A word of caution: Assess savings schemes carefully. Some resources, such as some discount cards for pharmacies, come with a monthly fee. They can still save you money, but you will want to factor in those costs.
Talk to your doctor about switching to generic or less-expensive brand-name drugs. Many pharmacies offer generics for about $4 a month or $10 for a three-month supply. Medtipster.com, a website launched this year, compares prices for generics at several pharmacies in a single ZIP Code.
For Los Angeles ZIP Code 90210, for example, CVS charged $9.99 (plus an annual sign-up fee of $10 for the chain's discounted generic program) for a 90-day supply of generic cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin; Rite Aid charged $15.99 but had no sign-up fee.
Ask your doctor for free samples of your prescriptions. (Doctors are often happy to help in this way.)
Find out if using your plan's mail-order pharmacy would cost less. Call your plan for details -- the number should be on the back of your card or on paperwork the plan sent you. Call the plan's toll-free number to avoid accumulating phone charges if there's a wait.
Contact patient assistance programs that cover your drugs. Call Medicare to find out about the plans at (800) MEDICARE, (800) 633-4227. Or consult a comprehensive list of such programs at www.medicare.gov/pap/ and on the CHA resources page above. If you qualify, the plans are probably well worth it. But remember that money received from assistance programs does not count toward your out-of-pocket cap.
Check drug prices at multiple pharmacies. Costco, for example, often has competitive prices on drugs and does not require you to be a member to buy prescription drugs from the store's pharmacy. But think before switching pharmacies to save a few dollars, says Paul Precht, head of policy and communications for the Medicare Rights Center, a consumer-assistance group based in Washington, D.C.. If you've been with the same pharmacy for a while it will have your drugs on file and can alert you to possible interactions when new drugs are prescribed.
If another pharmacy offers a better price, ask your pharmacy if it can match that price. And keep your eyes open for deals. CVS, for example, gives customers who sign up for their free ExtraCare card $1 of store credit for every two prescriptions filled. Ask pharmacists at any pharmacy, chain or independent about current deals and how to get savings alerts.
Finally, coupons provided by drug companies are a good resource for anyone paying full price for drugs. These can give you free prescriptions or discounts at the pharmacy counter. Find listings for current offers at www.internetdrugcoupons.com.
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health@latimes.com
