DRUG PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNTS

Cut the cost of prescriptions up to 70%
Here are 14 ways to do it

SAVVY-DISCOUNTS.com has researched 14 ways to cut the costs of prescriptions. We have spent five years gathering and verifying this information. This list has been reviewed by a licensed registered pharmacist.

Because insurance often does not cover prescriptions, this cost has become a critical issue. The price of drugs has been rising faster than the rate of inflation for a number of years. Some elderly people are choosing between eating dinner or taking their prescription medicine. Others are driving to Canada or Mexico to buy drugs at substantial discounts. The cost has become so important to seniors it is an issue in the presidential debate.

In the meantime there is a lot a person can do to dramatically cut the cost of the medicines he or she is taking. Savings of 50% and more are possible. Rick Doble, editor of SAVVY-DISCOUNTS.com , adds, "With the price of drugs rising rapidly, it is important that each person take control to reduce those expenses as much as possible. With these tips, just about anyone can find a way to save on prescriptions." Drastic savings are possible. For example, Doble points out that a person who is buying brand-name drugs in small quantities could save a lot if he or she bought generic drugs in larger quantities.

1. Even if you must pay for prescriptions yourself, you may still be entitled to a discount simply because you belong to a certain insurance plan. Find out if you qualify for a health insurance discount and whether your pharmacy participates in the plan.
2. You may be able to buy prescription pills in double doses, cut the pill in half, and save as much as 40%. You can buy devices that make cutting pills easy. Before you do this ask your pharmacist whether this is appropriate for the medicine you are taking as some pills should not be cut.
3. Get regular prescriptions in larger quantities. A full unopened bottle, could save you money per pill.
4. Order regular prescriptions through a discount mail-order pharmacy. Generally you must buy a large quantity. Always compare prices.
5. Request that your doctor give you the option of taking a generic prescription drug if available. Many generics are made by large drug companies, and all must pass strict government tests. The savings can be considerable. The FDA recently issued a report stating that it found generic drugs worked just as well as brand-name drugs.
   NOTE: A pharmacists states that there could be a problem with switching from a brand-name "narrow therapeutic index drug" to a generic equivalent. While starting with a generic in this case should be no problem, switching may require careful monitoring by a doctor as there can be slight differences in the absorption rates (not the medicine's effectiveness) between the two kinds.
6. New generics are being introduced on a regular basis. Even if a generic drug was not previously on the market, ask every time a prescription is filled if a generic is now available.
7. Comparison shop over the phone. Whether it is a name-brand or a generic drug, call several pharmacies with the identical prescription (same brand, same number of tablets, same strength). However, if you buy medicine from more than one source make sure that your doctor and pharmacist are aware of all the drugs you are taking. This way they can be on the lookout for interactions and duplications.
8. Don't pay expensive prescription prices if the drug you take is now available in a less costly over-the-counter form. New over-the-counter versions of prescription drugs are regularly coming on the market. Consult your pharmacist about the appropriate dosage for the over-the-counter drug.
9. Some drug stores offer discounts for seniors or for parents of young children.
   
10. Ask your doctor for free drug samples. Pharmaceutical companies give physicians thousands of dollars worth a year. Besides saving you some initial money, a sample also allows you to test a new drug before buying a full prescription. This could save a substantial amount since by law prescriptions cannot be returned for a refund.
11. You may qualify for free medicine from drug companies. Participating companies offer a free directory which includes guidelines for eligibility. Ask for: Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs. Go to their web site at: http://www.phrma.org/patients/index.html
12. Seniors, especially, should have a doctor and pharmacist review all the drugs they take. They may find duplication and over-medication which is both costly and unhealthy. Also, people over 65 may need less medication than they did when they were younger.
13. Talk to your pharmacist. He or she may be much more accessible than your doctor and more aware of drug side effects, interactions and lower cost alternatives.
14. Buying several refills together of a regular prescription can save time and money. Most pharmacies have a minimum fee that they charge to fill any prescription. For example, buying a three month supply of pills is often cheaper per pill than getting a refill each month. And you will save time because you will visit the pharmacy less often.

From our March 15, 2002 E-mail Newsletter

---------========| The Canadian Connection |========----------

DEEP DISCOUNTS ON CANADIAN INTERNET PRESCRIPTIONS

Many US citizens are breaking the law, but no one so far has been
prosecuted. Both ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News
reported recently that seniors are buying prescription drugs via
the Internet from pharmacies in Canada, a practice which is
technically illegal.

Why are they doing this? The cost difference is dramatic. Some
seniors are saving about 80% on certain drugs. Discounts for many
people seem to run about 40%.

Should seniors be worried about being prosecuted? A FDA (Food and
Drug Administration) official stated "We don't want to punish
seniors."

Canadian pharmacies are happy to help. They have a strict set of
rules that are spelled out at their web sites. 

