Saving Money on Prescription Drugs

There's no denying that the cost of prescription medications these days is sky-high. As a result, some patients who have been prescribed medications are having a hard time affording the medicine they need to live a healthy and happy life. Fortunately, even for those without insurance coverage, there are some steps that can be taken to cut down on prescription drug costs.

Apply for an Assistance Programs

Many states and government agencies offer assistance programs that will help to offset the cost of certain prescription drugs. For instance, there are financial assistance programs available at select financial assistance pharmacy Michigan.

However, there are strict eligibility rules in place, and those who are eligible may still need to apply in order to be accepted to the program.

Look for Generic Alternatives

Often times, it's possible for patients to save a significant amount of money (50% or more) on their prescriptions by simply asking the prescribing doctor if there's any kind of generic alternative. A generic medication will contain essentially the same ingredients and in the same amounts as a brand-name medication, but because it's not tied to a big-name brand, the costs are much lower.

There are generic alternatives available for many of today's medications, so it's a good idea to consult with a doctor.

Shop Around for Deals

Just as when shopping for any other kind of product, it's a good idea to shop around and see where the best deals can be found. Shopping for prescription medications is no different. Costs can fluctuate greatly depending on where the medication comes from, so it's a good idea to check with different pharmacies. Furthermore, some doctors may have free samples available that they can give out to patients when they start a medication for the first time.

Take Advantage of Pharmacy Offers

These days, many pharmacies will offer monetary credits and/or savings on prescription refills when new customers sign up. This can be a great way to save money on prescription costs, especially for those who don't mind switching up pharmacies from time to time in order to yield the most savings.

Even though prescription drug costs are high, there are plenty of ways to go about saving money. Ultimately, nobody should have to pay more than they can reasonably afford for the prescriptions they need to live healthy lives.

Pharmacy Services Geared to Meet Consumer Needs

With the high cost of medical prescriptions today, consumers are becoming more conscientious about the pharmacies they use. Pharmacy services and prices do not fall under the "one size fits all" category. Many pharmacies vary in the type and quality of services they provide. Specialty medications, free mail order and home delivery and financial assistance are but a few programs pharmacies can offer consumers to meet their medical needs. Knowing what to look for in a pharmacy can save consumers time, money and frustration in staying on top of their healthcare.

Financial Assistance

Finding a financial assistance pharmacy Michigan can be a tremendous asset to consumers who have a limited income or high co-payment on their health insurance. Medical prescription costs are at an all-time high, making it difficult for many consumers to start or continue with health treatments. By providing financial assistance, pharmacies make it possible for patients to obtain the medications they need. A program of this nature can be a lifesaver to elderly patients or retirees on a fixed income as it enables them to benefit from their medical treatments to the full.

Specialty Medications

With the advancement of medical technology, pharmacies can offer new and improved medications to aid with such chronic illnesses as cancer, MS, Crohn's disease, arthritis, hepatitis and others. Individuals who suffer from such illnesses should ensure their pharmacy can comply with updated medications that meet their specific needs. By discussing their medical needs with the establishment's primary pharmacist, consumers can get a better idea of what the pharmacy has to offer and what medications they can expect to benefit from for present and future treatments.

In addition to specialty medications, consumers should inquire into generic substitutes for expensive medications to help lower the cost of their treatments. Through generic alternatives, consumers can benefit from quality medications at a reduced cost. Pharmacies that offer generic alternatives provide a much needed service to people struggling to meet the high cost of brand name products.

Prompt and Conscientious Services

When dealing with health matters, consumers want to partner with a pharmacy they can trust. Once they've found a pharmacist who is diligent, reliable and interested in meeting their needs, most consumers will remain loyal customers for the long haul.

Pharmacists who know their customers and actively participate in their treatments by recommending medications or explaining treatment options are of great value to consumers and make a positive contribution to their overall health and well-being. 

Dealing with the High Cost of Prescription Medications

If a person has good health insurance, paying for their prescriptions and the medicines they need is not normally a hardship. For individuals, however, who do not have health insurance or what coverage they do have is inadequate, paying for prescription medications can be difficult, and in some cases, almost impossible.

