Save Money on Prescriptions and Over the Counter Drugs: Buy Generic

Unless you have an averse reaction to a particular inert ingredient in a medication, consider using the generic version. These generic versions are tested for efficacy prior to being allowed on the market, so they do work.

However, keep in mind that absorption and inert ingredients will differ from one brand to another. If you are taking a long-term medication, such as an antidepressant or daily heart or blood pressure medication, you should let your doctor know when switching from one brand to another, because your therapeutic levels may change and dosages might have to be altered.

Save Money On Prescriptions by Joining Pharmacy Money-Saving Programs

Check for special programs or discounted medications that might be as effective as others, but are considerably cheaper. Pharmacies might also discount certain medications when they are close to expiring, so ask if any of the medications you are purchasing might be available cheaper at a later date. If the pharmacy has a program where you can save money by joining a membership, weigh the pros and cons and if the pros win, sign up.

Save Money on Medications by Asking: Just Ask!

While your doctor knows what's best for your health, he might not know what's best for your pocketbook. Tell him you are strapped financial and see if he will help. There are often medications that are similar but cheaper that can be prescribed instead. One of the medications I was given when I was on a health insurance plan turned out to cost over $70 per pill! When the doctor prescribed the same medication again, later when I had no insurance, because it had worked for me before, I had to ask him for something cheaper! He told me there was another drug that was just as good, and he wrote me a new prescription. It only cost $5!

Save Money on Prescriptions by Buying in Bulk

If you have a medication you are required to take every day, long-term, sometimes buying a 3-month supply is considerably cheaper than buying each month one at a time. Check for special pharmacy programs that might help you save money, like Walgreen's $5 list of medications, or Walmart's list of medication for under four dollars, under five dollars and under nine dollars. Both programs offer discounts for purchasing three months at a time.

Save Money on Prescription Drugs by Shopping Around

Shop around for prescription prices. Not all pharmacies charge the same price. Some medications might be considerably cheaper from one pharmacy to another. Take into consideration any savings cards you have or programs you might join. If there is a considerable difference, it's okay to buy your prescription drugs at more than one pharmacy to save money. I've bought prescriptions are a local drug store that were $15 but when I went to Walgreens, it was $47!

Save Money on Medication by Using Over-the-Counter Drugs Instead

A few years back, a family member was diagnosed with arthritis and the doctor prescribed 800mg Motrin for the pain and inflammation, taken twice daily. The cost for the prescription was over $50. When we asked if the over the counter medication for Motrin would work, the doctor said it would, and in fact, any ibuprofen taken at the same mg and dosage would work. The only reason for the prescription one was so the patients stomach didn't have to absorb as many pills, since ibuprofen can cause stomach upset.

The doctor then told my family member to take a Pepcid if there was a problem, and take the over the counter, and suddenly, the $50 prescription dropped to less than $7 for the month.

Shop smart with your prescription drugs. We will shop for cars and comparison shop for clothing, but for some reason, when it comes to prescription medication, people just seem to accept that what they have is what you get and what it costs. It's not! Be smart, ask questions, and shop around and you can save a considerable amount on your prescription and non prescription drugs/medication.