How to Get Discounts on Prescription Drugs

Everyone wants to save money on prescription drugs, and there are dozens of companies out there offering to help. Unfortunately, many of them fail to actually deliver on their claims. However, there are ways to save money on your drug costs without getting caught up in a scam or buying from a shady company.

Instructions

1. Buy in bulk. You can often get a discount on prescription drugs when you buy them in bulk, especially those that you use every day. If you take one drug every single day, you may find that buying 3 month's worth at a time is cheaper than buying 1 week or 1 month at a time.

2. Ask for the generic prescriptions from your regular pharmacy. Depending on your insurance provider, you may already be receiving generic medications, but you won’t know until you ask. These pills are the same strength and usually just as effective as the name brand, but are significantly less expensive.

3. Join a mail away program. These programs take your prescription and then mail out your medications 1 month or several months at a time. Since you’re limiting the amount of paperwork they have to fill out, you can often save quite a bit of money on your prescription costs.

4. Use a discount card available from major pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. Many stores are now using these programs to attract new customers. You can usually save money on every prescription and also get free prescriptions by using their program. In some cases you may also be entitled to a gift card when you sign up.

5. Talk with your doctor about samples he may have. Large drug companies give samples to doctors and hospitals in hopes of getting their medications prescribed. Your doctor may have some samples in his office that he can give you if you can’t otherwise afford the medication.

Tips & Warnings

• There are some people who buy their prescription drugs online because it saves them money. Many websites not only offer substantial savings, but throw in free shipping as an extra incentive.

• Don’t buy prescription drugs from Canada, Mexico or any other foreign country in the hopes of saving money. By the time you factor in shipping, these drugs are often much more expensive and you have no way of knowing exactly what they shipped you or if it’s the right medication.