How to Save Money on Prescriptions

How to save money on prescriptions is definitely a thing to consider these days. With the cost of everything on the rise, it is good to know some money-saving tips across the board.

Today, pharmacists can with ways to save money help patients get better pricing on prescriptions. The dynamics of pharmaceutical manufacturing cannot be changed to reduce prescription costs. However, there are many tools to help patients save as much money as possible.

Are You Eligible For a Waiver? 

You may be eligible for free antibiotics or free blood pressure and diabetes medications.

A prescription waiver may qualify you for prescription drug assistance from your state or local government. The program requirements vary and certain income restrictions apply. For more information about these programs, contact Government Assistance or Prescription Partnerships. Some stores also offer free drug plans.

For more information, contact your local pharmacy.

Your Insurance May Not Always Be Cheaper

How to save money on prescriptions might start with eliminating the more costly routes.


You shouldn't assume your health insurance is cheap. Prescription drugs are not cheap even if your health insurance covers them.


Getting qualified for discounts can be cheaper than paying for a prescription under your insurance. Find out about uninsured costs before using insurance to pay for your drugs.

Get Generic Options

Learn about generic and brand-name drugs that contain the same active ingredient. This means they are just as effective as treating your condition. The main difference is the associated cost. Brand-name drugs tend to be more expensive because of the lengthy manufacturing process.

Manufacturers can offset the cost of patent expiry, while other manufacturers can produce the drug and reduce price competition. For example, the anticonvulsant drug Lamotrigine ER sells for up to $500. SingleCare sells the generic brand for $50.

Bulk Up With a 90-Day Supply

A University of Chicago study found that bulk buying can save you up to 29%.

This how to save money on prescriptions advice is surprisingly overlooked, but can be a big money saver. Consider a 90-day supply of a generic drug. You can lower the price and make it cheaper. This means you can order medicines on a quarterly basis you know you will need in the near future, such as blood pressure pills, birth control pills, and more. Instead of replenishing every 30 days, you can reduce your total subscription fee with a 90-day supply.

Get Your Goods Online

Buy online (while being cautious). You can order almost anything online. How about adding the medicine to your digital shopping cart? It's a great way to find deals on different items and the high prices have encouraged many people to look for cheaper options online. For added convenience, everything seems to be mutually beneficial if you use a reputable pharmacy.

However, it is easy to accidentally buy counterfeit pills. Before you buy medicine online, make sure you have a prescription at the pharmacy and participate in the VIPPS program. If you have a pharmacist and the prescription turns out to be fake, you can find contact information to report what you have found. 

Sign Up For Prescription Assistance

Get prescription help. The Prescription Assistance Program (PAP) is available to help people who need but cannot find deals on medicine. There are several types, including pharmaceutical companies, state or local governments, and non-profit organizations. These are useful during financial need or denial of insurance.


NeedyMeds.org is a great place to take a survey to see if there are discounts on your prescriptions.


NeedyMeds logo

Use a Coupon

New drugs are often expensive and only come in the branded form. Pharmaceutical companies often distribute coupons to people with certain conditions. It would be a good idea to get on some email lists of pharmaceutical companies.

The budget version is great, but not everyone can use it. Some retail pharmacies offer coupons that encourage customers to fill out a prescription. For example, new customers can get a $25 gift card for their first issue in the store.

Utilize a Pharmacy Savings Card 

Customer handing over her customer card at the cash desk in pharmacy

With a prescription discount card like SingleCare, you can save up to 80% on the price. It's free and easy to use. Visit SingleCare.com (or download the app) to find your medicine. Before choosing the cheapest pharmacy voucher, filter the dosage. You'll get $5 off when you first complete the SingleCare version.

So, each time you fill out another form, you will receive an additional discounts from your savings plan. You can use the SingleCare Price Transparency table to compare the value of your costs to last year's SingleCare savings.


You know you're saving when you're less than your insurance quote.


Make Price Comparisons 

Compare the cost of flights at different times or with different airlines before buying a flight. You can expect sales or other brand discounts to save a few dollars when shopping for clothes. Why should the process be different for prescriptions?

