Where to turn when you need prescription assistance
The times are changing. Healthcare is the talk of the town! You hear it on the radio, television programs, read it in your newspaper and if you are unlucky enough to be of working age, even at the water cooler.
What if you are over the working age, though? You thought you would pay your dues, work hard and long, and get to relax the rest of your days, right? Maybe get a sail boat and learn how to deep sea fish? Or take up knitting now that you finally have the time, and the grandchildren to make little hats for? And what you found out was a fixed income is hardly the way to live your golden years. You may be uninsured or just underinsured, but the out of pocket costs are becoming a financial burden in what should be the most care free time of your life. Your golden years are stealing your greenbacks and you need prescription assistance.
When you ask your doctor about discount prescription drugs, they usually give you a coupon from the manufacturer for a certain price discount for that order. But, that only helps in that one instance. What about the next prescription, or the one after that, or the maintenance medications you are taking on a daily basis and have refills scheduled monthly? They may suggest that you switch to a generic to lower costs, but how can you trust that you are getting the same drug, when you’re not. Generics claim to be the same “active” ingredients as the name brand, but legally they are not allowed to be the exact same. They have to use a different combination of chemicals, or different compounds to bind them. While you are able to save some money by switching to solely generics, are you willing to bet your life you are taking the right one with the same effects of its name brand counterpart?
If you continue to press your doctor about rx assist, they may suggest switching you to an entirely different medication that is cheaper than what has proven to work for you thus far. While switching medications can prove cost effective, it can also prove to be a serious headache as well – literally. Changing the chemical makeup of what you are putting in to your body can have severe complications, and switching your medications can be putting your health in imminent danger. While there are many competitors marketing the same solution to whatever health problem is ailing you, your doctor put you on a specific medication for a very specific reason. Not being able to pay is no reason to stop taking it, or to switch to a different one.
When you find yourself needing prescription assistance, talking to your doctor is definitely the right first step. Whether you are at the end of your working years and are underinsured by Medicaid, or just starting in to the work force and not insured at all, no one should have to pay the increasingly exorbitant costs to take care of their health. Getting the right medications at the right price is a right – not just a privilege for the privileged who can pay.
Processing your request, Please wait....
