Prescription Drug Costs - 16 Ways To Reduce Them

[jeffrey]

Article Disclaimer: The following is for informational purposes only and none of it should be considered medical advice in any way. Please take the time to discuss all the information with a medical professional to confirm if the information is appropriate for your specific circumstances before acting upon anything written in this article.

By institutedc.org

You May Qualify for a Free Drug program: There are over 1,100 drugs that are made by 100 manufacturers who have free drug programs. Most major drug companies provide free medications, but rarely, if ever publicize their programs. An estimated two billion dollars of free medication is given away annually.

A complete list of drugs and manufacturers’ programs is available. You can receive a copy by sending $6 to cover the cost of printing, postage and handling to:

Institute Fulfillment Center, Booklet #: PD-55
P.O. Box 210, Dallas, PA
18612-0210.

Get a Pharmacy Discount Card for Free: AdvanceRx offers a free discount card to anyone that saves 13%-25% and covers all drugs dispensed at a pharmacy. For details, call 1-800-ADVANCE (238-2623) or www.advancerx.com.

There are five free discount cards for Senior citizens. The discount cards cover over 200 popular medications.

Save Up to 93% by Asking for a Generic : Use generics whenever they are available. Both brand name and generic drugs contain the same active ingredients, are the same in strength and dosage, meet the same government quality control standards.

According to Mark Erblat, Pharmacy Director and owner of Rx For You, cost savings on brand name vs. generic will vary from drug to drug and pharmacy to pharmacy but can be significant. For instance:

***Prozac brand 20mg, 100 tablets cost $280.19 and generic sells for $29.99 (Savings 89%)

***Vasotec brand 5mg, 100 tablets costs $103.59 and generic sells for $18.19 (Savings 82%)

***Zantac brand 150mg 100 tablets costs $173.39 and generic sells for $10.99 (Savings 93%)

***Zestril brand 10mg 100 tablets costs $96.29 and generic sells for $39.99 (Savings 58%)




Veterans Now Qualify for More Benefits: Recent laws have changed that grant veterans medical benefits for certain illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, provided the veteran is subject to qualifying conditions like agent orange exposure.

See if you qualify for benefits by checking with the Veteran’s Administration.

Cut Your Costs in Half… by Using a Pill Splitter: Most pharmacies should stock pill splitters. Sometimes, medications can be broken in half and save you 50%. The reason is because several pharmaceutical manufacturers price some of their medications the same for all strengths.

Lipitor is essentially the same price for all strengths. It is possible to save as much as $100 on a one month supply of Lipitor just by getting the larger strength and cutting in half. Ask your pharmacist.

This method may not be appropriate for all medications and could be dangerous if used with the wrong medication.

Begin by asking your doctor or pharmacist if your medication is available in a dose double your normal dosage (ex, if you usually take a 20 mg. pill, is a 40 mg. pill available?). If it is, ask whether there would be any problems with splitting the tablets or capsules.

Now, do a cost comparison between the two dosages. If the higher dose is less than double the cost for your regular dose then you will be saving money by having your doctor prescribe the higher dose and then splitting it. For precision pill splitters visit precisionpillsplitters.com. Cost savings is typically 32% to 50%.

Viagra is another medication that lends itself to being split in half or quarters to save 50% to 75% depending upon the dosage required. The average Viagra user who uses two doses per week can save over $400.00 per year. For information about a specially designed precision splitter for Viagra, visit v2pillsplitter.com.

This method is not appropriate for all medications. Check with your pharmacist. Some easily split medications include: Ambien, Aricept, Buspar, Effexor, Lipitor, Luvox, Paxil, Remeron, Risperidal, Seroquel, Serzone, Viagra, Zoloft, Zyprexa. (Ask your pharmacist about others)

Save by Buying a 90 vs. 30-Day Supply: Most pharmacies have higher savings on a longer days supply. In addition, when it comes to people who have insurance prescription coverage, there may be other savings by getting a larger day supply.

