What can you do to reduce the high cost of your medications?
Checkout the information below to make sure you are taking advantage of
all the resources here in the United States. Next
ask
your doctor to order
medications for you from Canada which could be 40-60%
lower than the U.S. prices (check comparison chart, you can
also go online to research the drug prices). Or you can
order medications from Canada via the
Internet.
There are many Internet sources and
senior citizens groups that offer this service for their members.
Ask your doctor for free samples. This is a
particularly good idea if you are prescribed a new
medication
and are not sure how long you will be taking it.Ask your physician if you
can substitute a cheaper, generic drug or over-the-counter
medication.
Shop around because different
pharmacies can charge different prices for the same drug.
It is important to
research which pharmacy has the best price.
Also, look into mail-order prescription drug services.
Explore your Medical
Assistance eligibility. Depending on your income and
resources, you may be eligible
to have all of your
prescriptions paid for at no cost to you. For more
information, contact your local County
Assistance Officer or
the Pennsylvania Health Law Project at 800-274-3258.
If you qualify, however, you can
receive
deeply discounted or free medications. The
pharmaceutical industry will send you a free booklet
explaining their programs. To receive a copy of this
booklet, contact 1-800-762-4636 (while you are on the
phone
tell them you want to see pharmaceutical prices lowered in the
United States).
Explore Medicare HMOs for
your county and what prescription drug coverage they
offer. Medicare HMOs are
leaving Pennsylvania or are dropping their prescription drug
coverage at an alarming rate. The are some areas
of the state, however, where Medicare HMOs with prescription
drug coverage still exist. Contact Apprise
at 1-800-783-7067 for the names of Medicare HMOs in your
county. Before changing or joining an HMO, ask lots
of questions such as:
-
Does the HMO include my
doctor in its network?
-
Is there a monthly premium and
if so, how much?
-
Are my present prescription
drugs on the HMO formulary?
-
Is there an annual limit on
generic or brand-name drugs?
-
What is the cost for
uncovered drugs?
Explore the Veterans
Administration's low and no-cost health care options for
Veterans who have
served on
active duty in the Armed Forces and have received an
Honorable or a General Discharge.
For more
information, contact 1-800-827-1000. |