Many Americans are feeling the effects of rising prescription drug costs. If you’ve ever had to choose between filling your car with gas or paying for your prescriptions, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are ways to get common prescriptions with large discounts.
Why Are Prescription Drugs So Expensive?
Prescription prices in the United States are higher than in many other countries. Contributing factors may include our complex healthcare system and extensive medication research and development approval processes. A 2020 study found that for a single medication to go through the FDA-approval process, it can cost $985 million on average. Drug companies must then try to recoup money spent in development, which is one contributing factor to the high price when a new medication becomes approved. There are also other factors that play a role, such as patent protection that delay generics being allowed to come to market, so it can be difficult to get the whole picture when it comes to drug pricing.
How To Get Discounted Prescriptions
Although the prices of drugs continue to rise, there is a way to get many common prescriptions with significant discounts. Discount drug cards like Easy Drug Card are a simple and easy way to get discounts up to 80% when you pick up your prescriptions. Discount drug cards are separate from your health insurance and free to use at almost any pharmacy. In most cases, you cannot use a discount drug care and health insurance for the same purchase. If your insurance does not cover your prescriptions or doesn’t cover a very large portion of the cost, a discount drug card can be used instead.
Commonly Discounted Prescriptions
Choosing the generic version of a prescription drug, when available, is one way to lower the cost. A generic version of a drug is the same active ingredient of the name-brand drug. When the name brand drug’s patent runs out, other companies are free to use the same formula to make a generic version. They are often manufactured in the same plant as the name-brand option and are held to the same quality and safety standards. Generic drugs may be a different shape, size or color but will work the same way as the name-brand version. Although choosing the generic version of a medicine can lower the cost significantly, sometimes it isn’t enough. You can also use a discount drug card to get an even lower price on your prescriptions. Some of the most common drugs discounted with a discount card are:
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
- Albuterol (Accuneb, Ventolin, Proair, Proventil)
- Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, Levoxyl, Levo-T, Euthyrox)
- Amlodipine (Norvasc, Amvaz)
- Gabapentin (Neurontin)
- Omeprazole (Prilosec)
- Metformin (Glucophage)
- Losartan (Cozaar)
- Hydrocodone / Acetaminophen (Zolvit, Lorcet, Vicodin, Hycet, Xodol, Norco, Lortab, Maxidone)
This list is just a short list of the medications that can qualify for a discounted price by using a discount drug card. To be certain your prescriptions qualify, check with your pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
Should I Use A Discount Drug Card?
Companies that offer discount drug cards have already negotiated prescription rates with participating pharmacies. This allows members like you to purchase your prescriptions at a more affordable price, even if you don’t have insurance. Discount drug cards are easy to obtain, easy to use and make it easy to save money. Having the freedom to be in control of your own health is important and should never be compromised by the cost of your medications.
Get Your Discount Drug Card Today
Easy Drug Card allow you to save up to 80% on your prescriptions. You can save and print your card to keep in your wallet or get the easy-to-use app so you can have access to your card right on your smartphone. Simply show the app to your pharmacist to receive a discount. It’s that easy! The app also allows you to compare drug prices on the go and find participating pharmacies near you with the pharmacy locator. Visit their website to learn more about how Easy Drug Card discount drug cards work or click here to download your card now!