For instance, if you have a $10 co-pay, the insurance company will let you get only a 30 days supply in general for that $10. A 90-day supply bought with out insurance may only cost you $18.

This would be much cheaper than paying $10 per month ($30 for 90 days). It would also save you two trips to the pharmacy.

Ask for an Older Medication That is as Effective: Many pharmacists agree, that antibiotics are probably the most over prescribed, or incorrectly prescribed medications. Often, the physician will prescribe a newer antibiotic that has been promoted as more effective. What this really means is that it is considerably more expensive.

The newer antibiotics are often no more effective than the older antibiotics. However, they are new and covered by patent protection. Therefore, the newer medication is more effective in ensuring a nice profit for the drug manufacturer for many years.

Since many generics are made in the same factory as the brand name ones, make sure you ask your doctor for a generic antibiotic. A great generic broad-spectrum antibiotic costs 80% less than a new antibiotic. In dollars, it costs you $20 instead of $100.

Over-the-Counter Drugs May be as Effective as the Prescription Drug: Many doctors still prescribe Pepcid 20mg to their patients. A one-month supply of Pepcid 20mg cost approximately $60. Pepcid AC, over-the-counter in 10mg strength, taking double the dose costs approximately $23.

Most prescription cold medications average $20 to $60 for a one month supply and contain the same decongestant that is available over-the-counter for less than $2.

Get Only a 7-day Supply of New Medication: If the doctor does not have samples, ask your pharmacist to give you only a one-week supply to try. It is a federal law that medicines can’t be returned once they are dispensed. If you get a month's supply and can’t tolerate the medicine, you have just lost that money.

Stop Using Drugs You No Longer Need: Review all your prescriptions with your doctor at each visit. You may be paying for some drugs you no longer need.

Doctor run rxaminer.com provides a custom analysis of your medications to save you money. You can get a free, no obligation, Cost Screening to find out how much you can save.

Also ask your pharmacist to review your medications in addition to your doctor. Here is why. A pharmacist's valuable services and knowledge are free. He may also find something your doctor missed.

Don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist questions, their advice is free and can often save you money and aggravation. Ask questions about side effects, and drug interactions.

Order Your Prescription Drugs by Phone: You can save 20%-50% by ordering prescription drugs over the phone. Bonus, you do not have to pick them up at the pharmacy.

Make a list of your medications, including strength and number taken daily. Then list at least six pharmacies you are going to call. Don’t forget about discount mail order sources and Internet sources too. Then call and get prices, ask if this is their best price available. Compare the costs.

Pay Attention to the Quantity: Find out how much medication you really may need, and make sure your doctor doesn't order you more medicine than is necessary to treat your condition.

Ask Your Doctor for Samples at Every visit: They Usually Have Plenty.

Take Only Those Drugs You Really Need: When your doctor prescribes medication for you, understand exactly what it's meant to do and for how long. If you are prescribed two drugs for the same symptom, ask if you really need both.

Buy Home Test Kits: Kits for determining ovulation, pregnancy and colorectal cancer, can be purchased as home tests instead of paying twice as much for similar kits at your doctor's office.

AARP Members are Eligible for Many Discounts, Including Mail-Order Pharmacy Discounts: Ask for an AARP discount.

If you have questions about these tips or your medication ask your doctor and pharmacist.

*********************************
* Senior Discount Card Programs *
*********************************


GlaxoSmithKline’s The Orange Card: (888) 672-6436

Covers all GSK’s drugs. Must have an annual income below $30,000 per individual or $40,000 per couple. 30% average at participating pharmacies.


Eli Lilly’s LillyAnswers Card: (877) 795-4559

Covers all Lilly’s drugs except controlled substances. Must have an annual income below $18,000 per individual or $24,000 per couple. $12 Co-pay per prescription for 30-day supply.

Novartis’ CareCard: (866) 974-2273

Covers select Novartis drugs. Tier 1 must have an annual income below $18,000 per individual or $24,000 per couple. $12 Co-pay per prescription for 30-day supply.

