Comments on: How To Save Money On Your Prescriptions.

By: rambkowalczyk

rambkowalczyk — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:17:34 +0000

I think buying medicine in Canada may have its own health risk. See website below.

http://www.safemedicines.org/2009/02/what-you-dont-know-about-importing-drugs-from-canada.html

By: David

David — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:11:36 +0000

Wow Ron, that is a hell of a lot of money. However, I am glad that it is effective, which is worth every penny I imagine

By: Enrique S

Enrique S — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:55:46 +0000

I’m a big fan of the FSA. At least my medical expenses, including prescriptions, are paid with pre-tax dollars.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:33:24 +0000

On balance, I’m in agreement with you. The only problem I have with generics is that they’re usually 30+ year old technology. The patents last about 20 years and they were at least 10 years in development and testing (sometimes longer). I use them when I can, but I always wonder why health insurance plans (like the one I’m on now) ONLY pay for generics. Any others and you’re in the 80-20 rule after you’ve shelled out your deductible.

My daughter has Crohn’s disease, an auto-immune condition that has drug companies making rapid advances in drug technology. Over 600,000 people have this disease and we’re all anxiously awaiting the newest technology in drug treatment which represents greater relief and hopefully one day, a cure. Right now, just ONE drug she takes is $1,700 every eight weeks. It has been on the market only 4 years, but it’s the only one that we’ve had any success with. Yeah, $1,700 dollars. I hit my deductible in January every year …

By: Trish

Trish — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:20:58 +0000

I am working on staying as far away from “western” medicine as I can. The only prescription I’m still on is an inhaled steroid for mild asthma. When my husband’s company went out of business earlier this year and we lost our health insurance, I called my doctor and asked for samples. Then I started going to the local chiropractor/kinesiologist. At first he started working on issues with my back, but the last visit I asked him to start working on my allergies. I have already noticed quite a bit of lessening of need for the inhaler, plus my body feels better overall. I am now starting to wean myself off the inhaler. And I’m only going to see this guy once every two weeks!

Having worked for a pharmaceutical company for 16 years when I was younger, I’m not a fan of the side effects of their products. I’ve made it a goal to use gentler methods, holistic alternatives, etc. It’s a LOT cheaper than getting pulled onto the Rx treadmill! Plus I’ve found that holistic healers tend to look for the source of the health problem and work to correct that (yes, by recommending things like getting off the couch and walking, doing stretching exercises, yoga/tai chi, start lifting light weights, eating healthier, herbal supplements, healthy teas, etc), rather than try to mask the symptoms with drugs.

Just take a look at shows like The Biggest Loser. Look at how many meds those people are able to drop as they lose weight/get more fit/learn to eat healthier.

A diabetic friend with a bad back got me started on this track years ago, and I’ll be forever grateful for her advice. She’s also off most of her meds.

By: David

David — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:08:25 +0000

Good idea Miranda, have never seen that option on our plan!

By: Miranda

Miranda — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:04:55 +0000

There are a surprising number of ways that you can reduce your prescription costs. We recently added a prescription deductible to our health insurance plan. It has lowered our premium, and we are saving close to $500 this way.