Health News / December 2006
Prescription for Savings
When Consumer Reports did their recent survey of prices for five common prescription generic medications, they found striking differences in costs at pharmacies across the U.S. A 30-day supply of the five drugs varied from $43 at a Costco in Sacramento, Calif., to $296 at an independent pharmacy in Clayton, Mo. Prices fluctuated dramatically even within the same chains and the same stores, sometimes as much as twice as much. The surveyed drugs were commonly prescribed as treatments for depression, hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and the prevention of blood clots.
Choosing lower-cost generic drugs over brand-name drugs whenever possible was one good way for consumers to save money on prescription medications. But for even greater savings, the report concluded that consumers need to shop at the right pharmacies and ask the right questions.
In the Consumer Report survey, online pharmacies, particularly those affiliated with conventional stores, like cvs.com, or mass merchants like Target and Wal-Mart tended to charge the least. They were followed by independents, supermarkets like Kroger’s, and drug chains like Rite-Aid.
To save money, consumers may wish to find out whether generics are more cost effective for treating their particular condition than name brands, then ask their pharmacist or doctor about switching. Call pharmacies directly or visit the pharmacy web sites to find out about costs. Prices might vary substantially depending on whether the pill is in capsules or tablet form. And, Consumer Reports tells consumer not to be shy. “Ask the pharmacist to match lower prices. Asking them to do so makes sense, especially if the consumer wants to stick with one pharmacy, which might reduce the chance of taking incompatible drugs.”
Another money saving suggestion is to ask the doctor to prescribe 90-day supplies of the medications, which typically cost much less than the 30-day supplies that are often prescribed.
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Top • Home • Subscribe • Advertise • Submit • Distribution • Contact
Support Our Advertisers • Organization Resources • Women Owned Business
Designed by Livewire Studio
Send an Email About This Article