Uninsured or Recent Insurance Termination
If you are uninsured or if your recent insurance coverage has been terminated, there are things you can do to lower your drug costs in the mean time before you enroll for health coverage.
The best thing to do is to see what programs your local pharmacy offers for uninsured patients. Some pharmacies have programs that patients can sign up for that will allow them to pay for their medications at a discounted price. Programs such as "Walgreens Prescription Savings Club" allow patients to receive their medication at a discounted price after paying a 20 dollar annual membership fee. Other chain pharmacies offer a similar program as well. To make sure you are getting the best possible deal for your prescription, visit your local pharmacy or the pharmacy's website, to see what programs they offer for their uninsured patients. This is the best thing to do while you are currently uninsured.
***One of the things that is DISCOURAGED is the use of "discount-cards." Patients normally can get these cards at healthcare facilities or online. They are free cards that you can get that will give you a discounted price for your prescription, but at the possible cost of your personal information being used for marketing purposes. In addition, they do not reimburse pharmacies at all for the cost of the prescription. In fact, a lot of pharmacies DO NOT ACCEPT discount-cards from patients because they can potentially lose money when processing those cards. Generally patients are told to go to a different pharmacy if they want to use their discount-cards.
The best thing to do is to see what programs your local pharmacy offers for uninsured patients. Some pharmacies have programs that patients can sign up for that will allow them to pay for their medications at a discounted price. Programs such as "Walgreens Prescription Savings Club" allow patients to receive their medication at a discounted price after paying a 20 dollar annual membership fee. Other chain pharmacies offer a similar program as well. To make sure you are getting the best possible deal for your prescription, visit your local pharmacy or the pharmacy's website, to see what programs they offer for their uninsured patients. This is the best thing to do while you are currently uninsured.
***One of the things that is DISCOURAGED is the use of "discount-cards." Patients normally can get these cards at healthcare facilities or online. They are free cards that you can get that will give you a discounted price for your prescription, but at the possible cost of your personal information being used for marketing purposes. In addition, they do not reimburse pharmacies at all for the cost of the prescription. In fact, a lot of pharmacies DO NOT ACCEPT discount-cards from patients because they can potentially lose money when processing those cards. Generally patients are told to go to a different pharmacy if they want to use their discount-cards.
Additional Resource On How To Save On Drug Costs
http://www.drugs.com/slideshow/top-10-ways-to-save-on-your-medication-costs-1027#slide-11
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/09/how-to-cut-drug-costs-save-on-prescription-drugs-consumer-reports/index.htm
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/saving-money-on-your-prescription-drugs-good-and-bad-ideas
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/09/how-to-cut-drug-costs-save-on-prescription-drugs-consumer-reports/index.htm
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/saving-money-on-your-prescription-drugs-good-and-bad-ideas
