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Savings and
Tips
Consult with your physician
about alternative therapies
Before
you begin a new prescription medication, talk with your doctor about
non-prescription modifications to your lifestyle, diet or exercise.
These changes may postpone, reduce or avoid the need for taking a
new medication.
Review your other medications
Disclose all the medications that you are taking to
your physician and pharmacist before they prescribe or dispense a
new medication. Some medications may intensify or reduce the
effectiveness of another, or may even possibly duplicate the effects
of another drug you are taking.
Select the lowest-cost alternative
Many brand-name prescription medications have a generic
equivalent. Generic drugs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration for safety and effectiveness, and are manufactured
under the same strict rules which apply to their brand-name twin. So
ask your physician and pharmacist if there is a generic drug that
will save you money. If no generic equivalent is available, there
may still be a lower-cost alternative within the same class of drugs
that performs the functions your care requires. Once again, consult
with your physician on these money-saving alternatives.
Obtain a larger
supply
In most instances, your cost
per dosage will decrease as the amount you have dispensed at one
time increases. If you will be taking a medication for an extended
period of time, ask your physician if it would be appropriate to
prescribe a 90-day supply rather than a 30-day supply.
Shop only at
preferred pharmacies
All chain
pharmacies and most independent pharmacies have been given equal
opportunity to serve you via this program. Participating pharmacies
are required to offer you deep discounts and assist in performing
some fairly complicated drug management procedures for card holders,
and not all pharmacies agree to participate. However, that gives you
the confidence of knowing that pharmacies participating in this
program are concerned with your health and saving you money, and
therefore, are deserving of your business and loyalty.
Show your card every
time
To ensure your medication is
checked for safety and billed at the correct price, your pharmacist
needs to transmit valuable information in your card. In some
instances, the pharmacist may store your card information in their
computer. However, to be certain you receive the maximum benefit,
you need to show your card each time you have your prescriptions
filled.
Utilize our
mail order service
You may find
additional savings and convenience ordering frequently-used
medications through our U.S mail order service.
Understand your drug
therapy
You invest a lot of money
in medications. In order to get the most value for your dollar, you
need to understand how to use your prescription drugs effectively.
Make sure your physician and pharmacist explain how and when to take
each prescription medication. Some factors to consider when trying
to get the most from your medication are the effects of:
Food and water being taken with your
medication.
The time of day you take your medication.
Effects of other medications, including
over-the-counter drugs, on your prescription.
Store your medications
properly
Most medications will lose
their effectiveness when they are subject to heat, moisture, light,
or time. A steamy bathroom or a purse left in a hot car are examples
of bad places to keep medicine. Store your medications in a cool,
dark place. Remember to carry your daily or weekly medications in a
pillbox to avoid damaging your entire supply of medication. Also,
always remember to check expiration dates and dispose of expired
medications by flushing them down the toilet.
Talk with your
physician
Make sure that your
physician knows that saving money is important to you. Ask that they
prescribe a generic equivalent or lower-cost alternative if at all
appropriate. Also, make sure that they know about any other drugs
you are taking that may alter the effectiveness of the medication
they are prescribing. Finally, make sure that you understand the
drug therapy they prescribe so that you obtain the most value from
the drugs that you are about to invest in. The following
"Message to Physicians" contains information that should assist you in talking
with your doctor about saving money.
MESSAGE TO PHYSICIANS
This plan is designed to save your patient
money and promote good health. Use of alternative medications
recommended at the point-of-sale is not required. This plan will
only reject a prescription on the basis of a
medication-to-medication interaction. Please make sure your patient
discloses all the medications they are taking and understands their
medication therapy, including possible drug and food interactions.
This plan has no maximum day or quantity
limits. This allows the patient to obtain larger quantities of
maintenance medications that may result in greater cost savings.
When appropriate, please prescribe a generic medication therapy, or
consider dispensing the lowest-cost alternative within the
therapeutic class. Please also consider recommending pill splitting
of a higher dosage and/or alternative medication when appropriate.
This may offer the consumer greater savings.
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