One of the burning issues when it comes to healthcare in America is the price of prescriptions, which can vary from store to store. Many find themselves spending hundreds of dollars just to get the medicine they need or not being able to fund the costs at all. This is a worrying sign that prescription affordability has a wider impact on the health of the population.
It’s not unusual to encounter a sudden spike in specific drug prices which can be difficult if you budget your monthly expenses or have a lot of medicines to collect. How much you pay can also be attributed to changes in demand, production shortages, or whether you have insurance coverage or not. The challenge is finding a drugs store which offers value for money and a personalized service to meet your health needs.
We’ve broken down some simple ways to find the best prices for your prescriptions.
Don’t accept huge price hikes
If you do get the shock of a surge in prices, it’s the perfect time to shop around and see where you can find your prescriptions at a cheaper rate. Ask in store about discounts because you may find the pharmacist is flexible on price. It’s also worth speaking to your Doctor about getting a longer prescription. Ask your pharmacist if they do larger discounts when getting a 90-day prescription over a 30-day one, for example.
Avoid chain pharmacies
There’s a common misconception that everything is cheaper in chain stores. However, Consumer Report’s recent pharmacy pricing analysis showed chains such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid to be the most expensive stores to buy some of the more common generic prescription drugs. In the Consumer Report analysis, medications from CVS stores could be up to 9 times more expensive than at independent drug stores. In fact, independent pharmacies came third on the list, so why not support your local neighborhood store? Shop around to compare prices to make sure you have the best local deals you can find.
Look at other benefits
When looking for a pharmacy, don’t just compare prices. Time is money, so see what else they offer as a benefit of using their store. Here at Walker’s Drug Store, for example, we offer a weekday prescription delivery straight to your home or office which is particularly useful if you work or have trouble getting around easily. Our onsite post office allows customers to ship their medication to their destination if going on a trip. We also offer custom compounding of drugs which is a great way to make medicine easier to administer if you have pets or kids. Find a method or flavor to suit their needs.
Join a prescription club
If you have a lot of medications to order throughout the year, one of the best things to do is join a prescription club, which is especially beneficial if you don’t have health insurance coverage. The Leader prescription club which we have available here at Walker’s costs only $10 a year per household. For this annual fee, you can obtain all the medications on their brand name and generic list for $4 for 30 days or $10 for 90 days. There are thousands on the list, providing valued customers with further cost savings on both their family’s and pet’s medication.
Don’t let prescription costs become a burden. Shop around for the best prices, and ensure you’ve taken advantage of all the discounts available to you at your local store. You may find you’ll save hundreds on your medication costs.
To speak to one of our pharmacists, contact us or pop in and see us. We’re happy to help.