By Christie Gouchenour, Manager of Pharmacy Services
When you are sick or injured and need medical attention, there’s no telling what you may be prescribed to improve your health or help you heal. If your pharmacy benefits are not managed effectively, this can certainly lead to higher costs at the pharmacy counter and higher premiums.
The good news is there are ways to get the prescriptions you need while saving money with every prescription. Here’s how:
1. Go GENERIC
Did you know that filling a prescription with a generic version of a drug could save you 30-80% over a brand-name product? Generics contain the same ingredients and are just as effective as their brand-name counterparts, and are often made by the original brand manufacturers. You can also use your health plans’ formulary (a list of covered and preferred generic and branded prescription drug products) as a guide to avoid paying more for “non-formulary” brand-name drugs.
2. Use MAIL ORDER
There’s a reason people save money at big box stores – it pays to buy in bulk. And the same goes for prescriptions. Mail order shipments, typically for maintenance prescriptions, arrive in 90-day supplies and allows you to enjoy convenient home delivery at bulk-rate prices. Learn more about our Mail Order Pharmacy Service here.
3. KNOW Your NETWORK
To better control costs, insurance companies have begun creating narrow networks of “preferred” pharmacies. That means certain pharmacy chains or pharmacy locations may be excluded from the pharmacy network. Knowing which pharmacies are in-network for your prescription plan and making sure you are aware will ensure the best prescription drug pricing and lowest out-of-pocket costs.
