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Four Ways Employees can Reduce Prescription Drug Costs

prescription drug costs

2 minute read

Prescription drugs are one of the costliest elements of employer-sponsored health plans. Helping employees understand their drug plans and prescriptions can help save them and the employer money (out-of-pockets costs and lower premium increases for the future) and keep employees healthier, leading to increased productivity and employee satisfaction.

Here are four ways employees can reduce their prescription costs.

 

Generic Drugs

One of the best strategies for saving money on prescription drugs is choosing a generic drug if one is available. Some people have the false notion that generic medications (prescription and over-the-counter meds) are not the same as name brand. Generic medications that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are as safe and effective as their brand name counterparts but are significantly less expensive (20-80% less). According to the FDA, generic medications save $3 billion every week - that's more than $150 billion annually.

 

Price Comparison

Prescription drug prices are not uniform. You may be taking the same prescription as your neighbor but depending where you get it from, the price can vary. You can shop around and find an affordable place to fill your prescription or ask the pharmacist if there is an equivalent medication at a lesser cost.

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Mail-order Pharmacies

Mail-order pharmacies offer the best deals on prescription drugs, especially for those with maintenance drugs and chronic conditions. Check with your doctor if you can receive a 90-day prescription instead of a 30-day one. You can learn more about your mail order alternatives through your health plan.

 

Stay on Schedule

If you take medication regularly, don’t skip doses or go off your meds to save money. Sticking to your medication schedule will help you avoid health complications, additional prescription costs, extra trips to the doctor, or even hospitalization.

 

Resources

Reduce Your Prescription Drug Costs

Generic Medications

5 Ways to Save on Prescription Medications

 

National Insurance Services is not a law firm and no opinion, suggestion, or recommendation of the firm or its employees shall constitute legal advice. Readers are advised to consult with their own attorney for a determination of their legal rights, responsibilities and liabilities, including the interpretation of any statute or regulation, or its application to the readers’ business activities.

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Aaron Casper

Aaron Casper

Aaron Casper, Employee Benefits Consultant at NIS (National Insurance Services), understands the unique way governmental organizations operate, manage risk and develop budgets; hence, he delivers reliable solutions for his clients without short cuts or temporary fixes. Aaron advocates for his clients and prides himself on building authentic relationships, even passing up potential short-term opportunities if it doesn’t make long-term sense for his clients. His straightforward nature, integrity and astute sense of humor are why his customers consider him a valued strategic resource. Aaron Casper is a licensed insurance agent. He specializes in health insurance consulting for Minnesota schools, cities and counties including fully insured, self-insured, and stop-loss plans. Additionally, he has experience implementing OPEB liability reduction strategies as well as ensuring his clients are ACA compliant.