Tier 2 must have an annual income below $26,000 per individual or $35,000 per couple. Receive a 25% or more discount.

Pfizer’s The Share Card: (800) 717-6005

Covers all Pfizer’s drugs. Must have an annual income below $18,000 per individual or $24,000 per couple. $15 Co-pay per prescription for 30-day supply.

Together Rx Card: (800) 865-7211

Over 150 select drugs from a group of manufacturers. Must have an annual income below $28,000 per individual or $38,000 per couple. (Higher in AK and HI). Savings of approximately 20-40% off the amount you usually pay for prescriptions and, in many cases, substantially more.

************************************
This article provided by www.institutedc.org.

[haiki]

Sunday April 6, 10:13 am ET
By Hope Yen, Associated Press Writ

AP IMPACT: VA Workers Charge $2.6B on Gov't Credit Cards at Luxury Hotels, High-End Retailers
=
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Veterans Affairs employees last year racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills at casino and luxury hotels, movie theaters and high-end retailers such as Sharper Image and Franklin Covey -- and government auditors are investigating, citing past spending abuses.
=
All told, VA staff charged $2.6 billion to their government credit cards.
================================================== ======================
Yes, and then there are those few veterans, including my brother, criticize me for going after my claim, VA violation of 1722a, split pill co-payment overcharges. Well, along with the acknowledgement by many veterans, I’m glad I’m doing it. Because this is what happens when you are not vigilant, with nobody watching the store. Here are just a few remarks, regarding my claim, from those that apparently have more money than others, and march to a different drummer.
= ----------------------------------------
“So what exactly do you want them to do? Other than waste the time and money of the VA dealing with a trivial claim so that they can't help other veterans."
=
"It really bothers me to see people waste the VA's resources on things like this. It probably cost the VA thousands of dollars to work this claim up to the point of the BOVA, not to mention a lot of time of the people working in the VA. Even if you would have won on the claim, it would have wound up costing the VA more money so they could set up a new accounting system to deal with the change. That would likely cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars and would not really have benefited anyone that I can see.”
= -------------------------------
Veterans get prescription drug benefits? I'd love to complain about $8.00 prescriptions. Every attempt I've made to get into the VA Health System I've been told I don't have any benefits.
=
It's annoying to hear some people complain about what they are getting while others of us are "locked out" of the system entirely.
----------------------------------

HOGWASH! I suggest you do some homework.
=
----------------------------------------------
No one is doubting your claim, as much as why you are doing it. What they are trying to say is, you are tying up valuable resources that could be better served to adjudicate an individuals claim that had to go the way of the courts. What they are saying, also, is be thankful you have the VA who charges much less a co-pay than what most greedy outside civilian insurance companies charge. When I had outside insurance, before I became TDIU, I was paying $15.00, $20.00, and $25.00 as my co-pays for my medication, so 8 dollars is fairly trivial an amount to pay for prescriptions, not to mention people that have to pay full price for medications...co-pays do not exist for them. So I do understand where you are coming from and where you are trying to go, it just seems like you are trying shove this issue down everyones collective throats to get your point. Good luck in your endeavors, yet I hope some other veterans claim hasn't been backed up because of your want to change what seems to you to be an inequity seen only by you.
-------------------------------
The VA violation of 38 USC 1722a problem is not petty, or trivial as suggested, using the words of another veteran who thought that the VA money and effort should be spent doing the serious work of the VA in helping veterans. How did the VA employee do that? By living it up, buying and enjoying things for personal use on the government dime. My claim, VA violation of 38 USC 1722a effects all veterans, and I imagine most veterans, that receive VA prescriptions that require pill splitting.

If a veteran is charged $16 for, using the Board of Veterans' Appeals description, of an actual dispensed 30-day $8 medication supply, add up this VA dispensed $8 overcharge by the well over 1.1 million veterans that require their medication be split. (You'll be adding up just one months overcharges). All the while, employee's using government credit cards for what-ever.

