>>>>>FREE 3-day, 2-night vacation! Click Here.<<<<<

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, at least half of all Americans take one prescription drug. Half of all elderly Americans take three or more prescription drugs. As drug costs can run steep, many people, especially those who are uninsured or under-insured, have trouble paying for their prescription medication.

If you’ve been prescribed a medication that you can’t afford, this article offers some ideas for assistance.

1. Talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor you can’t afford the prescription. He or she may be able to prescribe a similar, less expensive medication, prescribe a generic form of the medication, or give you samples of the medication. Doctors often don’t think about the cost of the medication when writing a prescription, so don’t be shy or embarrassed about bringing the issue to their attention.

2. Comparison shop. The price of a medication may differ tremendously from pharmacy to pharmacy. It’s a good idea to call several different places and find out where you can get the best deal. Some pharmacies will even offer you a discount on your prescription just for switching to them.

3. Mail order. If you have health insurance but find the co-pays for your medications too steep, you may want to consider looking into your insurance company’s mail order option for drugs that you take regularly. Typically, you are charged a two-month co-pay for a three-month supply of drugs, saving you 1/3 of your co-pay. The mail order option is also attractive because the medications are delivered right to your door every three months–you don’t need to worry about reordering them or driving to the pharmacy to pick them up every thirty days.

4. Pharmaceutical company prescription assistance. If you don’t have insurance, check with the company that manufactures your medication to see if they have an assistance program. For a small fee, the Free Medicine Program can help you identify and apply for these programs. Needy Meds offers similar services at no cost.

5. Check into community agencies that may be able to help. Most community agencies don’t provide prescription assistance on an ongoing basis, but if you get caught short of cash once or twice and can’t afford your medications, they can be real life savers. To find agencies in your area that provide assistance with medication, call your local hospital and speak to the social services department. You may also be able to find some of these agencies online by going to a search engine and typing in “[your location] emergency assistance.”

Not being able to afford your medications can be frightening, especially if your medications are life-sustaining, but if you follow these five steps, you should be able to find the help you need to be able to purchase your medications on a regular basis.

>>>>>FREE! Get 250 Free Business Cards – More Than 400 Designs To Choose From! Click Here.<<<<<

Bookmark It

Hide Sites