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Your Complete Guide to Cheap Prescriptions
In a 2019 US survey, close to half of participants said they chose to skip at least one prescription drug. Their main reason was the medication’s high cost. Unfortunately, the practice of medication non-adherence can be detrimental to patient health. So much so that it causes the US an estimated $100 billion in avoidable healthcare spending each year.
That’s because failure to take medicines as prescribed can make them fail. When this happens, the patient’s health won’t improve or could even worsen.
That’s why it’s never a good idea to skip your medications.
Besides, cheap prescriptions are now available if you know how and where to look for them. Don’t worry, though, as that’s what we’re going to share in this guide. Read on to learn the best ways to access lower-cost prescriptions so that you can save both your health and cash.
Purchase 90-Day Medication Supplies
Each time you fill a prescription, you’ll pay a pharmacy dispensing fee. It’s a cost charged by a pharmacy for the time and services they render to every patient.
Dispensing fees vary from one pharmacy to another, which is why you’d want to compare rates first. To give you an idea, though, a study found that dispensing fees per prescription averaged $12.40 in the US in 2018.
Keep in mind that the prescription fee applies to each prescription you need to fill. So, if you need to fill three prescriptions, you’d pay more than $37 in dispensing fees alone. That would sum up to almost $450 in annual dispensing fees if you choose to fill your prescriptions once a month.
The great news is that you can order up to a 90-day supply of medications in one go. This applies to most non-controlled Rx drugs, such as those intended for long-term use. These include the most popular meds for asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, to name a few.
If you order a 90-day supply of medications, you’ll pay fewer dispensing fees. That’s because you’d only ask a pharmacy to fill each of your prescriptions four times a year instead of 12.
Using the above-mentioned fee of $12.40 as a guide, you’d pay less than $50 a year in dispensing fees per prescription. So for three prescriptions, your total dispensing fees would be less than $150 a year.
With that said, ordering 90-day supplies is one of the best ways to get cheap prescription meds.
Order Your Prescriptions Online
E-commerce stores often have lower operational expenses than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. For example, it’s typical for online stores to have lower rent, utilities, and payroll costs. These reduced overhead costs then allow online stores to cut the price of their products.
The same applies to licensed online pharmacies and International Prescription Referral Services (IPS).
However, it’s vital to note that licensed online pharmacies have brick-and-mortar locations. For example, they may have centralized warehouses where they ship prescriptions from. This central location then helps them avoid the need for multiple physical stores.
As a result, online pharmacies can afford to lower their products’ prices, too. They do so to pass on savings to their clients who need cheap prescription drugs.
Consider Switching to Generic Versions
In most countries, including Canada and the US, patents on brand-name drugs run for 20 years. During this period, no other pharmaceutical company can make, market, or sell the same drug. That’s one of the reasons brand-name drugs can be costly.
Once the patent expires, other companies can make a generic version of the brand-name drug.
However, the generic counterpart must be bio-equivalent to the brand-name drug. This means that the generic drug must be as effective and safe as the branded ones. It must also mimic the branded drug’s administration route, dosage, and strength.
All those similarities allow generic drugs to work similarly to branded ones. Rigorous tests then confirm the generic drugs’ similarities to the brand-name ones.
One of the primary differences between generics and branded drugs is the price. Generics are usually cheaper since their manufacturers didn’t make them from scratch. Meaning, generic drug makers didn’t have to spend as much money as the formula already exists.
That’s why generic medications can be 30% to 95% cheaper than brand-name drugs.
So, if you’re prescriptions are for a brand-name drug, ask your doctor if you can take generics instead. This way, your healthcare provider can prescribe the best alternative for you.
Your doctor may have to write a new prescription that doesn’t say “Do Not Substitute.” If your original prescription doesn’t have that written, you could already buy generics. However, it’s still best to ask your physician first to ensure you get the right generic version.
Please note that generic pet medications are also available online. What’s more, you can even order cheap non-prescription drugs, such as over-the-counter naproxen.
Stop Paying for Shipping Fees
Some licensed online pharmacies offer free shipping deals for every transaction. This can save you a good chunk of money, especially if you need to take medications long-term. After all, the average shipping cost is about $10 per order.
So, if you need to fill your prescriptions once a month, not having to pay for shipping can save you $120 a year. On the other hand, if you fill your prescriptions four times a year, that’s $40 you get to pocket right away.
In addition to free shipping, you should also look for prescription discount coupons. These deals can make your medicines even cheaper, as they may give you anywhere from $5 to even $20 of extra savings.
Save Your Health and Money with Cheap Prescriptions
As you can see, you have several nifty and convenient ways to access cheap prescriptions. Start by ordering 90-day supplies online, and if your doctor says it’s okay, go generic. These, plus free shipping and discounts, can all help you adhere to your prescriptions.
All that can then help you keep your health in tip-top condition.
If you’re ready to start saving big on prescriptions, please know that our team here at 90-Day Meds can help. Get in touch with us now so we can assist you in securing low-cost medications!
WORKS CITED
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/people-skipping-medically-necessary-drugs-because-they-cost-too-much.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6045499/
https://www.nacds.org/pdfs/pharmacy/2020/NACDS-NASP-NCPA-COD-Report-01-31-2020-Final.pdf)
https://www.canadianhealthpolicy.com/products/how-long-do-new-patented-medicines-have-market-exclusivity-in-canada—s-public-drug-plans-.html
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs: The Differences You Need to Know
https://www.verywellhealth.com/generic-drug-safety-and-effectiveness-1738890
Curious About How to Get Cheap Meds? Here’s What You Should Know!