All over the United States, there are 44 million people that don’t have health insurance.
Just because you don’t have insurance doesn’t mean that you don’t need prescription medications. If you really need to get your medication, don’t freak out.
There are other options available.
If you’re one of the millions struggling to pay for medications, find out how to pay for prescriptions without insurance at affordable prices.
Choose the Generic Option
The name brand prescription is normally the most expensive option, and if you don’t have insurance, you may not be able to afford it.
If you don’t have insurance, you should definitely look into buying the generic option of the prescription. They are normally just as effective as the name brand.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all generic brands have to have the same active ingredients as the name brand ones, so you know that you’re still getting the same ingredients. If the ingredients are exactly the same, at that point you would only be paying more to get the name brand.
Some generic drugs are actually 85% cheaper than their name-brand options. If you can get the generic drug, this is probably the best way to save money.
Seek Extra Assistance
If there is no generic brand of the prescription drug you need, you could try and find help from somewhere else.
Sometimes pharmaceutical companies offer programs to help assist people who don’t have insurance. You will need to qualify for some of these programs, so you should check out the requirements before you apply.
Some programs you can check out are:
- NeedyMeds.org
- The Partnership for Prescription Assistance
- Patient Advocate Foundation’s National Financial Resource Directory
In addition to these, there are also programs that partner with Medicare Part D.
Shop Around
Before you commit to paying a ton of money on one prescription, make sure that you shop around and check out your options.
Go to different pharmacies in your area and see if any of them offer it for a little bit cheaper. The difference may not be much, but it can still make a difference.
There are all kinds of tools out there that can help you find the cheapest possible price for your prescription. It could also help you figure out if there are cheaper substitutes out there as well.
Click here to discover more.
Look for Coupons
In addition to shopping around at different pharmacies, you can also search for different coupons.
Sometimes the manufacturers of the brand name drugs provide coupons on their websites that you can use when purchasing their medicines.
Some of the manufacturers also offer options that will help you afford the prescription.
Split Pills if It’s Safe
Sometimes it can help to split pills as well.
However, you should only do this after consulting with your doctor or pharmacist.
If they say it’s okay, you could buy a 20-milligram pill and then split it up. This could help you save more money and not have to refill them as often.
If you do decide to do this, you should invest in a pill-splitter. Don’t try to cut the medication with a knife or even with scissors.
Get a Drug Discount Card
You could also find a drug discount card as well. You can get this card from free programs that will send you a card. Some of them even use apps these days.
You can use this at a pharmacy to get the lowest possible prescription medication price.
Each program is a little bit different, but most of them work the same way: The programs negotiate with the pharmacies to make sure consumers get the lowest prices. Then, they make sure the patients aren’t overpaying for the medications.
Shop Online
Instead of going from pharmacy to pharmacy, you could also try shopping online.
You may not trust buying prescription medications online, but if you are aware of what you’re doing — and if you’re being safe about it — then it could be a great way to save a lot of money.
There are all kinds of websites that are actually legitimate and will give you a great deal in the process.
Check a General Retailer
If you still don’t trust buying prescriptions online, you could always try checking other retailers that sell in person. You don’t necessarily have to go to a big pharmacy, though.
Try checking general, chain retailers. A lot of these, like Target and Walmart, have their own pharmacies built into the store.
A lot of things are normally cheaper at these retail stores, and the pharmacy is no different. However, it also depends on what kind of medication you’re looking for. These pharmacies don’t carry everything that regular pharmacies do, but it won’t hurt to check.
Talk to Your Doctor
If none of the options above end up working out, you could always try talking to your doctor or your pharmacist.
Be honest with them. They may be able to help you or prescribe a different, cheaper option if they are more aware of the struggles that you are going through.
Learn More About How to Pay for Prescriptions Without Insurance
Figuring out how to pay for prescriptions without insurance can be tricky. However, these are some great tips to help you get started and figure out how to save money.
Getting the medication you need can sometimes be essential for maintaining your health.
For more tips on how to help your health, make sure you check out some of our blog posts!