John E. Ormand, Jr. BVA Veterans Law Judge, writes, "Also, under 38 USC 1722a, VA may not require a veteran to pay an amount of the actual cost of medication and pharmacy administration costs related to the dispensing of medication." And what is the dispensing cost for a 30-day supply? $8. Why then does this dispensed actual 30-day $8 supply cost a veteran $16? Because he is required to split his pill medication. In other words, you can have any amount for a 30-day, $8 supply, but if you are required to split any supply over 30 pills, the VA will double the copay cost. The USC or the CFR do not mention anything about doubling the cost of prescriptions, when the prescription requirement calls for the veteran split their pill medication.

Should I win my claim, this is not money the VA would be losing, this is money the VA should never had taken from veterans in the first place. My claim was remanded back to the BVA from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. I was notified of this remand on July 16, 2007. On Feb. 11, 2008, I called the BVA inquiring about my claim. I was told it was "coming back from the Court, but hasn't reached us yet." Today, 4/10/2008, I called asking for it's status. "Still at the Court of Veterans Appeals." It's now been 9 months! Are they not in the same town? Is this such a hot item that the VA does not want to adjudicate it? This is how our courts work. This is how the VA works. Think this is bad? You haven't seen nothing yet. Wait till our men and women return from Iraq and Afghanistan.

[haiki]

