The cost of prescription medications is a large barrier for many people getting and taking their needed medications. In fact, according to the CDC, 1 in 4 Americans say it is difficult to afford their medications. This is where your pharmacist can help. An integrated pharmacist, like those partnered with Village Medical™, are great resources for you to understand everything about your medications, including what it’s for, how to take it, potential side effects and the cost. Here are 5 ways pharmacists can help you with prescription costs.
1. Review your prescription insurance plan. Your pharmacist will help you understand your insurance plan so you can save money while still getting the prescription medications you need. They will check to see if there are ways to lower your copay, such as switching to a generic version of your prescription medications. According to the FDA, 9 out of 10 prescriptions filled are for generic drugs as they work just as well as brand-name drugs but cost less. If your integrated pharmacist finds a more affordable option, many times they can directly change out the medication for you because of their relationship with Village Medical doctors and advanced practice providers* (APP).
2. Find discount cards. If you need to take a brand-name medication, which can be expensive, your pharmacist can still help you by searching for discount cards that may lower your copay. These discount cards, offered by drug companies, help you pay less out of pocket for your prescription medication. Your pharmacist can also look into other programs that offer discounts, working with you to get your prescription medications at the best cost.
3. Work with your insurance company.
Sometimes, getting your prescription medication approved by your insurance company can be difficult, and your integrated pharmacist can help with that too. They can work with your doctor or APP to get your prescription approved quickly helping to take away your stress of dealing with paperwork. It also prevents delays in getting your needed medication and allows you to focus on your health.
4. Find patient assistance programs. If you're still having trouble paying for your prescription medications, your pharmacist can help you find patient assistance programs. These programs are offered by drug companies and charities and help people who can't afford their medications. At Village Medical, one of our social workers may be assigned to you to assist you in finding the right program for your needs. You can also click here to go to Findhelp and just type in your ZIP code to find and access resources and services in your community that offer medication assistance.
5. Medicare patients. For patients on Medicare, there are more restrictions for the types of eligible prescription assistance programs. The Inflation Reduction Act led to many changes for prescription drug costs for Medicare patients starting in 2023 and continuing the roll out through January 1, 2025. Some of the changes include:
To learn more about if you qualify for Extra Help, please visit Medicare.gov and apply for Extra Help yearly. Your pharmacist can also help you learn more about these and other Medicare drug coverage changes. You can also get more information from social workers and volunteers through your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Don't let cost be a barrier to your health. Talk to your pharmacist and see how they can help you find ways to afford your prescription medications so you can focus on taking care of your health.
*An advanced practice provider is defined as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.