  In  a nationally syndicated  radio
program about health, a doctor stated
something that I had suspected for  a
long time.
   He said that store-brand  vitamins
and over-the-counter drugs as well as
generic prescription drugs were often
the  exact same product as the  name-
brand  product only with a  different
label.  Where  have  we  heard   this
before?
   Some  months ago I was told  by  a
drug  store  executive that  many  of
their  store-brand products were  the
same  product as the  national  brand
only with a different label.
   Therefore it almost always pays to
try   a  drug   store   private-label
product.  If you don't like  it,  you
can probably return it.
   However, prescription drugs cannot
be  returned by law. If you  want  to
try a generic prescription drug,  get
a small prescription first. Make sure
that  it works properly,  before  you
buy a large quantity.
   You might also ask your pharmacist
about any of the above at his  store.
Many pharmacists are quite candid and
will give their honest opinion.

   For  this interview, I spoke  with
Phil Alexander, Chief Pharmacist  and
Pharmacy   Manager   at   the   Kmart
Pharmacy  in  Morehead  City,   North
Carolina.
   I asked Phil how to save money  on
prescriptions.   He  explained   that
there were a number of ways.
   Generic   medicines  can  save   a
considerable  amount of money over  a
brand name. However, the doctor  must
indicate  on  the  prescription  form
that a generic can be substituted  if
the patient prefers. The form  varies
from  state to state. In some  states
the  doctor merely checks a  box;  in
other  states the doctor signs  on  a
different line. However, it is  often
up  to the patient to ask the  doctor
to  write  the prescription  so  that
generics are allowed.
   Generics are tested by the FDA  to
perform the same as brand-name drugs.
However,  Phil cautioned that if  you
are used to certain brand name drugs,
and  are you are being  treated  with
blood thinners, thyroid medicines, or
anti-convulsants you should  probably
not switch to a generic.
   People  on "maintenance  medicine"
can  save  a considerable  amount  by
buying  large quantities at  a  time.
Smaller  quantities  generally   cost
more money per pill and and the paper
work involved costs more as well.
   I  asked  his  opinion  of   store
brands.
   He   said  store-brand   over-the-
counter  drugs  are usually  just  as
good as the brand name and  sometimes
made  by the same manufacturer.  Many
store brands are developed and tested
so that they perform the same as  the
store brand.
   I  wanted  to  know  if  expensive
vitamins   were  better  than   other
kinds.   I  mentioned   that   buying
vitamins  is  one area  where  people
often  spend  a lot of money  to  buy
what they think is a quality product.
I  estimated that a consumer can  pay
ten times or more for such vitamins.
   He agreed and mentioned that  some
manufacturers  insist their  vitamins
are  better  because  they  are  cold
processed  so that the life force  is
still  in the product.  Nevertheless,
he   believed  that  there   was   no
difference  in  the  benefit  to  the
person.
   However,   he  pointed  out   that
"natural vitamins," that is  vitamins
with no dyes, preservatives, sugar or
salt  might perform better  for  some
people. These "natural vitamins"  are
now  available inexpensively or  sold
as store brands in many pharmacies.
   I  asked  him  how  a   pharmacist
should fit in with a person's overall
health care.
   Phil pointed out that a pharmacist
should  be  an  important  component.
While  people should shop around  for
the  pharmacy with the  best  prices,
they  should settle on one  and  then
buy  all  their  drugs  at  that  one
establishment.  The pharmacist  needs
to look at the complete list of drugs
you are taking so that he or she  can
warn  you  of  any  side  effects  or
interactions.  If you buy your  drugs
at   several   pharmacies,   no   one
pharmacist  will be able to  look  at
the total number of prescriptions you
are taking.
   Phil  recommended  that  you  also
find  a pharmacy where  the  druggist
will   spend  time  explaining   your
medication  to  you.  If  he  or  she
doesn't   have  the  time,  then   go
somewhere  else. You should  even  be
able to call him or her on the  phone
if need be. The pharmacist is a  very
valuable resource who may even have a
more   complete  picture  than   your
doctor  of  the  medicines  you   are
taking.
   Elderly people are sometimes over-
medicated.  For example,  they  might
have two different prescriptions  for
similar   drugs.  A  druggist   might
notice   this.  In  some  cases   the
pharmacist  can call your doctor  and
recommend changes.
   I asked him about the best way  to
store and keep prescriptions.
   Phil    stated   that    medicines
deteriorate   in   a  damp   or   hot
environment. Therefore people  should
NOT keep them in the medicine cabinet
in  a  bathroom. They should  not  be
stored   in  a  refrigerator   either
because  it  is too  damp.  Medicines
should  be stored in a place that  is
cool  and  dry.   He  suggested  that
people  find a drawer in a room  that
stays  cool  and dry.  However,  keep
them  out of the reach  of  children,
especially young children.
   After  about  a year,  most  drugs
should     be     discarded.     Many
prescriptions  these  days  have   an
expiration  date on the label.  Throw
them away after that date. Don't  try
to  save money by  using  out-of-date
prescriptions.