As summer begins to fade, and Congress begins to reconvene, the debate on health care reform is sure to intensify. In all of the contentious debate, however, there has not been much movement regarding the cost of prescription medications. Now to be fair, the Obama administration did reach a deal back in June with the nation's top drug manufacturers to reduce the cost of brand-name medicines for Medicare part D beneficiaries during the "gap" in their coverage. While this may be a start, it still does not allow Medicare to negotiate prescription medication costs. It certainly does not help those of us not currently utilizing Medicare part D, much less Medicare at all.
So what are the rest of us to do? Part of the solution is obviously to rethink the way we obtain our prescription medications. In the past, we've generally just taken the prescription our doctor has given us to the local pharmacy without much thought. With costs continuing to rise, we all need to be more prudent and ask more questions.
Can you obtain a larger quantity prescription? We all know how buying in larger quantities can save money. This is no different when it comes to prescription medications. You shouldn't hesitate to ask your physician if prescriptions can be written for 90-day or even 180-day supplies. Not only will larger quantity prescriptions save you money, but it will also save you the time and hassle of refilling.
Can generic medications be used instead of the brand-names? Generics can cost up to 90% less than the brand-name counterpart. If your physician will authorize a generic substitution, just think how much you could save.
Have you compared prices? We all shop around for the best prices. Why shouldn't we do the same with prescription medications? Ask your pharmacy for the cost before placing your order. Costs can vary dramatically between pharmacies, up to four times the amount of the lowest cost you may find. Many times a generic medication may cost you less than the amount of your insurance co-payment. Why part with more of your money than needed?
Should you order from a "brick and mortar" pharmacy? Rethinking the way we purchase our prescription medications should include where we purchase our medications. In this day and age, we no longer need to make a trip to a nearby store to purchase anything. Online commerce is burgeoning and often results in substantial savings. Just think about all the overhead that goes into a "brick and mortar" business: the cost of all that real estate, utilities, all those employees to pay to staff and stock merchandise. All these costs are naturally passed on to us, the consumer. Many people have found it cheaper and more convenient to order online. Ordering your prescription medications online should be no different. However, beware of unlicensed, illegal, or overseas "pharmacies." It is illegal to sell prescription medications without a valid license or to sell medications that are not FDA-approved. It is also illegal to purchase prescription medications from "companies" that do not meet those criteria or do not require a prescription.
Obviously, we at HealthWarehouse believe that we can help on all these fronts. Don't just take our word on it! Compare us to other pharmacies. If you can find a better price, better quality, and better service, please let us know. As our CEO, Lalit Dhadphale, has said, "(O)ur goal is to transform the industry by offering a safe, low-cost, and convenient option for consumers. As an online pharmacy, we are able to remove inefficiencies in the pharmaceutical distribution process and pass these savings directly on to patients. Our innovative approach has and will continue to make a real difference for millions of families throughout the U.S. by bringing affordable healthcare within reach." And to further that goal, we have a lot of exciting changes in the works. In the next few months, look for a new and improved website that will make not only ordering prescriptions and healthcare supplies easier but will also make it easier for you to compare prices and even get great healthcare information. We are really excited about these changes and can't wait until we can roll them out! So keep an eye out and let us know what you think.
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