No question about it, health care costs have skyrocketed in recent years. Even people with health insurance have cause for concern since some are paying high deductibles and with little or no prescription coverage.

The best way to keep healthcare and prescription costs low is to stay healthy. Exercise, eat right and get plenty of rest. Wash hands frequently throughout the day or carry hand sanitizer with you to use, especially when dealing with the public.

Switching to generic can save up to 93% on overall prescription costs. The FDA reviews and approves all generic drugs. They must contain the same active ingredients, quality, strength, purity, safety and dosage as brand-name drugs. The only difference is the appearance since trademark laws prevent generic drugs from looking the same as the brand-name version.

Take advantage of large retailers that compete for generic pharmaceutical sales:

• Kmart.com $15 for 90-day supply
• SamsClub.com $4 for 30-day supply
• Target.com $4 for 30 day supply
• WalMart.com $4 for 30-day supply

Pharmaceutical companies give samples of their medications to health care providers at no charge, so ask for samples at every visit.   

If the prescription is new and the health care provider does not have samples, ask the pharmacist.  Do not waste money on an entire prescription should you not be able to tolerate the new drug.

Research every avenue to lower medication costs. Get quotes from large retailers, local pharmacies and online at websites like onlinedrugstore.com, cyberpharmacy.com, jdpharmacy.com, RxAminer.com.

The time and effort searching for better prices is worth it in any savings that comes by all of the hand and footwork envloved.

If the medication comes in a 100mg tablet and you require 50mg, split the pills. The cost is usually same for each prescription; however, you will have two prescriptions for the price of one.

Coupons and rebates may be available. Check the brand-name drug’s website. If you do not know the company’s website address, just type in the drugs name in your favorite search engine to locate it.

Review all prescriptions with health care providers at every visit and eliminate any medications no longer needed.

If your employer offers a flexible spending plan, consider using it to pay for prescription medication that the insurance company does not cover.

If you are required to pay co-pays on your prescriptions, ask your doctor to write a prescription for three months, which will save having to pay for two co-pays.

You may qualify for a free drug program by appealing to the pharmaceutical company directly. Some companies give assistance to low income individuals, while others only require a physician’s referral.

Check out web sites like Partnership for Prescription Assistance (pparx.org). Other resources include NeedyMeds.com, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ashp.org), Eldercare Locator (eldercare.gov) and Access to Benefits Coalition (accesstobenefits.org).

Ask the Pharmacy About Discount Cards. Some pharmacies offer discount cards that apply to prescription medications.

Get a free card at benefithouse.com, freedrugcard.us, yourrxcard.com, pscard.com, esunhealth.net, where you can save 11% - 75% at many large pharmacies.

Ordering medications from Mexico or Canada can save 75% off of prescriptions offered in the United States.

Low Income Individuals may be eligible for Medicaid where prescriptions are little or no cost. Check with your local Medicaid office to see if you qualify.

Veterans can now qualify for more benefits. Check with the Veteran’s Administration to see if you qualify for medication benefits.

Ask for a discount at the pharmacy counter if you are a member of the American Assoication for Retired Persons (AARP).

Ordering prescriptions through the mail can save a bundle. Compare prices through mail order pharmacies:

• Action Mail Order Drug – 1.800.452.1976
• AARP Pharmacy Services – 1.800.289.8849
• Health Care Services – 1.800.758.0555
• Medi-Mail – 1.800.331.1458
• Heartland – 1.800.228.3353 

Inquire within the pharmacy to ask how much would it cost for a 90-day supply of the medication. It may be cheaper than buying the 30-day supply three times. You will have to ask your healthcare provier for a 3-month prescription.

Ask the health care provider if an over-the-counter medication may work just as well as the prescription. 

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