The AP revised the story "VA Workers Charge $2.6B. The dollar amount was incorrect and was revised downward. However, that does not alter the deed.
=
VA BENEFITS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.
Shouldn’t the BVA be ashamed?
=
For the reasons made obvious as you read, the Board of Veterans' Appeals, so-called veterans’ court, once again, are determined in frustrating my efforts in appealing my claim, by a still further delay. Is there something about this case that warrants this delay?
Could the reason be, of the well over 1.1 million VA prescriptions, some veterans are being over-charged?
=
My claim, VA violation of 38 USC 1722A was denied by the Board of Veterans Appeals. I then filed with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CVA). On 7/11/2007 was remanded back to the Veterans Board of Appeals (BVA). The BVA lost and rebuilt the file, that being the reason for the remand. After repeated checking, as of 6/9/08, now 11 months later, this remand, has not been returned to the BVA. So they say. It is obvious they may have lost it again in order that this claim, or I, would go away. Disappear. Perhaps I'll die? Case closed!
=
VA prescriptions are dispensed in supplies of 90 days. However, for those unfamiliar with my claim, to explain these over-charges by the VA in violation of 38 USC 1722A, this example will be at it's simplest and most understandable throughout my explanation, . Let's say that you are at the VA, standing in line getting your prescription. The vet in front of you is getting the exact same prescription. She picks up her 30 day supply of 30 pills. Her copay for a 30 day supply of 30 pills is $8. You also are dispensed an $8 supply of 30 pills of the same exact prescription. Being that your condition is not as severe, your prescription requires you to split this 30 pill $8 supply. After you sit down at your kitchen table and split your 30 pill supply, now you have 60 split pills, a 2 month supply. But hold on! Except your co-payment cost for this 30 pill, $8 supply, now that it has been split, has increased. It now carries a co-payment of $16. This explains how veterans' has been overcharged by the VA since 2002. Shafted again (3/13/07) by the Board of Veterans Appeals in their phony denial. Do you see anything wrong? You should!
=
"Pursuant to Section 20.1404(b) (2002), the motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in a prior Board decision must set forth clearly and specifically the alleged clear and unmistakable error, or errors, of fact or law in the Board decision, the legal or factual basis for such allegations, and why the result would have been different but for the alleged error."
=
The two persons listed on the denial that had crafted, and fashioned up the logic that follows? Board of Veterans’ Appeals counsel M. Taylor, and Veterans' Law Judge, Judge John E. Ormand. I will show you exactly where, in their efforts to mislead, and to rewrite the law. This is the kind of garbage veterans have to put up with! Let's look at the reasoning in their BVA denial.
=
Cited on the cover page of my denial was, "THE ISSUE. Whether the veteran is obligated to pay the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a copayment for each 30-day or less supply of medication provided by the VA on an outpatient basis in an amount established under 39 C.F.R. § 17.110."
=
“Criteria & Analysis by the Board of Veterans Appeals.” 3/13/ 2007
=
Here the Board understands the problem. "The record reflects that the appellant is prescribed a 12.5 mg daily dose of his medication. Because the medication is not dispensed in a 12.5 mg tablet, his physician has instructed him to split a 25 mg tablet in half to achieve the proper daily dosage. Thus, he receives a 30-day prescription consisting of fifteen 25 mg pills, each of which he splits in half to take one half of a pill per day. The appellant contends that the standard co-payment is excessive in light of the pill splitting." However, no where in my claim did I mention the word ‘standard', nor was the word 'standard' mentioned in 38 USC 1722A, or Federal Register, Final Rule. Here, in introducing 'standard', supposedly for the purpose of establishing two (2) ‘standard’ co-payments, counsel Taylor purposely has rewritten the law, in order to mislead.
=
“In addition, the Board notes that the reference to the cost of medication contained in 38 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1722A clearly pertains to VA’s cost in dispensing the medication, not the cost to the appellant.” Is there a difference? My claim...clearly pertains to VA's co-pay cost in dispensing medication, and it’s inflated cost to the appellant! Which is the "excess of the cost" for the 'standard' co-payment, and is then arbitrarily increased, to those veterans required to split their 30-pill, $8 supplies. Dispensed exactly the same, and in like manner, as all other VA dispensed 'standard' co-payment and abundant 30-day $8 supplies of 30-45-60-90 pills.
=
Counsel Taylor references remarks from the July 16, 2001 Federal Register. “Also, as we stated in the proposal, under 38 U.S.C. 1722A, VA may not require a veteran to pay an amount in excess of the actual cost of the medication and the pharmacy administrative costs related to the dispensing of the medication. VHA conducted a study...and found that the VA incurred a cost of $7.28 to dispense an outpatient medication even without consideration of the actual cost of medication..”
=
Dispensing! Where there is no difference in the prescription, supply amount, handling, or dispensing time, a 30 pill supply is dispensed, with a $16 co-payment. Interestingly, in the same exact manner as all 30-day, 30 pill $8 supplies are dispensed, as explained in the Federal Register! No splitting of pills was involved in the dispensing procedure. However, of an exact same $8 dispensed supply, automatically these 'standard' 30-day $8 co-payment whole pill supplies are increased 100% (2 month split pill supply).
=
