Prescription Drugs For Less: Part Two

Continuing on the note of soothing the financial difficulties of
prescription drugs, here are some more questions to ask your healthcare
professionals or to investigate yourself.

1. "Are there rebate programs for my particular medication?"
Amazingly, many prescription companies have reimbursement programs setup to help defray the costs of your out-of-pocket expense. You should know that in most circumstances, individuals covered by Medicaid or Medicare
are NOT eligible for these programs.
In order to find drug vouchers, you can
-ask your prescriber if they have any available in their office,
-look online using a search engine like "Google" using search terms
like, "chantix discount card" or "provigil voucher",
-ask your pharmacy if they have any coupons available
-contact the manufacturer of the medication via email, phone, or snail mail

Among some of the medications I've seen discount cards used for:
- Chantix
- Vyvanse
- Provigil
- Proair
- Proventil
- Pristiq
- Actonel
- Boniva
- Advair
- Solodyn

You'll see that most of these drugs are all brand name - so even with a
voucher, it may still be cheaper to go "generic" or find a "therapeutic
equivalent", but it's worth inquiring.

2. "How long will I need to be on this medication? What else can I be
doing besides drug therapy?"
If the course of therapy is going to be extensive, don't forget that lifestyle choices can considerably impact the need for many medications. It's been said to me, "For every pill, there's a lifestyle choice it mimics". A study published in the BMJ in 2007 (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/334/7588/299) showed that
lifestyle choices were just as effective as medication in preventing
type II Diabetes in individuals with glucose intolerance. A 2008 study
on sleep and prehypertension discovered that not getting enough
shut-eye, among other lifestyle choices, had tremendous ramifications
that - if remedied - could reduce the need for medications
(http://www.theheart.org/article/897247.do).

3. "Does my insurance offer me reduced costs on mail order?"
I'm a firm believer in establishing a great relationship with a
community pharmacist, but if getting your prescriptions through mail
order is cheaper than getting your prescriptions at a retail pharmacy,
it may be the better option. Especially when you intend on being on the
medications for at least a year (since mail order typically delivers a
3-month supply at a time), mail order can dramatically reduce the stress
of picking up your medications every month. However, mail order has it
down falls, so make sure you inquire with your Pharmacy Benefits Manager
- which can be different from your insurer - on what their policies are
for mail order and retail pharmacy payment structures. Usually you'll
need to get two scripts at your doctor visit - one for a week or two of
the medication to fill at a community pharmacy, and the other to send to
the mail order facility with their required documentation.

Mail order isn't a good option if you move frequently or have limited
access to secure mail. If the medication is an anti-depressant, blood
thinner, blood pressure medication, or for a thyroid disorder, your
prescriber may change your dose on a monthly basis. For these kind of
medications, mail order can be extremely confusing. And if you intend
on going on vacation when your supply is running out you'll need to see
if you can get a one-time "override" (just ask your local pharmacy to
call your insurance company to take advantage of this benefit IF your
pharmacy benefits manager provides it).