The average person spends more than $1,200 every year on prescription drugs.
This is partly because people are using prescription drugs more than ever before. But it’s also because prescription drugs seem to be getting more and more expensive every year.
Do you want to stop spending as much money as you’re spending now on prescription drugs? One easy way to cut costs at least a little is by searching for the cheapest place to fill prescriptions and filling your medications there.
You might be surprised to learn that you can save a substantial amount of money every year by patronizing one pharmacy over another. All pharmacies do not charge the same amount for the prescription drugs that they carry.
It’s not always easy to shop around when it comes to finding the cheapest place to fill prescriptions. But it is possible to do it if you’re willing to work at it.
Here are several things that you should try.
Ask Your Doctor for Advice
Your doctor doesn’t know how much all of the pharmacies in your area charge for specific prescriptions. It would be impossible for them to keep up with the prices for prescriptions.
But it wouldn’t hurt to ask your doctor if they know where you should go to get a certain prescription filled. If it’s a popular prescription that they’ve dealt with a lot in the past, they might be able to steer you in the right direction.
Your doctor might be able to help you save on prescription drugs in other ways, too. They can sometimes:
-
Set you up with free samples of a prescription drug
-
Provide you with a coupon for a prescription drug
-
Prescribe you a generic drug as opposed to a name-brand one
Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have over the cost of a prescription drug.
Find Out What Your Pharmacy Options Are
Most people choose to buy their prescription drugs from whichever pharmacy is closest to their house. This is the most convenient way to purchase prescriptions, especially when you need to refill them on a regular basis.
Rather than taking this approach, open up your horizons and explore all the other options in your city or town. There are about 60,000 pharmacies throughout the country, which means you likely have at least a few within your general area.
From chain pharmacies to independent mom-and-pop pharmacies, you might have more options than you realize. Exploring these options can show you the cheapest place to fill prescriptions.
Call Around to Different Pharmacies When You Need a Prescription Filled
The next time you need to have a prescription filled, pick up the phone and call around to a few of the pharmacies in your area. Ask them how much they charge for the prescription that you need based on your health insurance situation.
The prescription drug companies have different deals worked out with different pharmacies. This means you might pay one price for a prescription at Pharmacy A and a completely different price for the same exact prescription at Pharmacy B.
Calling around will shed some light on how much money you could save by taking your business to a different pharmacy.
Use the Internet to Research Prescription Drug Prices
Does the idea of spending a whole day calling around to different pharmacies to price shop for prescriptions sound awful to you? We don’t blame you!
Once you see how many pharmacies are located in your area, you might not want to invest a ton of time into contacting all of them. Fortunately, there is a solution for those who would prefer not to spend hours on the phone.
There are online prescription price comparison tools that you can put to good use. You can compare the prices on prescriptions at different pharmacies in your area within a few minutes by utilizing these tools.
It’s the simplest way to find the cheapest place to fill prescriptions.
Consider Using an Online Pharmacy
If you do all the necessary research and find that the prescription drug prices at all your local pharmacies are still too high, you might be frustrated beyond belief. You might even be resigned to the fact that you’re not going to be able to save money on prescriptions.
But you shouldn’t give up yet! Instead, you should think about using a pharmacy online to order your prescription drugs. There are more and more people who are starting to take this approach to saving money on medications.
You should, of course, work with an online pharmacy that you can trust. You don’t want to be ordering important prescriptions from just anyone.
But in this day and age, you can buy almost anything online, and that includes prescription drugs. Shop around to see if using an online pharmacy is the right option for you.
Reevaluate Your Options Every So Often
The prices of prescription drugs are always changing. They tend to vary from one year to the next depending on a number of factors.
As a result, you shouldn’t get too comfortable with whatever option you start using once you find the cheapest place to fill prescriptions. In a year, that option might not be the cheapest one anymore!
Work your way through the tips listed here about every year or so. It’ll give you a chance to save even more money in the future.
Locating the Cheapest Place to Fill Prescriptions Is Worth Your Time
You need prescription drugs to stay healthy and to live your best life. But that doesn’t mean you should have to pay an arm and a leg for them.
Now that you know how to find the cheapest place to fill prescriptions, get out there and do it. It might take you some time to find the right place, but it’ll be well worth all the effort you put into it.
Check out the rest of our blog for more money-saving tips.
