Readers Respond: Have you found a way to cut your prescription costs?

Responses: 16

By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide

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Prescription prices can be outrageous. Have you found a way to minimize the cost? Tell Us About It

I get a copy of the $4 medicine list at Walmart and I keep it in my purse. When I go to MD I have my Dr perscribe my medication from this list. He has no problem with this at all. He knows medicine is expensive.
—Guest kathyhodges

The State of Tennessee offers prescription coverage to the residents of the state. It has no income limit. The only requirement is that you do not have prescription coverage. As of right now, being unemployed I qualify for the $3 30 day supply or $3 for a 90 day supply. My primary as well as nurse practioner have no problem prescribing me with a 90 day supply of my regular scheduled meds. My diabetic test strips, needles, lancets and insulin cost $5 per month. Alcohol pads can be purchased too. I find it cheaper just to purchase a bottle of alcohol and a bag of cotton balls to replace the alcohol pads. Drug reps leave "samples" of insulin syringes for both the vial and flex pen.
—Guest Brenda Carroll

Several year ago I was looking at my parents prescriptions. When I asked what each was for they didn't know. Turns out some were for the same things from different doctors and others were treating symptoms of other medications they were taking. I made the trip with them to their next dr. appointments and Mom had one removed and instead of 2 smaller doses upped the one, and dad 2. That were not needed or were duplicates. Dad had a bout with bursitis in his arm and it was healed the year before but the doctor kept refilling it the RX. So a good way to save is to check your prescriptions. Some you may no longer need.
—Guest Bizeegal

Many Supermarket & discount stores (Walmart/Target, etc) have a 1 month =$4 or 3 month = $10 program with a listof 400-500 generic pills. I switched from my mail order (thru my medical insurer) 3 month =$20 and for 4 different prescriptions save $40 every 3 months or $160 a year. You can usually find their lists on their website, Truly amazing!!!
—Guest Roger

I use medicationcoupons.com too- I don't have the patience to search for specific coupons so I just use their free discount drug card.
—saram68

Thanks couponsnoop- After reading your comment, I went to www.medicationcoupons.com and checked out their site. I quickly downloaded their free discount drug card. Although I occasionally find some coupons that I can use, I keep a copy of the discount card in my purse and use it everytime I go to Walgreens. On the average, I save about 55% on my med purchases.
—Guest Lialda

I found an awesome website that saves me money on both my prescription medicine purchases and OTC medicines. It is called Medicationcoupons.com. You will find thousands of medicine coupons for all kinds of medication. You can also print out their free discount drug card that can save you up to 80% off on medication purchases not covered by insurance. You can also use it at over 60,000 pharmacies through the US. http://www.medicationcoupons.com/card
—Couponsnoop

Some doctors are unaware of the costs of medications, and may prescribe an expensive brand-name high blood pressure medication when there are many effective generic meds. Before getting a new med filled, ask for an inexpensive generic and get a 30-day supply (in case you have a reaction to it). Then if works well with no side-effects, get a larger (90 days or more) supply. -Pharmacist
—Guest mscottcgp

As I mentioned in the article, splitting pills is only an option if your doctor and pharmacist agree that it is. Not all pills can be split.
—Guest FrugalLiving Guide

What about all the folks who go to Mexico for their drugs. Recently I saw lots of seniors doing that. Is it safe?
—Guest MJ

Shopping around for prescription drugs can have its downside if you end up having a different prescriptions at different pharmacies. Keeping all prescriptions at one pharmacy allows that pharmacy to have a more whole view of your drug profile and can better monitor drug interactions, which oftentimes physicians will miss. Also, definitely make sure you talk to your pharmacist before splitting any tablets. Some tablets are designed to release drugs over a period of time, and cutting the wrong kind of tablet can dump a dangerous amount of drug into your system.
—Guest Jacqueline

This phone number gets you to a person which will look up all the drugs you are taking, and see if the company that makes them has some kind of program that provides them free. The official title is Partnership for Prescription Assistance.
—Guest Cheryl Myers

As stated above, don't make any changes to your medications without first consulting your doctor or pharmacist. While shopping at different pharmacies may get you a good deal, make sure the pharmacies know all the medications you are taking, not just the one you are having filled. Many drugs can interact with each other and most pharmacies have a screening program that will detect any harmful drug interactions, but it can only search through the medications that you have filled there. Always make sure both your doctor and your pharmacist know all the medications you are taking.
—Guest Pharmacy Student

For repeat prescriptions, get your doctor to give you the largest quantity you can get, ie a single 3 month prescription vs a 1 month prescription with 2 refills. The pharmacy "service" fee can be huge portion of the cost. I had a prescription for 30mg of a cream. Price was $30, more than half of that was a "service" fee. I got the quantity increased to 100mg, new price was less than $50. It was like getting more than 1 smaller prescription for free.
—Guest ron

Depending on the illness there are often herbal supplements that can treat the symptoms in a balanced way without the side-effects. Along with a healthier lifestyle, they can sometimes get to the root of it and cure. It's usually much less expensive, too! It doesn't hurt to ask your doctor about it...
—Guest DeeDee

I always ask my doctor if there are generic drug alternatives for the medication I need, and when possible, get prescription filled up at walmart for $4.
—Guest Leon

Erin Huffstetler
Frugal Living Guide