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Smart Ways Moms Can Save on the Cost of Prescriptions

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There’s a lot of discussion surrounding health care, and more specifically its costs. This includes the costs of prescriptions. Last year that was a huge amount of controversy surrounding a spike in the price of the Epipen, and for many of us moms, this is an essential medication we need to have on hand for our kids with allergies.

It’s tough to deal with the high costs of prescriptions, especially as moms with kids who need certain medicines on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, we tend just to think that whatever the first price we encounter for a prescription is what we have to pay for it, and I’m guilty of that same thing. Instead, we moms should approach prescriptions as we do when we buy other things. We should bargain shop and look for the best deals.

The following are some tips to help you get started with that objective.

Coupons

Did you even realize prescription and pharmacy coupons were a thing? I didn’t initially either, but they are.

There are not only specific pharmacy coupons that may be available but also pharmacy cards. With a pharmacy card, there are partnerships with various companies that allow for savings to be passed on to cardholders. Many of these savings aren’t just offered by stores or individual drug companies, but also health care providers.

Contact Your Insurance Company

If you have insurance sometimes finding lower prices on prescriptions can be as simple as getting in touch with them and trying to understand what they cover and what they don’t. Every company has a formulary, which is its list of covered drugs, so call and ask about specific prescriptions before buying them.

Your insurance company can often tell you about similar alternatives if something isn’t covered or is too expensive.

Negotiate

Another thing us moms often don’t realize is that prescription prices on generics may be negotiable, particularly if you use a local retailer. Even if you don’t have insurance, you may be able to work something out with your pharmacy that’s more in line with your budget.

A lot of people think chains are going to be cheaper, but ultimately small neighborhood pharmacies tend to have lower prices along with more negotiating power.

Ask for Larger Supply

Whether you’re getting a prescription for your child or someone else in your family, ask your health care provider if you can have a longer supply; for example, a 90-dayy supply instead of 30 days. This will save you on copays, and it will also simplify your life.

Finally, as crazy as it sounds, don’t always use your insurance. A lot of retailers and in particular chain pharmacies will offer low generic pricing for people who pay out-of-pocket. It might not always be optimal to use your insurance, so check out the options before making a purchase.

When you’re a mom with a little one requiring prescriptions, particularly on a regular basis, it can be tough on your wa llet, but there are also ways to cut costs while still making sure your kids get what they need.

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