Cutting down prescription costs

Question:

Any tips on how to help my parents cut down their prescription costs?

Answer:

Here's another example to add to the list of fallout from bad economic times: older people not being able to afford their medications - and that's despite Medicare Part D. When faced with financial hardship, many Americans choose not to fill their prescriptions because of the cost. Others opt to split pills in half or skip doses to stretch their supply. Couples with the same conditions even share their medications. It is important to know that none of these options is good for your health.

So here are some top cost-cutting ideas to help your parents control their prescription costs:

Always ask the doctor why a drug a prescription drug is recommended and whether or not there is an alternative, such as a lifestyle change or supplement.
If cost is an issue, let the doctor know. Perhaps the physician can provide a sample or prescribe a generic version that is less expensive and bio-chemically equivalent.
A physician may write for a presription drug that is new to the market. Usually these drugs are the most expensive and don't have generic substitutes. Ask if would be possible to try an older version of that class of drug first.
If your parent is taking a new prescription drug for the very first time, ask for a trial size rather than the 30-day supply. That way, if your parent has an adverse reaction, money will not have been wasted on a month’s supply.
If your parent takes a maintenance drug (one taken for a long period of time to maintain health) buy the drug in 90-day supplies, which is cheaper. Or ask the doctor if it is safe to split the pill in half if prescribed at double the dose.
You can also buy drugs online for a good cost savings, especially for maintenance drugs that are refilled every month. Only buy from sites with the "VIPPS" seal, which stands for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site. Go to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's website at nabp.net to find a legitimate online pharmacy.
Shop around. You'd be surprised at the difference in prices among pharmacies. It's worth the call and many pharmacies will deliver to people who are homebound. Some even provide free antibiotics to their customers, so ask.
If your parent is in a nursing home and takes medications, review the monthly bill. You might find that you are paying a higher rate for prescriptions when using the nursing home's pharmacy. It might be less expensive to purchase medications directly and have them delivered to the facility. But be sure to check with the facility's pharmacy first.
Some drug companies offer free or reduced-price medications. In most cases, your parent's physician processes the application to receive the drug or get a substantial discount. More than 180 programs are offered by pharmaceutical companies, and 475 public and private patient assistance programs are offered by the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Go to pparx.org to find out if your parent qualifies for any one of these programs or give them a call at 1.888.477.2669.
The Internet is a great resource for finding drug benefits. For Medicare Part D questions, go to medicarerights.org and medicare.gov; to track down other drug benefit programs go to rxassist.org, benefitscheckuprx.org and needymeds.com. To learn about your parent's medications go to medlineplus.gov.

Best Drugs for Less by Consumer Reports Health is an excellent magazine that reviews 200 top-selling medications for over 20 common medical conditions and advises consumers on the best picks for the best price. You can get a copy for $5.95 by calling 1.800.920.1689 or access the information for free here.