Mike
Carruthers:
Prescription drugs can get very expensive but you can cut the
cost by using some strategies. First of all, shop around.
Edward Jardini,
M.D.:
There is tremendous variation in price for a particular prescription
from one drug retailer to the next.
Dr. Edward Jardini,
author of the book
How to Save on Prescription Drugs…
We've found that
there can be as much as three or four times the cost of the
most expensive compared to the least expensive.
If a generic version of the drug you're taking is available,
Dr. Jardini says you should always choose that to save money.
And just because you have prescription drug coverage doesn't
mean you should always use it.
Always find out
the retail price of a prescription before using a prescription
drug insurance plan. Often the retail price will be lower than
the co-payment of your insurance plan.
And you've probably
seen those TV commercials where prescription drug companies
offer free or low-cost medication to people who cannot afford
them.
Pharmaceutical
company-assisted programs are under-utilized. These programs
are available to almost any patient who can indicate a need.
Sometimes they will request a verification of income but oftentimes
they'll take your word for it. And once approved for these programs,
the medications are free.
Tomorrow, more
ways to save money on prescription drugs - I'm Mike Carruthers
and that's Something You Should Know.
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