Medications: Part 2

    In the last issue we discussed ways to help improve your understanding of medications and to be sure you are on the correct medicine, as well as a few important ways to ensure compliance. This week we will be specifically discussing cost of medication, and ways to trim the cost of your pharmacy bill.

    1. The first important way of trimming cost is to be sure you are not on any medication you don’t need. While many medications are considered “chronic”, meaning they may be used for a long time for a condition that is not going to go away, some medicines are for relatively short-term problems such as a broken bone or infection. Any medicine used for a short-term problem should be stopped when the problem goes away (or after the full treatment has been given-always finish all the antibiotics you are prescribed for an infection!)
    Sometimes a change in your medical condition can reduce your need for medicines (ie. a large loss of weight may decrease your need for diabetic or high blood pressure medicine). You should check this with your PCP.
    Furthermore, many over the counter treatments such as vitamins and herbal medications are not really necessary or may be more costly than their potential benefit to you. You want to be spending your money on what is essential.
    2. Try when possible to use generic medications. Most generics are excellent quality and are much cheaper than brand name drugs.
    3. If you have an insurance plan that requires a specific pharmacy be used with 90 day supply, you will save by always using this.
    4. If you have an insurance plan that says a similar but different drug would be covered more cheaply than one you are on, check with your PCP office to see if your medicine can be changed. Most often it can. Sometimes there are specific reasons why not, but your PCP should be able to tell you this.
    5. If you don’t have prescription drug coverage, consider getting Medicare Part D. Eastern Area Agency on Aging has a very good counseling service to help you choose a plan (locally Leslie Lizotte is a wonderful contact).
    6. The same medication can be widely different prices as different pharmacies. Walmart has a plan for many of the most common medications generically for $4 a month for 30-day supplies. Their list of covered medications is available on line and if your medicines are not on the list it is worth asking your doctor or PCP if you could switch to one that is. Many drugs are easily substituted.
    7. Some very expensive brand name medications can be obtained through the drug company if you qualify by income guidelines. This usually requires you supply them with income information.
  8. If you need financial assistance with your medications, speak to the office nurse navigator who can help you with resources.
  We invite readers to offer feedback about this column and to suggest topics for future articles. You may do so by contacting Meg Callaway of the Charlotte White Center at (207) 947-1410 or meg.callaway@charlottewhite.org or Lesley Fernow at (207) 992-6822 and lmfernow@rcn.com.