It’s important to find a way to afford the prescriptions you need. Medicine mistakes people often make to cut costs include:

• not buying medicine, or

• taking less than prescribed (once a day instead of twice)

• splitting pills to make their prescription last longer. (Sometimes this is OK – visit the link on splitting pills below for details.)

All of these can cause serious problems. 

If your medicines are expensive,

• Talk to your pharmacist Sometimes there is a different medicine you can take that’s cheaper.

• Request generic drugs. One of the best ways to save money is to use generic drugs whenever possible. Generic drugs are safe, effective lower-cost versions of “name brand” drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a generic version of medicine you take.

• New businesses are making it possible to check prices online; you could check to see if they can save you money. Read more here.

• Consumer Reports has a guide on Getting the Best Price on Your Drugs, and more money-saving guides.

• Financial help. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a program that can help you pay for prescriptions. There are many. 

Here are links to the free programs Consumer Reports suggests and to some Alaska programs:

• RxAssist: www.rxassist.org

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance: www.pparx.org,
• Needy Meds: www.needymeds.org
• Medicare: Visit www.medicare.gov/pharmaceutical-assistance-program/index.aspx, or call Alaska’s Medicare Information Office,  1-800-478-6065. You might also visit www.medicareinteractive.org/.
• Alaska Public Assistance: Call or visit an office (click here for contact information) to ask about applying for programs such as Medicaid or Alaska’s Senior Benefits Program, which provides cash assistance for seniors with low to moderate incomes.

Splitting pills

In some cases, you may be able to save money by cutting a cheaper pill that is twice your dosage in half. But for other medicines, this can be dangerous! Always ask your pharmacist to make sure it is OK to split a medicine.

Splitting pills
http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/money-saving-guides/english/PillSplitting-FINAL.pdf

Splitting pills: Dos and don’ts
http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2010/09/splitting-pills-can-save-you-money-but-remember-these-dos-and-donts-drug-safety-best-buy-drugs.html

Buying medicine online

Buying medicine online from a safe pharmacy is fine. But some companies sell fake or unsafe medicine. Visit this U.S. Food and Drug Administration page for more information on risks, warning signs and tips on finding a safe online pharmacy.

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/BuyingMedicinesOvertheInternet/BeSafeRxKnowYourOnlinePharmacy/default.htm

Use this link to send an email to: AKMedEd@alaska.gov

Go to.....

• About Alaska Med Ed
• Take a class
• Reading Rx labels
• Money & meds
• Manage your meds