It is likely that all of us will require prescription drugs at some point in our lives. If you have ever been to the pharmacy to fill a prescription, you have noticed the rising cost of medicine. US News reports that the cost of prescription medication is continually increasing at a staggering rate. Even for those with health insurance, the cost of medications can be high. Generic medications and extended 90-day prescriptions might be less expensive, but your circumstances may not make these solutions an option for you.
People without health insurance are at a major disadvantage, however, even with insurance deductibles or copays could be prohibitive. This is why most people are looking for some way to get a discount at the pharmacy. If you need a prescription cost solution, you might consider utilizing a prescription drug discount card. Let’s take a look at how a drug discount card could save you money and when you might need one.
Prescription Discount Card
Data today indicates that as much as 46% of people have at least one prescription drug that they must purchase every month. This could include prescriptions needed to treat chronic conditions or medications to help a short-term illness. With a large number of people needing prescription drugs, the rising cost of medications is becoming a burden on a larger section of the population. This is why a prescription discount card might be more beneficial than ever before to help bring down the cost of medical supplies. Prescription discount cards are meant to produce lower drug costs to patients paying for their medications at a pharmacy.
Discount cards work because the prescription savings program has negotiated discounts on drug purchases with pharmacy owners. This discount is then passed on to the consumer for lower medication prices at a participating pharmacy. These discounts are accessed by using a free card or mobile app from the savings program. This is presented at the time of purchase just like an insurance card or coupon. Most programs have no enrollment fees, premiums, or claim forms and don’t require a medical questionnaire to use. They are generally available to consumers whether they have health insurance or not. Many of these programs can save you as much as 80% off the retail price of prescription medications.
Generic Medications
One of the ways that many people save money on prescription drugs is to opt for generic medications. When drug companies create a medication they will include the cost of research and development into the price of the drug. This why name-brand prescription drugs are typically more expensive. When the patent on the medication expires, other companies will begin to produce generic versions of the medicine at a discounted rate. Very often, generic versions of medications are available to patients at a considerably cheaper price than brand-name medications. Generic and brand-name drugs have identical active ingredients and the same efficacy as their brand-name counterparts.
Unfortunately, some patients must take a medication that doesn’t have a generic substitute and they will have to pay full price. These people can benefit from a prescription discount card program. As discussed, these programs can reduce the retail price by as much as 80%. If you can get a generic medication, a prescription discount plan may still help you reduce the price of your medications.
Health Insurance
Those individuals who have health insurance usually pay significantly less for medications at the pharmacy. With insurance, however, comes deductibles and copays that could also be prohibitive for some. Without health insurance, you will be at an even greater disadvantage. A prescription discount card could be beneficial for someone in either situation. A consumer without insurance could see significant savings at the pharmacy. Even a patient with insurance benefits, however, could see the reduced cost for medication when used in conjunction with insurance savings.
There are a few options for lower prescription costs at the pharmacy such as generic drugs and insurance plans. For some people, however, these options are not available and the cost could be prohibitive. With a prescription discount card, anyone can have access to significant cost savings.
