Medicare resource for free and low cost prescription drugs. Are you 65 or older and can’t afford your medications? Paying too much for generics? Medicare’s annual election period, commonly referred to as open enrollment, is the only time of year when anyone can change their Medicare Part D plan.
Many seniors mistakenly believe Medicare open enrollment allows them to change their Medicare supplement plan without answering health questions. The truth is, you can drop your existing Medigap plan and purchase a new one any time of year, as long as you can pass medical underwriting.
The cost of prescription medications has steadily risen since 2006 when Medicare Part D was created. Some generic drugs that were once considered affordable are now out of reach. Many of these medications now reach $200 or more.
Help is on the way.
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How to Find Low Cost or Free Prescription Drugs
Finding low cost or free medications can be challenging if you don’t know where to look.
For many, an even bigger challenge is finding a Medicare prescription drug plan that is right for you. Fortunately there are many articles and sites on the internet providing a treasure trove of information, if you only knew where to look.
One such site is VeryWell, a health and information site owned by the folks at About.com. Earlier this year they published an article titled Stores that Offer Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs.
We found the page while searching for one of our Medicare clients that was having trouble paying for her medications. She has Part D, but that was not enough. VeryWell’s article listed national and regional chain stores where you can save a lot of money on prescription drugs. Here is a partial list.
- Costco
- Kroger
- Publix
- Walmart
- Sam’s
Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s allow anyone to purchase prescription drugs even if they are not members. The hope is visitors will see other things where they can save money and will purchase a membership.
Costco also has a branded Visa card with an annual cash back reward for purchases at Costco including gasoline. The card can be used anywhere so your annual “dividend” can multiply with almost every purchase.
Rising Medicare Supplement Rates
Many retirees on a fixed income are also finding their Medigap premiums rising to the point where budgets are squeezed. Georgia Medicare plans offers a free, no obligation way to shop and compare Georgia Medigap rates in the comfort of your home.
Using our search engine you can compare about 30 popular plans, compare benefits and rates side by side.
We also offer a more comprehensive research report showing over 200 Georgia Medicare supplement plans and rates.
Your information is never sold. There is never any charge for the report. We do hope to earn your business and believe many will appreciate our no pressure approach.
Even More Ways to Find Low Cost Drugs
For over 20 years we have shown our clients how to save money on prescription drugs. Many drug discount plans are worthless and often you will pay a higher price than you normally would by just paying cash.
GoodRx is an exception to the rule.
Last year I needed to refill a prescription for Clobetasol to tame the itch of eczema. A tube normally lasts about 18 months and it normally is less than $20.
However I was shocked to learn the price with my Part D drug plan was going to be $92.
I left the store without taking my prescription with me. By using the GoodRx drug finder I was able to purchase the cream at a competing pharmacy for only $27!
Another resource is Blue Sky Drugs, a reputable Canadian pharmacy. Current pricing for Clobetasol is even lower than GoodRx.
How to Find Inexpensive Prescription Medications
Many people who live in rural areas may only have a few places where they can fill their presciptions. The folks at NeedyMeds offer a wealth of information when searching for free and low cost prescription drugs. They also have PAP’s (patient assistant programs) for many of the newer, high priced brand names.
The NeedyMeds $4 Prescription Drug Finder lists savings plans in alphabetical order by pharmacy name.
Some places, such as Publix grocery stores, offer FREE prescription medications.
Below is a partial list of free and low cost prescription drug resources. Grocery chains
- Publix
- Kroger
- Winn Dixie
Many national drug stores have their own promotional plans for saving money on generic drugs.
- CVS / Target
- Rite Aid
- Walgreens
Another resource for locating low cost prescription drugs in the US and Canada is Pharmacy Checker. Enter the name of your medication in the box and start the search.
If you need or want to save money on your medications (who doesn’t?) there are plenty of ways to lower your costs.
Our FREE annual review during Medicare open enrollment saves our clients hundreds or even thousands of dollars vs. their current drug plan. Two of our Medicare supplement clients will save over $4,000 next year by switching Part D plans and pharmacy’s.
We can’t guarantee you will save that much but many times the drug plan savings alone is enough to cover the cost of your Medicare supplement premium.
Need to save money on prescription drugs? Ask us. We can help.
#FreeLowCostPrescriptionDrugs #MedicareSupplementRates #MedicarePartD #MedicareOpenEnrollment
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