Many people these days are frustrated over the high costs of prescription drugs. I know whenever I have to pick up something for my husband it’s $100…This is causing some people not to fill their prescriptions, which could be dangerous, even deadly. Here are some ways to cut down on costs:
Inform your doctor about your prescription coverage, including your co-pay costs. Also be sure your doctor knows EVERYTHING you’re taking, including over the counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
- Does your doctor have any samples of medications he is prescribing?
- Are there generic versions?
- Ask if it’s possible to get double the strength of the medication, and cut the pills in half.
- Find out what the maximum amount is that your doctor can prescribe, if you don’t take that many in a month, you’ll be refilling prescriptions less often.
- See if your health insurance plan has a mail order pharmacy. For medications you take all the time (like statins), this may be much less expensive.
- Look for coupons, free trials and other patient support programs from pharmaceutical companies. Just be careful on the Internet, that the sites are legitimate.
- Is there a homeopathic remedy, or would a change in diet reduce the condition?
What other ways do you save money on prescriptions?
This week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival is being hosted by Vaboomer, be sure to check it out.
? My friend and insurance agent, David, used to send them out, and one night over dinner, when I complained about the lack of personalization on these letters, he asked if it would make a difference. “No one” he said, “ever comes in to review their policies.” He then went on to tell me about someone who was under-insured and trying to collect on a claim, unsuccessfully.
This was going to be a more upbeat blog this week, but I’m so angry about the way the health insurance reform proposal has been trashed, that it’s time for my two cents. First of all how many of you that have health insurance are happy with it? Not satisfied; happy. If you’re old enough to remember Woodstock, you’re old enough to remember when health insurance covered all doctors, and every procedure. Under managed care, none of my regular doctors are covered, so not only am I shelling out for insurance, then there are the doctors bills on top of that. So what exactly am I paying thousands of dollars a year for? We all know health insurance in this country is expensive, and unsustainable. Why can’t people stop shouting, and take a reasoned look at what’s being proposed?
coming home from a friend’s funeral, for swerving and had her license pulled. She had never had an accident, and actually had good driver discounts on her insurance. Mom had to take a driving test which her daughter was afraid she wouldn’t pass, mostly because so much depended on it, and her mother was very nervous. The good news was that Mom did pass the driving test, but is not allowed to drive on any interstates, and must be re-tested every six months.
