8 Tips for Saving Money on Prescription Drugs

1. Ask for generic drugs

Pharmaceutical companies often financially reward doctors if they prescribe their expensive drugs. For this reason, your doctor may try to prescribe you an expensive name-brand medication before offering a cheaper solution.

Make sure to ask about generic options or alternatives. You can also just be honest with your doctor and explain your financial situation. This way, they can help you get the best treatment while working with your budget.

2. Find a preferred pharmacy

Ask your insurance company for a list of preferred pharmacies. Insurance companies often partner with certain pharmacy chains to get lower prices for the people they cover.

3. See if you can split pills

If it’s safe to do so with your specific medication, get a higher dosage and cut the pills in half. Buy a real pill cutter instead of attempting the cut with a knife, though. You don’t want your meds to fly all over the kitchen.

4. Ask your doctor for prescription drug coupons

Occasionally, pharmaceutical companies will offer coupons for their name brands. Ask your doctor if they can give you any. You could also find some prescription discounts by searching online.

5. Find a prescription assistance program

There are a few different nonprofit organizations that assist people with their medication costs. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, Patient Advocate Foundation, and NeedyMeds are all great options.

6. Call your insurance company

Different plans cover different medications. Talk to your insurance company and get an idea of the level of drugs you can afford. When in doubt about your coverage, call and ask. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

7. Get medications by mail

When you order medications through the mail, you often get a few months of meds at a time with a discount. It’s convenient for you, and cheaper. Win-win! Some insurance companies have their own prescription mail services, as does Medicare. There are also plenty of independent companies that can help you get your medications through the mail.

8. Use prescription drug discount apps and cards

Prescription drug discount apps enable you to save big on your medications. The creators of apps like GoodRx, Blink Health, and WellRx set out to create solutions for the high healthcare costs that plague Americans. Read our reviews to discover the pros and cons of each and decide which one is best for you.