Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs – Part 2
In Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs – Part 1, you were given some options of saving money on prescription drugs. The options included various organizations and tips to lower your medicine costs. Let’s go over even more options to help you afford your medication.
The County Rx card is a program that is available based on the county you live in. You register for the discount program online. It is FREE. After registering, print out your County Rx card and give it to your pharmacy the next time you need a prescription filled. You can even look up the price of the prescription drug you need and participating pharmacies online. This card is great if you are uninsured. You may even be able to use it if you do have health insurance, but have a deductible to satisfy before prescription drugs are covered.
PatientAssistance.com has a database of more than 1,000 prescription assistance programs. It is a non-profit organization that primarily helps uninsured Americans. Simply search for your prescription drug name and find the available programs. Then, register for a free PatientAssistance.com account and manage your program application from their site.
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief program provides assistance with copayments for insured Americans. You must meet their medical and financial requirements in order to be eligible for the program. Check their list of diagnoses to see if your disease or condition is covered. All types of arthritis may not be covered.
HealthWell Foundation provides assistance for prescription drug copays, coinsurance and deductibles as well as health insurance premiums and other selected out-of-pocket health care costs. Eligibility for assistance is dependent on medical, financial and health insurance status. Check their list of illnesses to see if your disease or condition is covered. All types of arthritis may not be covered. Their list may change so check back if your condition is not initially included.
NeedyMeds.org provides a database of assistance programs. They also provide information on state-sponsored programs. Just select your state and the results will show you state programs with links.
In closing, please be cautious when looking for prescription drug assistance. Some prescription assistance programs may charge a small fee, but you should not have to pay any organization to find prescription assistance programs for you. The information is out there for FREE.
Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs – Part 1
If you are struggling in today’s economy to purchase necessary prescription drugs, you are not alone. The economy is tight for most people nowadays requiring us to be more frugal with our money.
I am sure some of you have thought of just not taking your medicine period. However, there is a reason your doctor prescribed it. Before you ditch your medicine, keep reading.
CNN has reported on 10 different ways you may be able to save money on prescription drugs. Check out their article, Ten Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs. It is a great first step in reducing medicine costs! I highly recommend reading it.
In addition to their tips, try some of the following:
Drug discount program provided by the National Association of Counties. You do not have to pay a fee for the program. It is FREE. You have access to the program if you live in a participating county. Check to see if your county participates in the program. Just go to http://naco.advancerx.com or call (877)321-2652.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) provides a list of prescription drug programs by pharmaceutical manufacturers and state. It provides information on products covered, eligibility requirements and program contacts. This is an extensive list. Don’t miss it!
RxAssist.org has a database of available programs by prescription drug or company name. Simply enter the drug name in the database search bar and receive results on the available program. It provides information on program eligibility, application requirements, and program contacts.
These are great resources to get you started. Check back for Part 2 of this series for even more options to save money on prescription drugs!
Do Medicine Bottles Have You in a Tizzy?
If you have any form of arthritis, you know that taking medicine is a must in order to manage your symptoms. The problem is that the prescription bottles with the safety cap can be extremely difficult to open if you have arthritis in your hands.
Some of you may manage by dealing with the pain of opening it daily. Others may have someone open the bottle and then transfer the medicine to pill boxes. Shouldn’t there be an easier way? Taking our medications should not cause frustration!
Here’s a tip. Go to your pharmacy and ask for a medicine bottle with an easy-open top. It is usually the flip top (which used to be standard many years ago). Just a simple push of the thumb pops it right off.
You will probably be required to sign an authorization form indicating that you understand easy-open tops are not child resistant and that you give permission for the pharmacy not to use the safety cap bottles. The pharmacy will keep the authorization on file and any future medications should be filled using the prescription bottle style you requested. How great is that?
You may be required to renew your authorization annually or every six months, but it is well worth it!
One word of caution: If you decide to request the easy-open bottles, please make sure you put them in a place where a child does not have access.
Do you have a tip you want to share? Let us know and we will include your first name and city when we mention it!