I will be posting some money saving tips along with my coupon deals this year! Of course, I’m not a money saving guru (yet), so I’ll be getting most of the tips online. When I do, I will cite the source. With that said, one thing I have done to save money is take complete control over what I pay for my meds, my mother’s meds, and my husband’s meds (even though he’s 2,000 miles away). I am no longer afraid to tell the doctor what to prescribe! So, these tips come directly from me.
1. Always ask your doctor if what he or she is prescribing comes in generic form. If they say no, ask if you can take something else, something generic. I insist on generic.
2. Ask your pharmacy if they have a list of meds that come at a flat rate. Walmart has a long list of meds that you can get for $4.00 for one month or $9.00 for 3 months (might be $10 to $15 for some). I show that list to the doctor and I say “choose from this list!” and if it’s something we need on a regular basis, and if I’ll save more by getting 3 months, I insist on a 3 month supply.
3. Consider changing pharmacies. Some offer a $25 gift card if you bring them an existing prescription. If you find another deal later somewhere else, switch again! My friend just switched 2 prescriptions to Walgreens (I think it was Wags) and got (2) $25 gift cards!!!
4. If you are in shock when the pharmacy tells you what you owe, walk away. Call your doctor’s office and explain that you refused to pay that much. If it’s not life or death, they will either find something cheaper or tell you it’s okay to skip it. I was recently prescribed a nasal spray for my mother and it was $136. I told her doctor NO WAY and he prescribed a different one. It was $86. I refused that one too. She ended up taking cheap allergy tabs for under $3.00.
As for my husband (he’s in Houston, I’m in Maine), he would pay anything for meds without batting an eye just because he does not want to deal with it. Luckily for me, he has no problem letting me handle it for him. Just the other day, I got on the phone with his doctor’s assistant and told her exactly how she had to order his meds through our CareMark mail-order pharmacy. She was very willing to help so we could save money.
You really do have some degree of control over what you spend on meds. Three years ago, we were spending well over $200 per month on meds. After I got involved, we dropped down to an average of $20 per month. That’s a lot of savings!. I know it’s not possible to always save that much, but for certain meds, you can certainly save a lot. Just don’t be afraid to speak up!
OH, I ALMOST FORGOT! Got pets? Ask your vet if there is a human form of whatever your pet needs! I had pharmacy accounts for my dogs at both Hannaford and Walmart! I got their antibiotics super cheap and also their prednisone. You can even get certain ear drops, ointments, etc., through your own pharmacy.
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There’s a $25 dollar deal at Rite Aid for switching prescriptions over to them.It’s in the flyer. The $25 comes as points which have to be used there in a short time frame. It’s an okay deal. I had previously switched to Target for one of their deals (gift card). Rite Aid also has a plan where you can earn 25 points for prescriptions and 1 point for every dollar spent. At the end of the year, if you have 500 points, you will get 10% off (except prescriptions and a few other things) items the following year.