Reader Tip: Save Money on Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
If you regularly fill prescriptions or purchase over-the-counter drugs, then check out this email and helpful tip I received from reader, Briana….
[h2s_box]Hi Collin! I am a fifth year student pharmacist and a while back, I learned of a website called www.cou-co.com. It’s a resource provided by a magazine for pharmacists and it links you to the different prescription drug coupons available for brand name medications. It’s pretty easy to navigate because it breaks each section down by what health problem the drug is intended to treat. I’ve found it to be very helpful for patients with high co-pays. Hopefully some other users find it helpful too! Thanks for all you do.[/h2s_box]
If you’re interested, then head on over here and select if you are a pharmacist or patient to get started (you’ll be able to view prescription and over-the-counter product information). Then, simply answer the questions to which type of health problem you are having (such as allergy, pain, inflammation, diabetes and much more)! You will then be directed to sites in which they sell these products, possible coupons or discounts, and helpful information on that particular product!
Do you have any other tips related to saving on prescription and over-the-counter drugs? If so, please share in the comments below!
(Thanks, Briana!)
For prescription medications, checking with Meijer is my first choice. They have many prescriptions which are totally free such as popular antibiotics and even the generic for Lipitor(which I know a lot of people take).
Publix also offers free blood pressure cholesterol and antibiotics
Publix also offers free metformin and I think 2 different cat/dog antibiotics (although I couldn’t find confirmation on their website for the pet meds). Another way I save money is by using Prescription coupons. Publix will accept competitor prescription coupons, ex. a Winn Dixie coupon for $25 gift card with a transferred prescription. I once made $60 by transferring one prescription 4 times (RX was $10 and coupon was for a $25 gift card). In theory, one could do this every month from store to store if the coupons are available.
Oh, I hadn’t thought of Publix taking Kroger’s offer. Thanks for the tip! By the way, you can price match, too. They just call to confirm the price.
Costco is often the cheapest AND you don’t have to be a member to use their pharmacy services (mail-order included.) Another suggestion is to get samples from your doctor. I use an expensive cream for my eczema. In the winter of 2012, my doc gave me two sample tubes and I have been able to use those so far. That saved me $75+.
http://www.goodrx.com this is a discount coupon site. I use this site for scripts. I have no script coverage. I picked up a script at walgreens the other day (without the coupon) it was generic and $183. I was upset. I went home went to the site got the coupon went back to walgreens for a refund. They refunded me $87. At this site you enter the drug name and it will show you cheapest place to get it in your area, the original cost and what it will cost after the coupon. I will never fill a script without checking this site again.
I like going to meijer because I receive a coupon for $20 off groceries for filling my scripts.
Thank u so much. My son is allergic to peanuts,tree nuts and now soy. We have to have an epipen at school, daycare, home and backpack and they expire before a year.
this offers me zero copay for each fill! Thank u so much!
If taking an expensive rx is your best option and you have no coverage, check with your doctor’s office. Many drug companies have a program to help. For the longest time, we struggled to find the $300+ a month out of pocket for seizure meds for my husband. It was not something we could eliminate from the budget, but now we receive them directly from the drug company at no cost…quite a heavy burden lifted! 🙂
Harris teeter does free antibiotics, diabetes meds some others. Picked up 3 scrips the other night- all free. Plus my HT has fabulous pharmacists who are on the ball. You can get your pet meds discounted too.
I know shop rite does freebies too.
I also got a discount card for free online (google prescription discounts that saved me a bunch)
Just found a copayment coupon that will save me 100 per year on one med. thanks
Thank you for all the resources for prescription savings. Last week I had two medications to fill and used lowestmed and saved $300. Both I and the girl at CVS were shocked at how much one paper/card could save.
You can always ask your doctor for samples as well. I worked in cardiology and we frequently gave out samples usually 3 months at a time and you can always call and pick up more after that 3 months. Not all offices have every medication, but it is definitely worth a shot!
With 2 major medical problems in our family (hubby has diabetes & high blood pressure and son has severe asthma and allergies) unfortunately, I have a lot of experience in this. Son is on 5 medications alone! I have 2 suggestions – first ask your doctor if they have any coupons or samples. We were just at the allergist on Monday and we received a sample for his new medication and also a coupon for a new Epi-pen. The Epi-pen coupon saved me $100 alone! I also had a coupon/saving card for one of his inhalers (Dulera) and I will find out how much that will save me tomorrow.
The other suggestion hubby found out about. We have Anthem Blue Cross and they have a mail in program for medications where you get 3 months supply at a time. They have a website with a calculator that shows how much you can save using it – some of the medications we can save $100 a year! it was simple to order them through the program – just clicked a button to have it switched over – they call the pharmacy and do it all. You have to allow for enough time to have it filled (about 2 weeks) and it can’t be for meds that you might change or discontinue but it will be a huge savings for us.
I work at a drs office and all the drug reps who come in have told me to go online and type in whatever the drugs name .com and most times you will find coupons on the site. example http://www.victoza.com
Gosh I love this site. Thanks so much!
I am a patient advocate, I work for our local health and human services department helping people navigate the application process to get free behavioral health medications through what are called patient assistance programs that many pharmaceutical companies offer. You should never have to pay an advocate by the way, all of the patient assistance programs are on the web, just make sure you go directly to the manufacturers web site. We also recommend http://www.goodrx.com as mentioned earlier for patients to shop around. Also be sure and ask your local independent pharmacy if they take the goodrx discounts. There are lots of coupons and discounts available from the manufacturers, but be sure to check generics too.
Another great website for drug savings is MedicationCoupons.com. You can get prescription coupons, OTC coupons and a free drug card.