Counsel Taylor, citing, "1722A clearly pertains to VA's cost in dispensing". Counsel Taylor just does not get it! Nor does Judge Ormand. Their is no difference! No difference in dispensing two supplies that are exactly alike in prescription and supply, or to the cost related to dispensing! However, counsel Taylor is emphatic in making the point, conclusive, that it clearly pertains to the cost in dispensing? Or is it the ISSUE, the " 30-day or less supply"? For some unknown reason, which counsel Taylor did not elaborate on, a second exact duplicate supply increases, double the co-pay cost? Although, counsel Taylor may have tried, but failed.
=
“38 USC 1722A; (a)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall require a veteran to pay the United States $8 for each 30-day supply of medication furnished such veteran under this chapter on an outpatient basis for the treatment of a non-service-connected disability or condition. If the amount supplied is less than a 30-day supply, the amount of the charge may not be reduced.” Which then also means, if the amount is not less than 30-day supplies, as described in paragraph (1) the Secretary may not require a veteran to pay an amount in excess of the cost for medication provided to a veteran as described in paragraph (2).
=
Citing my argument, BVA’s counsel Taylor, quotes inaccurately. An intentional selection and placing of the word, “of” in order to confuse, and again, to mislead. 38 USC 1722A “Copayment for medications. Paragraph (2) The Secretary may not require a veteran to pay an amount in excess of the cost of the Secretary for medication as described in paragraph (1).”
=
The correct reading is, “(2) The Secretary may not require a veteran to pay an amount in excess of the cost to the Secretary for medication described in paragraph (1).”
=
"The appellant has not cited to, and the Board is unable to find any authority allowing for a deviation from the standard copayment." The Board is right! I too, am unable to find that authority.
=
Where the Board got it wrong! Of all what you have understood and read so far, what follows puts to rest any doubts as to the 30-day medication over-charges in my claim, and refutes the reasoning of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in their reading of 38 USC 1722A. Of everything that has been explained, BVA counsel Taylor’s reference to 38 USC 17.110, (addressed in my claim) is the key to explaining, what counsel Taylor and Veterans Law Judge John E. Ormand, and the VA failed to, or did not, want to comprehend, or consider in their thinking, in understanding 38 USC 1722A.
=
The Board counsel Taylor, referenced 38 USC 17.110; Copayments for Medication. “..a veteran is obligated to pay a copayment for each 30-day or less supply of medication provided by the VA on an outpatient basis (other than medication administered during treatment).”
=
Counsel Taylor made it a point to reference 17.110. Veterans' do know we have to pay a co-payment. THE ISSUE was obviously a "30-day or less supply." The Board's main argument to my claim, is their erroneous interpretation of what the law is. "Each 30-day or less supply", is suggesting to them, an across the board 30-day 15 pill supply is less. However, "..each 30-day or less supply", refers to only one (1) condition. Veterans who may visit a VA facility on a one time basis as an outpatient. For emergency room care, or see a doctor for a cut finger, brief illness, etc. I wish counsel Taylor would explain another circumstance in which a veteran may be charged an “excess of the cost”? Please enlighten us. I know of no other "excess of the cost" than what I claim.
=
Counsel Taylor better not again, bring up 15 pills is less than a 30-day supply! The reality is, a veteran who falls under the 17.110 meaning, "obligated to pay a co-payment for each 30-day or less supply...on an outpatient basis (other than medication administered during treatment.)", refers to medication, in a dispensed 30-day supply of 15 pills, for treatment on an outpatient basis. The veteran in fact is not receiving less than a 30-day supply, this is his full 30-day monthly supply during outpatient treatment! For this reason, as described in 1722A, paragraph (2) is the basis for my claim. A 30-day, 30-pill, dispensed supply, for treatment, whether or not it is split, according to 1722A carries the maximum co-payment of $8. Which the Board refuses to recognize, but rather relies on a "each 30-day or less" argument. "The secretary may not require a veteran to pay an amount in excess of the cost, for medication described in paragraph (1)." $8 for each dispensed 30-pill, 30-day supply co-payment, includes supplies of the abundant 30-day supplies of 45-60 or 90 pills, and as well for all veterans' under treatment, receiving a same exact dispensed 30-pill supply. "Other than medication administered during treatment", a prescribed 2 month supply (split pill).
=
Counsel Taylor in an effort in re-enforcing the Board's position cites “(b) The Secretary, pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe may-...(1) increase the co-payment amount in effect under subsection (a);..” Pursuant to regulations? Means according to the law! To regulations as written. Where is this regulation mentioned in the Code of Federal Regulations, this "standard" co-payment you talk about, for $16 split pill supplies? Where, counsel Taylor, does it mention increased co-payment cost for one of two (2) exact duplicate 30-day prescription supplies? Other than my example, where is it mentioned 15 pills is less than 30-day supply? "The Administrative Procedure Act requires that agencies publish administrative regulations in the Federal register before they can be legally effective." Where?
=
The VA, and the BVA , they want me to pass on, disappear. When that happens, veterans you lose. They don't want you to win. However, this claim will live on, when other veterans think it's important enough of a veteran's issue to file a claim. Turned down by the RO, it's (BVA) $50 filing fee is well spent. A younger veteran, whose prescription requires splitting, and over-charged, can file right now, and can keep playing the same silly game that the VA and the BVA insists on playing, just as long as they can.