Some days, you may feel like you can’t afford to take care of your health, especially when it comes to prescription drug costs.
When you stop by a drugstore to pick up your medication, the first thing you probably do is pull out your insurance card.
But new research has found that may not be the best way to save money.
Kevin Day agrees. He is an independent pharmacist and manages his family’s pharmacy practice.days pharmacy.
He hates seeing patients overpay just because their insurance company has set higher premiums.
“As pharmacists, we are obligated to follow the contract to bill patients the same way their insurance companies bill,” he said. “That doesn’t mean it’s a good deal.”
Day says before you pull out your insurance card, ask your pharmacist if it’s better to pay directly.
“People are being charged more by their insurance companies than they could pay if they paid directly, and they’re being told to pay more,” he said.
Dr. Varun Vaidya, a professor of pharmacy at the University of Toledo, led a study that found Americans could have saved billions of dollars by taking a few additional steps.
“There are examples of patients suddenly finding out that the medications they use to treat chronic conditions cost hundreds of dollars a month,” he says.
Before simply paying, he says, “type the names of those drugs into a price comparison website like GoodRX and comparison shop like you would buy a plane ticket.”
Easy way to save hundreds of dollars
A University of Toledo study found:
- Amazon Prime Pharmacy discounts could have saved patients $969 million.
- GoodRX would have saved us $1.8 billion.
Co-founder Doug Hirsch Good RX After a frustrating experience filling a prescription.
“I went into the pharmacy,” he told us. “They did something like that on the computer and said $500 and no one warned me.”
To avoid this situation, please visit the following site: GoodRX.comClick and enter the drug name.
Find the cheapest option closest to you.
“We’re just trying to make it easy,” he said. “Medical care shouldn’t be that difficult.”
Or you can check: Amazon Prime Online Pharmacy Find out if buying online can save you time and money.
Don’t forget about local pharmacies
Why not stick to your local drugstore instead?
Consult your local pharmacist. Kevin Day says he’s happy to recommend alternative medications to help save money.
“Simbaquat costs almost $500,” he said, “but this generic version costs about $200.”
Day says if you have a working relationship with a local pharmacist, you may be able to find such deals without having to give all your personal information to websites like Amazon and GoodRX.
In any case, don’t waste your money.
___________________________________
“Don’t Waste Your Money” is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. (“Scripps”).
Follow John:
For more consumer news and money-saving advice, visit: www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
More news about “Don’t waste your money”:
