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Favorite July Things To Dp
Ah ...It's mid-summer. What are you favorite things...
July 2008
John Calvin's Birthday, Jul 10th
Inventor, Nikola Tesla's Birthday, Jul 10th, 1856
John Quincy Adams's Birthday, Jul 11th
Saving on Prescription Drugs
The runaway prices of prescription drugs are putting great financial pressure on families throughout the country. Many Americans now buy prescription drugs from foreign countries as a way to cut costs, but experts at the Food and Drug Administration warn that this practice comes with safety risks. The FDA has not reviewed the safety and effectiveness of imported drugs, and their identity and potency cannot be assured. Patients could get the wrong drug. Or they could get too little or too much of the right drug. All of these differences can be dangerous.
With costs on the rise, you may be looking for ways to lower your prescription expenses. There are no foolproof methods, but following are some options that may help reduce your expenses.
- Ask your doctor for manufacturers’ samples. Drug sales reps often leave samples at doctors’ offices – someone’s going to get them; why not you?
- Switch to generics. There is usually a significant price difference between brand name drugs and their generic version. By law, though, both must have the same amount of active ingredients.
- Get a discount prescription card. Your employer's group insurance plan may provide you with one, or you may be able to find one on your own. Check first with any consumer-group to which you may belong -- AAA or AARP, for instance.
- Shop around. Drug prices are rarely fixed, especially when it comes to generics. Comparison-shop your local pharmacies to find the one that offers the best deals.
- Split your pills. Ask your doctor to double your prescription dosage, and then split the pills in half. This practice alone will save you fifty percent on your prescriptions if you’re paying entirely out of pocket. Pharmacies sell pill-splitters (for about five dollars) that make the task simple.
- Find out if you qualify for a patient-assistance program. These private or pharmaceutical company-sponsored programs (which are usually non-profit and run by volunteers) can help you obtain your medications at a steep discount, or even for free. Not all drug manufacturers have these programs in place, but the time spent researching them can pay off.