Pharmacy staff members in Michigan can provide their customers with information about groups and organizations that are offering financial assistance pharmacy Michigan to help cover the sky rocketing costs of many prescription medications. They can also offer suggestions as to what other medications can be used that are not as expensive as other name brand drugs.

Organizations like AARP and several state funded agencies also offer financial assistance to residents who qualify for the prescription medication benefit. While they may not pay the total price, they may cover a large portion of it, especially if the medication is important to keeping the patient alive.

Changes in legislation on the federal level has put in place many programs that help individuals gain healthcare coverage. The problem is that for as good as some of the policies are, there are several that do not come close to what is needed when it comes to helping a patient get the medications they need.

Generic brand medications can be asked for at a substantially lower price than their name brand counterparts. While some people do not like using generic products, the medications are required to be the exact same formulation as a more reputable name product. They are thoroughly tested and approved by the FDA.

If a person can't afford even the lowest of generic medications, a pharmacy tech may be able to help them find an over the counter medication that will offer them a modest amount of relief at a much lower overall price. If there is any questions about whether or not a specific medication will work or not, the physician who wrote the prescription should be called immediately to find out if there are any other alternatives that can be tried in place of the more expensive prescription.

Certain Pharmacies Can Make Medications Affordable

Michigan is the ninth most heavily populated state in the country, and one of the largest as well. Nearly 10 million people live within the state's borders, from all walks of life. While it's a very diverse population, the fact is that most of those who live here share one thing in common – the need or future need for medicine.

Whether you're on regular medications now or may need them in the future, there's a good chance that you’ve already encounter the sad realization that in many instances prescription drugs can be very expensive. Using a financial assistance pharmacy can help, and Michigan residents may want to consider doing just that.

So what is a financial assistance pharmacy, exactly? Essentially, it's a high quality pharmacy that offers prescription medications that patients need – but that also works to help make those medications more affordable for those who need them.
Millions in Michigan have struggled to fit their prescriptions into their budget, and a good financial assistance pharmacy Michigan helps make that possible.

How is that possible? Generally, through partnerships with various agencies and companies.

These organizations pool their resources to help offset the costs of medications. They'll also usually form relationships with drug manufacturers that allow them to offer lower-cost medications through different incentives from the drug companies. 

Good pharmacies will usually offer programs that those in need can join, and these programs usually offer a variety of different advantages including:

• Access to hard to find medications so that even those with rare conditions can get the medications they need. 

 Different methods of distribution, including mail, in person local delivery, retail establishments, and more. This helps those who have trouble getting to the pharmacy still manage to get the medication they need. 

 • Different methods of managing drug costs including payment plans, government assistance, and more. 

 • Management of specialty medications to ensure that those who need them will receive them.

The first step is understanding what financial assistance pharmacies can do, but the next one is harder – finding the right pharmacy for your needs. 

There are several different ways to do this, but a few key points stand out as something you need to look for. These are: 

• Location – You'll want a location that's within the Michigan area and preferably close to your home. • Delivery – For many, finding a pharmacy that will deliver means finding one that makes it much more possible for them to get their medications without hassle. It's an important aspect of the process. • Pricing – You'll also want to ensure that the pricing is fair and that the pharmacy offers the best options in terms of paying for your medications.

• Selection – Finally, it's important to know that the drugstore you're thinking of using actually has all the different medications you will need. If you can't find the medications you're prescribed, you'll want to look at a different pharmacy.

If you're in need of medication and struggle to find the money to pay for your prescriptions, one of the financial assistance pharmacies in Michigan could help make it easier to get the help you need.

Common Nutritional Supplement Contraindications

One-third of adults in the U.S. are taking prescription medications with dietary supplements, according to a recent study reported by the news service Reuters.

The contraindication, or drug-supplement interaction, risk may increase as more people use more types as the routine practice and availability of products becomes more prevalent. The most common type of nutritional supplements that people on pharmaceutical drugs take are multivitamins and omega-3 fatty acid oil supplements.

