Posted: 06/08/09
Medicare drug benefits, low-cost generics, and store discounts help with the cost of prescription drugs, but even with those forms of assistance many Americans are still unable to afford the prescription medications necessary to manage their life-threatening conditions. In fact, multiple national surveys have found that as much as a third of people say they can't comply with doctor-recommended prescriptions due to prohibitive cost. Many pharmacists find that customers request prices for their various prescriptions and then choose the ones they can afford to fill. Pharmacist Traci W. Suber said, "The only thing I can do is let them know what they're for, get them the cheapest available and encourage them to come back for the others when they can."
The impact of the unfilled prescriptions is being felt in clinics and emergency rooms where the ailing seek treatment when their diabetes or blood pressure spikes out of control because of not taking the medication.
For customers covered under Medicare or Medicaid, co-pays can be as low as $3. However, when patients require a dozen or more prescriptions the cost can be prohibitive. Another option is prescription discount cards, which offer immediate point of sale discounts with low monthly fees. Prescription discount cards can be used in conjunction with insurance or Medicare and have no limitations due to preexisting conditions.
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