In order to save money on prescription drugs, consumers may feel tempted to turn to online pharmacies. But there are other ways to save money on prescription medication.<\/p>\n
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Look into generic or biosimilar versions of your prescriptions<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Generic<\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>biosimilar<\/span>\u00a0versions of prescription medicines allow consumers to receive the same quality of medicine at a fraction of the price. Consider asking your health care provider if generic or biosimilar versions of your prescription are available<\/span>\u00a0and right for you<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Ask your\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>health care<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0provider for samples of a new prescription<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n Receiving a sample before purchasing a full supply can\u00a0<\/span>help determine<\/span>\u00a0if you have any\u00a0<\/span>allergies or negative\u00a0<\/span>side effects without having to spend money on it<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Talk to local<\/span> pharmacists<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Your local pharmacist may be able to recommend\u00a0<\/span>ways to save on<\/span>\u00a0your prescription.<\/span><\/p>\n Look into\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>paying out-of-pocket instead of with insurance.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n In some cases, it may actually be cheaper\u00a0to pay for your prescriptions out-of-pocket, rather than using your insurance. Ask\u00a0your pharmacist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shop around.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Like with anything else, prices can vary.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>You may find that different pharmacies\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>your area sell the same prescription<\/span>\u00a0drug<\/span>\u00a0at different prices.\u00a0<\/span>GoodRx.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span>GoodRx<\/span>\u00a0app compare prices for every FDA-approved prescription drug at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies.\u00a0<\/span>Also,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>check out pharmacies at locations you may not have previously considered, such as\u00a0<\/span>those\u00a0<\/span>located inside of\u00a0<\/span>w<\/span>arehouse stores<\/span>\u00a0and supermarkets, as well as<\/span>\u00a0independent pharmacies.\u00a0<\/span>For example,\u00a0<\/span>a recent\u00a0<\/span>Consumer Reports<\/span><\/em>\u00a0survey<\/span>\u00a0found that<\/span>\u00a0Costco usually charged the lowest cash prices for prescription drugs, while some independent<\/span>\u00a0pharmacies<\/span>\u00a0had prices that were even lower than Costco\u2019s. Some supermarket pharmacies also offered good deals<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Ask your\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>health care<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0provider if they can prescribe your medication for an extended period<\/span>\u00a0(such as a\u00a090-day supply vs.\u00a0a\u00a030-day supply). <\/strong><\/p>\n