For some people, prescription medication gets so expensive that they need to choose between it and buying groceries or paying other expenses. Even those with health insurance that includes coverage for prescription drugs often end up with a large out-of-pocket cost. Fortunately, there are several legitimate ways to save on the prescription medication that you and your family need.

Ask Your Doctor for a Free Sample

Prescription drug companies often send representatives to clinics who provide doctors with free samples of their product. Since doctors don’t have to pay for these samples, they’re usually happy to pass them along to their patients. The next time your doctor writes you a new prescription, you can save on the price of filling it by asking for a sample. Although it won’t last you more than a couple of weeks, that should be long enough for you to figure out if the drug is going to work for you.

Ask for the Generic Equivalent

When a drug manufacturer receives a patent for a new drug, it protects the brand name and prevents any other companies from making something similar for ten years. Once the patent expires, any manufacturer can create the same drug using the same ingredients as long as it’s a different shape and color and the manufacturer gives it a generic name. The good news for patients is that generic drugs are often significantly cheaper than brand name drugs and offer the same results. Some health insurance companies even require pharmacies to dispense a generic if one is available.

Join a Warehouse Club That Offers Prescription Drug Discounts

Did you know that you don’t even have to buy a membership to warehouse stores like BJ’s Warehouse, Costco and Sam’s Club to buy discount drugs at their pharmacies? This is a federal law. If you choose not to become a member, you can still benefit from the bulk buying power of these warehouse clubs. It also might be worth your while to become a member since members may receive an even greater prescription drug discount than non-members.

Use Mail Order for Your Maintenance Medications

If you currently have a prescription for a drug that you use daily and expect to need indefinitely, you could save a lot of money when you receive it through mail order rather than picking it up at the pharmacy. It’s typical for pharmacies to offer a 90-day supply of medication by mail for the same co-pay as a 30-day supply you pick up in the store.

Consider Using a Compounding Pharmacy

Arena District Pharmacy is a compounding pharmacy, which means that our pharmacist has the necessary skills and training to manufacture some drugs onsite. This is also an excellent way for you to save money on your prescriptions. Feel free to contact us to learn more.