Keeping Down Costs of Prescription Drugs

My son woke up with a 102-degree temperature a couple days ago along with a sore throat. After a quick visit to the local Urgent Care, it was confirmed - his first case of strep throat in 10+ years, and that meant an antibiotic. The insurance my kids are on requires me to pay 20% of the shelf cost instead of grouping copays into $10, $25, $50, etc. So I was very thankful the doctor did not prescribe one of the newer antibiotics that are so "popular" these days - you know, the kind that are at the upper tier of your prescription drug plan. DS got plain old amoxicillin, and we quickly drove down the street to Meijer's, where, thanks to their generic antibiotic drug plan, the prescription cost me nothing.

With 2 children, one with migraines and the other with asthma, I'm always looking for ways to decrease our monthly prescription costs without sacrificing health care. Here are some ways I do it:

1. Check out store-based prescription programs. Meijer offers 7 of the most frequently-used generic antibiotics and 5 of the most popular prenatal vitamins for free, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. I have gotten several antibiotic prescriptions filled there, and it is a relief to know I don't have to worry about the cost. I also take advantage of the $4 prescription plan at Krogers for my personal prescription. I pay $4 for a 30-day supply of my one routine medication and could choose a 90-day supply for $10. Similar programs can be found at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS. Only CVS has an additional once-yearly participation fee.

2. Talk to your health care provider. I mentioned last month that I was afraid to talk to my son's neurologist about the cost of his medication, but once I did, we found a way to cut the cost nearly in half, and so far, my son's headache frequency is staying the same, if not improved. Many conditions can be treated with generic drugs without sacrificing quality of care, and again, in many cases, it is better to start with a well-established (and cheaper!) medication before proceeding to the newer classes of drugs. Of course, please meet with your health care provider to discuss the specifics of your situation. Even if he or she feels a generic is not in your best interests, there may be a different drug that will offer similar benefits for a lower cost.

3. If you don't have drug coverage or, like us, you have to pay a straight percentage, shop around. Prescription prices vary greatly from store to store, and by comparison shopping, you may find that you can save a significant amount of money.

4. Ask for drug samples. I know there is controversy over whether drug samples lead to rising prescription costs, but as long as they are there, I don't hesitate to take advantage of them. My doctor is great at giving me samples, and I have saved many hundreds of dollars by using them. I think a day is coming when they won't be available any more, but until then, I won't hesitate to accept them.

Are there any other ways I've overlooked to save on prescription drug costs? How do you save?