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Savings & Tips
Consult with your
physician about
alternative
therapies
Before you begin a
new prescription
medication, talk
with your doctor
about
non-prescription
modifications to
your lifestyle, diet
or exercise. These
changes may
postpone, reduce or
avoid the need for
taking a new
medication.
Review your other
medications
Disclose all the
medications that you
are taking to your
physician and
pharmacist before
they prescribe or
dispense a new
medication. Some
medications may
intensify or reduce
the effectiveness of
another, or may even
possibly duplicate
the effects of
another drug you are
taking.
Select the
lowest-cost
alternative
Many brand-name
prescription
medications have a
generic equivalent.
Generic drugs are
approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug
Administration for
safety and
effectiveness, and
are manufactured
under the same
strict rules which
apply to their
brand-name twin. So
ask your physician
and pharmacist if
there is a generic
drug that will save
you money. If no
generic equivalent
is available, there
may still be a
lower-cost
alternative within
the same class of
drugs that performs
the functions your
care requires. Once
again, consult with
your physician on
these money-saving
alternatives.
Obtain a larger
supply
In most instances,
your cost per dosage
will decrease as the
amount you have
dispensed at one
time increases. If
you will be taking a
medication for an
extended period of
time, ask your
physician if it
would be appropriate
to prescribe a
90-day supply rather
than a 30-day
supply.
Shop only at
participating
pharmacies
All chain pharmacies
and most independent
pharmacies have been
given equal
opportunity to serve
you via this
program.
Participating
pharmacies are
required to offer
you deep discounts
and assist in
performing some
fairly complicated
drug management
procedures for card
holders, and not all
pharmacies agree to
participate.
However, that gives
you the confidence
of knowing that
pharmacies
participating in
this program are
concerned with your
health and saving
you money, and
therefore, are
deserving of your
business and
loyalty.
Show your card every
time
To ensure your
medication is
checked for safety
and billed at the
correct price, your
pharmacist needs to
transmit valuable
information from
your card. In some
instances, the
pharmacist may store
your card
information in their
computer. However,
to be certain you
receive the maximum
benefit, you need to
show your card each
time you have your
prescriptions
filled.
Utilize our mail
order service
You may find
additional savings
and convenience
ordering
frequently-used
medications through
our U.S mail order
service.
Understand your drug
therapy
You invest a lot of
money in
medications. In
order to get the
most value for your
dollar, you need to
understand how to
use your
prescription drugs
effectively. Make
sure your physician
and pharmacist
explain how and when
to take each
prescription
medication. Some
factors to consider
when trying to get
the most from your
medication are the
effects of:
- Food and
water being
taken with your
medication.
- The time of
day you take
your medication.
- Effects of
other
medications,
including
over-the-counter
drugs, on your
prescription.
Store your
medications properly
Most medications
will lose their
effectiveness when
they are subject to
heat, moisture,
light, or time. A
steamy bathroom or a
purse left in a hot
car are examples of
bad places to keep
medicine. Store your
medications in a
cool, dark place.
Remember to carry
your daily or weekly
medications in a
pillbox to avoid
damaging your entire
supply of
medication. Also,
always remember to
check expiration
dates and dispose of
expired medications
by flushing them
down the toilet.
Talk with your
physician
Make sure that your
physician knows that
saving money is
important to you.
Ask that they
prescribe a generic
equivalent or
lower-cost
alternative if at
all appropriate.
Also, make sure that
they know about any
other drugs you are
taking that may
alter the
effectiveness of the
medication they are
prescribing.
Finally, make sure
that you understand
the drug therapy
they prescribe so
that you obtain the
most value from the
drugs that you are
about to invest in.
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