The rising cost of prescription and specialty medications is alarming. The most recent example of how expensive these types of medications can be is the price hike of the life-saving EpiPen, which now costs more than $600 for one pack of two EpiPens.
If you take prescription medication, using the following strategies can help you become a wiser health care consumer and save you money:

  • Shop around—Drug prices are not the same at every pharmacy. You may be able to save money by shopping around.
  • Ask about drug substitution—When your doctor prescribes a drug, ask if a cheaper alternative is available or if an over-the-counter drug will work just as well.
  • Consider using a generic version of your prescription drug—Generic medications work just as well as brand-name drugs and can cost up to 80 percent less.
  • Look into discount card programs—Some drugstore chains offer discount prescription cards that provide additional discounts on your prescriptions for a small monthly or annual fee.
  • AUI Pharmacy Program – You may qualify to receive your medications for $30 per med per month if you qualify based on income