How to Lower Your Drug Costs
How many of you can barely afford your medication? Even if you have health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid?
In America we have the highest medication costs in the free world. Why is that? Why is it that healthcare consumers in America often have to choose between buying food for their family or getting their life-saving prescriptions filled?
Past administrations gave birth to the big Pharma industry and it’s here to stay. There’s no government control on the price of pharmaceuticals in our country. As a nation, we’re not screaming loud enough for our legislators to hear. These legislators are supposed to be recognizing our needs, representing us, and making sure our voices are being heard. We do have power. Write letters or call your elected officials and tell them to control Big Pharma. Tell them to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug costs. Vote for those who hear your voice.
There are also others resources you can use to see if you can reduce your medication expenses.
First of all, always ask your healthcare provider to prescribe generic drugs for you. They are much cheaper than brand name drugs. Ask your provider if they have any free samples they can share with you. Let him or her know that your drugs are unaffordable.
Ask your pharmacist what the prescription would cost if you paid for it out of pocket. You would be surprised to find out that sometimes paying out of pocket is actually cheaper then what you would pay through your health insurance company. In addition, ask your pharmacist if they offer discounts through Prescription Drug Saving Cards such as GOOD Rx, SEARCHRx, RxSAVER, WELLRx or SINGLECARE. And request that discount every time you re-order those drugs.
Other resources that you can explore:
Prescription Hope: $50 per month drug prescriptions: 877-296-4673
Simple Meds Pharmacy: 615-645-6337
SingleCare.com: 844-234-3057
GoodRX.com: 1-855- 213-1275
RxSaver.com: 855-569-6337
MedBank.Org : Provides drug discount cards that allow patients with little or no prescription drug coverage to save 15-40% on name- brand and generic prescription drugs: 912- 356-2898.
Novartis Patient Assistance:1-800-277-2254
The Rx Advocates: 844-333-3645
Publix Supermarket offers $7.50 prescriptions
AstraZeneca.com: Prescription Savings Program
Prescription Assistance: 1- (888) 477- 2669
People on Medicare with limited income may qualify for “Extra Help” to pay for their prescription drug costs, annual deductibles, and coinsurance. To see if you qualify, call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227); TTY Users should call 877-486-2048. Additionally, ask Medicare about the Low Income Subsidy Assistance program. You can also call your State Medicaid Office to see if you’re eligible for such assistance.
See if your State has a statewide free prescription assistance program.
For help from your state’s pharmaceutical assistance program, check with your state’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
NeedyMeds.org: provides access and information on patient assistance programs for virtually all brand-name and generic medications: 800-503-6897
Partnership for Prescription Assistance: Matches patients to programs offering free or low-cost prescription medicines: 888-477-2669; pparx.org
walmart.com/pharmacy supplies and equipment financial assistance information. Offering an extensive list of $4 per month generic medications.
Chronic Disease Fund, Inc: provides co-payment assistance for pharmaceutical products for patients with private health insurance or Medicare Part D (Drug Plan). Currently only breast, colon, and non-small cell lung cancers and multiple myeloma are covered. Check website for more information. 877-968-7233; pnp.mygooddays.org
National Organization for Rare Diseases: 800-999-6673; rarediseases.org : helps uninsured and underinsured individuals secure life-saving or life-sustaining medications including Trisenox, Theracys, and Matulane.
Patient Action Network; PAN- helps underinsured patients get the medication they need. 866-316-7263
