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If you’ve ever found ways to stretch your prescription to make it last, or skipped a refill because you can’t afford it, you aren’t alone. High prescription drug costs are pushing a lot of people to cut pills, delay refills, or go without their drugs at all.
According to Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, over 131 million people use prescription drugs. Since a lot of people rely on medication, prices keep going up.
As a result, costs stop being an inconvenience and become a health crisis, forcing you to choose between your prescriptions and other bills. Choosing to skip your doses is risky.
It can turn a manageable health condition into an emergency. Unfortunately, it’s the hidden danger of letting cost drive your dosing. If you want to protect your health, you should consider finding legitimate ways of lowering the price of your prescription drugs.
Why Do People Skip Doses Because of Cost?
People skip doses because medication is unaffordable for a lot of Americans. The KFF reports that about four in 10 U.S. adults say they haven’t taken their prescription medication in the past year because of the cost. Here are reasons why:
- Lack of price transparency
- High drug prices and deductibles
- Most people have fixed incomes and low wages
- A lot of patients have an uninsured or underinsured status
- People with several chronic conditions face cumulative costs
The burden usually falls hardest on lower-income, uninsured, Black, and Hispanic adults. These people aren’t being careless. Unfortunately, they’re being priced out of their own treatment.
Why Is Skipping Doses So Risky?
Skipping doses to save money is dangerous. Here are ways it can harm you:
Your Condition Becomes Worse
Many chronic conditions like hypertension have few symptoms until serious damage is done. If you skip a dose, you allow the condition to advance without you feeling it.
You may think you’re fine, but you aren’t. Good medication adherence is what will keep the silent chronic conditions from becoming emergencies.
Pay Big Bills Later
As you cut your doses, you may save a little now. However, if your condition isn’t controlled, you may have to be hospitalized frequently. A skipped medication means more medical bills for you.
Poor Medical Coordination With Your Doctor
When you skip doses, your doctor may see lab results and symptoms that don’t give them a complete picture of your health. As a result, they may incorrectly increase or change your medication based on incomplete data, leading to improper dosing.
What Makes Prescription Drug Costs Different?
If you’ve been on prescription drugs for a while, you’ll notice that the same medication can cost very different amounts. Here are reasons why this may happen:
Pharmacy and Location
Prices for prescription drugs aren’t fixed. As a result, two pharmacies across the street from each other can charge different amounts for the identical drug.
These pharmacy price differences exist because each pharmacy sets its own pricing and negotiates its own supplier deals. If you’re buying your drugs, you should compare prices and save money on the affordable option.
Insurance and Formularies
Some factors affect what you often pay for your meds. These factors include:
- Your insurance plan’s formulary
- The list of drugs it covers
- The tier of the drug
If you need prescription drugs that are at a high tier and aren’t covered at all, you’ll pay more out of your pocket.
Brand vs. Generic
Brand-name drugs will cost you a lot of money compared to their generic equivalents, which contain the same active ingredient. For example, if your diabetes medication cost is too high because the drugs are brand-name, you can get a generic, sometimes at a fraction of the brand price.
Is It Safe To Buy Medications Online?
Buying medication online can be safe and convenient, only if you find a legit, licensed pharmacy that requires a prescription. Legitimate online and mail-order pharmacies are regulated. They also dispense real medication, often at competitive prices.
You don’t want to get your prescription drugs from rogue websites. They often offer you drugs without a prescription, and frequently ship counterfeit, expired, or unsafe products. These drugs can negatively impact your health.
For example, if you want to buy Farxiga online, verify that the pharmacy is licensed. Look for verification such as a pharmacy seal. The shop should also confirm that it requires a valid prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Lower Your Prescription Costs Safely?
You don’t have to suffer from high prescription costs when you can lower the prices. Here is how you can lower your prescription costs safely:
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist about a low-cost drug alternative
- Compare prices across pharmacies
- Use reputable discount cards or coupons
- Ask about a 90-day supply, which is often cheaper per dose
- Apply for patient assistance programs if you have a low income
- Consider trying out manufacturer copay cards and prescription savings programs
Always ask your pharmacists and doctors how to deal with cost issues. They can always find a safer option for you to afford your meds.
Are Generic Drugs as Safe and Effective as Brand-Name Ones?
Yes, generic drugs contain the same active ingredient, strength, and quality as their brand-name versions. As a result, they work the same way in the body as brand-name drugs.
They aren’t poor quality because they are cheap. These drugs often cost less because the manufacturers don’t repeat the original research and marketing as they do with brand-name options.
What Should You Do if You Have Already Been Skipping Doses To Save Money?
Inform your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. Be honest about what you’ve been doing. Don’t try to make up for missed doses by doubling up, since it can be dangerous.
Your doctor needs an accurate picture of what you’ve actually been taking to keep you safe. It’ll help you adjust your plans.
Get Affordable Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug costs can be so high, making it hard for you to afford them. As a result, you may be forced to skip doses or cut them, which can be dangerous for you. You can always talk to your healthcare provider, and they can find ways to help you access cheaper drug options.
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