Using nutritional supplements is considered more normal today than in decades past, and even pharmacists are becoming more familiar with the link between common drugs and nutritional products. A great resource for finding out about contraindications is, of course, the physician that prescribes the drugs. However, the next best option may be the pharmacist that fills your prescription, and if she is not available, a reputable online source, such as WebMD.

Having an understanding of the most common drug and nutritional supplement interactions can also help you, friends and family navigate health concerns prior to discussing them with a professional health care provider.

The most common supplements that cause prescription drug interactions, according to the Vitamin Council, are:

• St. John’s wort
• Gingko
• Kava
• Willow
• Digitalis

There are particular medications that also regularly pose a nutritional product interaction risk. The most common are:

• warfarin (Coumadin)
• aspirin
• insulin
• digoxin
• ticlopidine (Ticlid)

St. John's Wort

St. John's wort is often cited as the most commonly contraindicated natural product because it can decrease the effectiveness of statin drugs used to treat high cholesterol. It is typically used to treat mood disorders, such as depression.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba is an herbal supplement that can improve alertness and is often associated with cognitive function, although research is not conclusive regarding its effectiveness. It has been associated with increased blood flow because it decreasing blood clotting and aggregation. Consequently, ginkgo is contraindicated with warfarin and other blood-thinning medications used for patients experiencing blood vessel blockage and cardiovascular disease. Used together with these drugs, ginkgo can over-thin the blood and create a risk for severe bleeding in the case that the patient becomes injured. It can also exacerbate internal bleeding if taken during the same period as aspirin that can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding.

Grapefruit

A common nutritional contraindication that should also be noted is grapefruit, that can interfere with the effectiveness of cholesterol drugs.

If you find yourself seeking more information about contraindications, in addition to information about insurance and financial assistance pharmacy Michigan  a pharmacy in Michigan can be a terrific resource. Ask a pharmacist to help uncover the important facts that can help protect you and your loved ones with the latest finding regarding nutritional products and prescription medications.

When Good Health Costs Too much

Revelations that American biotech giant, Gilead Sciences, has discounted their wonder drug, Sovaldi, to the Hepatitis C plagued nation of Egypt, by 99% of its American price tag, has raised eyebrows on Capital Hill. The news, reported by Reuters, came as company representatives underwent congressional questioning regarding the high cost of the drug, which received the Federal Drug Administration’s nod of approval late last year. While much of the questioning is mere political posturing, Congress has no authority over what a company charges for its products, the debate turns the spotlight on how financial assistance pharmacy michigan pharmaceutical companies valuate their wares.

Hefty Price Tag for Health

At a $1000 a pill, Sovaldi’s price tag has engendered sticker shock in everyone from health insurers to Medicaid officials when it comes to picking up the tab for a treatment regime that lasts 12-weeks and cost $84,000 despite all evidence of the obvious efficacy of the drug. Sovaldi has proven highly effective in the treatment of Hepatitis C victims with patients exhibiting a more than a 90% recovery rate for a disease that was heretofore untreatable.

Strained pocketbooks notwithstanding, faced with the overwhelming success rate of the treatment, physicians are standing in line to write out prescriptions for the new drug. That being said, what value are the pills, and how effective is the treatment, if nobody can afford to buy them?

In response to congressional inquiries, company representatives noted that they were working with stakeholders to lower the price of the drug. In the meantime, the company stands to profit handsomely at current market prices although news of the congressional ire dampened the price of Gilead shared by upwards of 6%.

Tiered Pricing Schedule

Whereas a patient would require financial assistance in a pharmacy in Michigan, Idaho, Florida, or Texas to even considering beginning a treatment regime, Gilead has discounted the drug to Egypt resulting in a final 12-week treatment cost of about $900. Egypt, home to the largest population of Hepatitis C sufferers in the world, will be paying about 1% the cost of the drug in the United States.

Indeed, according to Gilead, the company is looking to establish a tiered pricing structure tied to a nation’s per capita gross national income. As such, Hepatitis C patients in the United Kingdom can expect to shell out $57,000 and German nationals would pony up $66,000 for the lifesaving treatment.