The cost of prescription medication is a hot topic these days. With the government debating universal healthcare (or some variation thereof) prescription drugs will, no doubt, make their way to the heart of the debate. But since drugs will never be free, (no matter what DC ultimately decides) here are a few tips on how to save money on your prescription medications in the here and now.

1) Don’t take unnecessary medications

Not everyone responds to medication in the same way. If you have been prescribed a medication but are not getting the desired results ask doctor about alternative therapies. In some cases the answer may lie in a non-pharmaceutical solution. Some conditions may be controlled by a change in diet, physical therapy or a homeopathic remedy. As an example, individuals who suffer from urinary incontinence might be helped by learning Kegel exercises as opposed to taking the popular (and expensive) drugs Enablex or Vesicare.

2) Use samples and coupons

Pharmaceutical salespeople generally keep doctors offices well supplied with samples of the drug they represent. Doctors in turn are usually very generous with samples if their patients ask for them. I have gotten up to a three month supply of free medication just by asking my doctor for samples.

Additionally drug companies often make coupons available, which can often be downloaded from the company’s website. Coupons usually can be used in conjunction with your insurance and are sometimes enough to cover your entire co-pay. Before your next trip to the pharmacy make sure to look up your medications online and see if there is a coupon available.

3) Whenever possible take a less expensive alternative

Generics are frequently pointed to as the best way to save money on your prescription drug costs. I have seen co-pays on generic drugs run as low as $1. Even if you do not have insurance the generic will almost certainly be less expensive to purchase than the name brand drug. However, if the drug is still on patent no generic will be available.

In this circumstance you may want to ask you doctor about similar medications that are less expensive. Often there are several different drugs available to treat the same condition. Talk to your pharmacist about which one is the least expensive then ask your doctor if that medication is an acceptable alternative for you.

4) Pay attention to formularies

All insurance companies have formularies in which they rank drugs into tiers that determine how much your co-pay is going to be. Not every company ranks every medication the same. When shopping for an insurance plan make sure to check out their formulary and compare it to a list of your medications. By doing this you will be able to estimate how much your monthly cost will be and choose your insurance plan accordingly.

In this same vain, insurance companies often offer significant savings when you purchase a three month supply of your medication instead of one. By purchasing your medications four times a year instead of twelve you can usually pay a full 25% less annually.

5) Check out different pharmacies

If you do not have insurance, or if your insurance doesn’t cover a particular drug, make sure to call around to several pharmacies and find out which one offers your medication at the lowest price. Even if the pharmacy advertises $4 generics call ahead to see which generics are covered, yours may not be included.

If you have multiple drugs, each of which costs less at a different pharmacy, it is not recommended that you have them filled at different locations (it will prevent the pharmacist from catching potentially dangerous drug interactions); instead ask your pharmacy of choice if they offer price matching. This way you might be able to benefit from the savings offered across town.

So there you have my five tips on how to save money on your prescription drug costs. Using these methods I have seen pharmacy bills reduced by hundreds of dollars per month. I think the biggest key is to keep the lines of communication open. Talk to your doctor, talk to your pharmacist, and talk to your insurance company. They deal with these issues every day and can offer you the most help possible.