Shopping for Drugs: 2004
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Comparing Prices
- Therapeutic Drug Substitution
- Bulk Buying
- Pill Splitting
- Generic Drug Substitutes
- Switching to Over-the-Counter Drugs
- Weighing the Cost and Benefits of a Drug
- Case Studies: Price Comparisons for Specific Drugs
- Buying Drugs Abroad
- Special Opportunities for Seniors: Medicare Discount Drug Cards
- Financial Assistance to Lower Drug Costs
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Appendix
- About The Author
Introduction
“Patients paying their own drug bills can save money by smart shopping.”
Americans spend more than $200 billion on prescription medicines each year and about $16 billion or more on over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. 1 Two-thirds of office visits to physicians result in prescription drug therapy, which is often the best way to treat an illness. 2 New drugs may offer more effective treatment, but they are more expensive than the drugs they replace. 3 However, most patients can easily lower their drug bills by employing some or all of the strategies detailed below. To do so, they must treat drug purchases as they do other prospective purchases — by shopping and comparing prices. [For tips on smart shopping, see the nearby “Checklist for Saving Money on Drugs.”]
Warning No. 1: Some of the techniques described below involve buying drugs from a variety of sources. While this may cut costs, there is a danger. Pharmacists are trained to recognize drugs that may have dangerous interactions. Many pharmacists use software that performs this function automatically. Patients who purchase drugs from more than one source must find another way to ensure that the drugs they take will not interact in harmful ways.
Warning No. 2: When shopping for drugs on the Internet, patients should stick with trusted vendors. Some Web sites that claim to be Canadian are actually based in other countries. The drugs offered in e-mails may be adulterated, expired or contain no medication. And there is no guarantee that consumers will receive shipments for which they have paid.
