Although health insurance may provide coverage for prescriptions, there may be a "healthier" discount found by purchasing generic drugs. Learn more about how to get the biggest savings from a prescription drug plan.
Save Money by Requesting Generic Prescription Drugs
Generic drugs provide consumers with big savings on their prescriptions. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as brand name prescription drugs and work the same way as brand name drugs, but are sold at a huge savings to customers. Generic drugs often look different than brand name drugs and become available once patents expire on their brand name counterparts. After patent expiration, competitors can sell prescription generic drugs at a huge savings to customers.
How Generic Drugs Provide a Savings to Customers
The generic competitors do not have to pay for the research and development costs that the brand name drug manufacturers had to pay for so can offer the generic drugs at a huge savings. Health insurance companies in turn pass along the savings in their prescription drug plan. Typically the costs for brand name drugs are much higher, even with medical insurance. Prescription drug plans typically highlight the importance of asking for generics whenever possible.
Generic Prescription Drug Quality and Availability
Generic prescription drugs have the same quality as name brand drugs. All generic drugs sold by prescription have to meet regulatory requirements. In the U.S., inexpensive generic drugs have to meet approval by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Unfortunately, not all brand name drugs have generic counterparts. About half of the brand name drugs available by prescription have inexpensive generic drug equivalents. It takes up to 20 years for a prescription drug patent to expire. Once the patent expires, inexpensive generic drugs can be made available at a significant savings to customers.
Ordering Generic Prescription Drugs by Mail or from an Online Pharmacy
Patients save money when by ordering generic prescription drugs by mail or from an online pharmacy. If a prescription drug plan allows customers to order prescriptions by mail, it behooves them to get this set up as quickly as possible. Ordering medicine from an online pharmacy or by mail often saves customers a considerable amount of money.
Discount Prescription Drug Plan Benefits
A discount prescription drug plan requires that customers get three-month prescriptions for medications that are taken regularly. Use three-month prescriptions to order from an online pharmacy or by mail - a local pharmacy usually can’t match these prices. The discount prescription drug plan only charges patients for one month of prescriptions, even though they receive a three -months supply (depending upon eligibility). That’s a huge savings, especially on prescription drugs that are taken regularly.
Learn More about Generic Prescription Drugs
Learn more about generic prescription drugs before buying- it pays to comparison shop for prescriptions. For more information about any medicines prescribed, talk to a pharmacist or to a doctor. Patients can also review the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research for more information about generic prescription drugs.
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