Most people will need a prescription at some point in their lives, but most people are unaware that prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. Switching from Rite Aid to CVS can save you money, especially on regular volumes. Or try using larger volume storage that will save you even more.

No need to go to multiple pharmacies to compare prices, even if you are taking multiple medications. Search for your prescription in SingleCare and enter your zip code to find the best pharmacy near you.

Cut Pills In Half

There are few ways to save on prescription drugs. Take a higher dose and talk to your doctor if you can cut the tablets in half. All you need is a pillbox to store them. These or similar items can be purchased at Walmart or elsewhere for less than a dollar.

As you can imagine, some drugs can usually be split, while others should never be!

yellow pill cut in half in container

Typically, you will need to take capsules, coated tablets, and fully released drugs. You may be able to save around $120 a year, or more by cutting pills in half.

But most importantly, consult your doctor before cutting any medications. This will tell you if it is a good choice for saving money.

Look Into Charitable Programs

The charitable sector provides services to many patients in need. One of 50 countries and Colombia, for example, should receive insurance coverage, life coverage, and treatment in order to qualify for patients. Federal guidelines of 300% or 400% are considering the costs and expenses of their family size. The program credentials are different from program to program.

Try a Well-Known Chain

Department store pharmacies have many drug lists at very affordable prices. Places like Target and Costco charge a fraction of the cost for medicine. Before filling out the instructions, do a survey and browse the various supermarket websites.

Also, ask your doctor if they know of a store that sells prescriptions at a discount. For example, a large pharmacy charges $302 for a 90-day prescription drug of Paxil. They sold a generic version of the same drug for $90. This version of the popular drug sells for just $10 at Walmart.

Mail Order Is an Option 

When traditional medicines can be purchased for less than the medical version of a local pharmacy, when a query of your insurance company is available, they may be more economical than satisfying the medical version. If you have urgent needs for medication, ordering might be the best option, since the new prescription may take two weeks to be made and distributed. This option is great if your insurance doesn’t cover your medication. 

Make Friends With the Manufacturer

Manufacturers can help consumers in some ways. In Pfizer's case, patients were paid 400% of federal poverty by a physician's office. In addition, the Pfizerspar program allows disqualified patients to receive a cut in their physical medications. Customers are guaranteed even if they do not have federal funding. Various savings programs are detailed on Paparx.org.

Experiment with free trials: new comers are suitable for free trial versions. This is an expensive pilot, but it allows for great testing and analysis on the pharmaceutical side.

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Update Your Medicare Plan

If you're on Medicare, this might be the plan that's best for you. Medicare plans change every year. Medicines, exemptions and donations vary. You can convert your Medicare membership to an annual membership term from October 15th to December 7th. The Medicare website offers an individual research program to help you research your needs and find what works best for you. 

Be Wise

Pharmacist helping a grateful senior patient woman

Take all medications as directed to avoid problems leading to illness and out-of-pocket expenses. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications, herbal supplements, or over-the-counter medications.


Build a good relationship with your pharmacist.


A pharmacist can come to you and suggest ways to save money and make sure all your medications are safe. One of the best ways to save on medical bills is to stay healthy and see your doctor whenever you're sure you're taking your medications, but it's not solving the problem. There may be other ways to solve the situation at a lower cost.

Ask Your Doctor For a Sample 

If you have a prescription, ask if you can try taking a sample. Most doctors can give you a sample of the drug to make sure there are no harmful side effects. If you find a drug that doesn't work, you can sample another kind of prescription.

This saves you money, by not buying medication until you find what works best for you.

To close

Buying prescriptions isn't always what we want, but unfortunately, most people have to do it several times in their lifetime. Before you have an extreme need for a particular medication, why not find out how to get it at the best price. 

Prescriptions can be expensive, but there are ways to save money. Do your research and apply these tips to do your best and get the medicine you need! Use this guide for money saving tips.

Don't forget to join our community at Goalry. We offer many tips and financial tricks to help you save money in every area of life. When you have the questions, we definitely have an answer. Or, at the very least point you in the right direction. You might just enjoy our new app that brings it all right to your phone.