Prescription medications can cost an arm and a leg in 2020. According to AARP, the prices on many popular prescription medications have risen, despite complaints. The prices on 460 prescription medications have increased by an average of 5.2 percent in 2020, which means you’ll have to find ways to make sure you can still afford them. If you’re feeling the pressure of paying for expensive prescriptions, here are four tips to make paying for them more affordable.
1. Find Out if There’s a Generic Version
Instead of paying twice the price for a name brand prescription, see if there’s a generic version available at your local pharmacy. You can also ask your doctor before he or she writes you a prescription if you can get the generic version so you can save a few hundred dollars on the prescription medications you need. Oftentimes, there is a generic version that does the exact same thing as the name brand version. So find out if you can get the generic version ahead of time if you want to keep some of your money in your pockets.
2. Consider Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D is Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. Getting a Medicare Part D plan is one of the smartest ways to avoid overpaying for prescription medications you need to maintain your health. Supplemental coverage like Medicare Part D plans can give you peace of mind knowing you’ll get the best prices for your medications, allowing you to breathe a little easier. Think about applying for Medicare Part D as soon as you’re eligible to take advantage of all it has to offer. If you’re already signed up for Medicare Parts A and B, it should be no problem getting Part D.
3. Get a Prescription Discount Card
In most states, there’s a prescription discount card you can get that lowers the cost of certain prescription medications. Most pharmacies accept prescription discount cards, which can save you money on the medications you need to stay in good health. So if you’re looking for a way to save money on your prescriptions, the following prescription discount cards can help you do just that:
- ScriptSave WellRx
- GoodRx
- Blink Health
- Optum Perks
- RXSaver
- SingleCare
Check out the above prescription discount cards to save as much as 80 percent on prescription medications.
4. Try to Get Drug Samples
Getting drug samples is another way to offset the costs of prescription medications. Ask your doctor if he or she has any drug samples he or she can give you. Since pharmaceutical reps often leave samples of certain medications with doctor’s offices, your doctor should have no problem giving you a few samples to start you off if you don’t think you can afford to pay for your medications right away. While this isn’t a long-term solution, it can help you in the meantime until you find the best way to pay for prescription medications on your own. It certainly can’t hurt to ask.
Getting Affordable Prescription Medications
Spending too much on prescription medications is something none of us want to do, especially when that money can go toward other necessities, such as food, mortgage, and electricity. That’s why saving the most money is essential if you’re feeling the pressure of paying too much for prescriptions. Take the financial strain off of your pockets and use the above information to save you as much money as possible on your next prescription medication.
