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How To Save Money On All Your Prescription Drug Needs

An independent information clearing center recently released a national study of prescription drug use that found "American are using more expensive prescriptions, at younger ages, for more conditions than ever before.

The foreseeable future continues to look the same. Some of the price increases are attributable to the introduction of new drugs, while a significant part is attributable to increases in the price of well-established drugs.

Large employers, Insurance Companies and HMOs have leveraged their position to benefit their own interests. Their purchasing power has enabled them to negotiate substantial discounts with manufacturers and retailers alike. It is a rare occasion when the full impact of the discounts are passed onto health plan members.

HMOs and insurance companies retain most of the benefit of the discounts to boost their own profit margins. Prescription prices are going up and the consumer is going to pay more. The biggest losers are the uninsured, the senior with or without Medicare and the self-employed.

What Can You Do?

First educate yourself and learn how the medical industry game is played, here's an example.

Several large retail pharmacy chains have announced a program that will insure them a higher profit margin. They will require minimum pharmaceutical card co-pays. This will require you to pay a minimum cost (even if the prescription drug retail price is less than your co-pay.) For example, you may want to purchase a prescription which retails for $2.00. The health plan you belong to may have a $5 co-pay. Instead of charging you $2, the pharmacy will charge you $5 co-pay, and pocket the difference.

As a consumer, you have the right to use your pharmaceutical card, or pay for the medication out of your own pocket. In order to ensure that you are getting the best price possible.

Generic Alternatives
The use of generic medications can cut your pharmaceutical expenses dramatically. However, most physicians do not prescribe generic medications. As a consumer, you must seek lower cost generic medication alternatives. In many cases pharmacists are more aware of new generic alternatives than your physician. Once you have determined that a generic equivalent exists for the drug you have been prescribed, you must have your Doctor review and prescribe the alternative.

Expiration Date Myth
As good consumers, we have been instructed to dispose of medications past their labeled date. Recently, several consumer groups reported that the rigid expiration dates are a myth; that in fact, the medication is viable long after the stated expiration date. Millions of dollars worth of perfectly good medication is being thrown away needlessly each year.

Samples
Many pharmaceutical companies are anxious to have you try their medications. They supply physicians with large quantities of samples to dispense to their patients. How can you get the free samples?

Ask; some physicians will give you enough medication to treat you for the entire duration of your short term illnesses. Samples are a good idea if there is the possibility that your body will not tolerate the medication.

MedicalCardSavings
A good friend recently approached me regarding a discount card that saved them up to 80% on dental, medical, prescription and chiropractic care. I calculated that the average household could save $5000+/year.

If you are paying for your own dental and medical and have little to no insurance then you need to own this one single card, giving you the same level of discounting that the HMOs and insurance companies enjoy. MedicalCardSavings has proven to be an effective tool in lowering the impact of high medical and dental costs. You can get more information by visiting http://www.medicalcardsavings.com. When you register for free information you will also receive their weekly ezine and Free ebook.

Share this article with others and we will reward you with cash and more subscribers for your eZine. http://www.medicalcardsavings.com/ezinepublisher.html

Blaine Dares, is the President of Medical Card Savings USA. Saving Consumers Up To 80% On Dental, Medical, Prescriptions, Vision & Chiropractic Care. Instant Nationwide Savings, Everyone Covered Regardless of Preexisting conditions coverage starts at just $11.95/month. For complete details visit http://www.medicalcardsavings.com

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