Prescription drugs are a critical component of health care. They are also a significant part of health care costs and have risen in cost each year. In 2023, prescription drugs saw a 15.2 percent increase over 2022, according to an analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services. That equated to $590 per drug. The authors found that drug prices had increased by 46 percent, more than the rate of inflation.
Given the steep increase, for many people it’s become vital to find ways to buy prescriptions at lower prices. Even if you have health insurance with a drug plan, some tiers have high coinsurance or are not covered.
President Donald Trump has pushed for reducing prescription prices by bringing most-favored-nation pricing to American patients. He also established TrumpRX.gov, a website where Americans can find prescription drugs for low prices. And there are other things you can do to reduce your out-of-pocket prescription costs.
Talk to Your Doctor and Pharmacist About Price
Some doctors may simply prescribe you the latest prescription drug. But that new drug may be costly. Ask for drugs that are less expensive but that work similarly to the newer ones. Your doctor may not know the price, but you can get pricing information from your pharmacist and then call or make an appointment with your doctor to discuss alternatives if the drug isn’t covered or costs too much for your budget.
Ask your doctor or nurse practitioner if they have medicine samples, vouchers, or other resources. This is especially a good idea if you are trying a new medicine.
Don’t forget to ask if there’s a generic version of the drug being prescribed. If there’s not a generic version, inquire whether your doctor can prescribe a similar drug that does have a generic version. This also applies to your pharmacist; if you bring them a name-brand prescription, inquire about generic alternatives.
You may also want to check with your pharmacist to see if a 30- or 90-day supply is less expensive. Investigate mail-order prices to see if you’d receive a better deal.
Are Prescription Medicines Needed?
Ask your doctor if you actually need the prescription or will an over-the-counter (OTC) alternative work just as well.
For example, according to an explainer from Cigna, over-the-counter naproxen (Aleve) is a fraction of the cost of the prescription equivalent Naprosyn. A generic version of naproxen will most likely cost even less.
However, some OTC medicines come in lower strengths, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to take them.
Compare Pharmacies for Pricing
Because of high insurance costs, many people are foregoing prescription plans. This often means all their prescriptions will be out-of-pocket. It’s important to check pricing at different pharmacies as the cost for each drug may vary widely.
For example, the out-of-pocket cost for Atorvastatin, generic for Lipitor, a cholesterol medication, may be $4.50 at one pharmacy. A different pharmacy may have the same drug for $140.
This price discrepancy is chiefly due to manufacturer discounts that are provided to various purchasers such as pharmacy benefit managers, health plans or hospitals based on sales, their ability to influence market share, or participation in Medicaid and Medicare.
For example, hospitals, clinics and health maintenance organizations that purchase drugs from the manufacturer and influence the prescribing practices of doctors often pay less than retail pharmacies.
This doesn’t mean you should jump around from pharmacy to pharmacy. It’s important to have consistency. But you might want to call a specific pharmacist and make an appointment to go over your drugs and dosages, check the prices, and then compare.
Use Coupon Savings and Discount Programs
If your only option is an expensive brand name, the drug manufacturer may be able to help you with a coupon for the drug. If you have a commercial prescription insurance plan, such as one through an employer or private insurer, you might be eligible for large reductions on your monthly co-pays with the coupon savings program.
However, according to GoodRX, if you have a prescription plan covered by a government-sponsored insurance program, you won’t qualify for manufacturer copay cards. These government-sponsored programs include Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
If that’s the case, you may want to check the drug manufacturer’s website to see if the drug company offers a one-time free-trial coupon that covers the cost of the medicine. This will give you a chance to try it before investing in it.
There are also specific discount programs for out-of-pocket prescription drug purchases. Some of these include WellRX.com, GoodRX.com and CommunityCaresRX.com.
There are several sites you can use to find patient assistance programs. Here’s a sample:
- FundFinder: a free web app created by the PAN Foundation helps track more than 200 patient assistance funds through charitable organizations
- America’s Medicines: a search engine that will help you learn about the resources available through bio-pharmaceutical industry programs
- RxHope: an online patient assistance program that advocates for patients and helps them receive medications for free or with a small co-pay. You’ll need a health care professional to assist with your application.
Don’t Go Without Your Medicines
It may be difficult to afford your medicines, but it’s imperative that you don’t go without them. Work with your doctor and pharmacist to find alternatives to name-brand prescription drugs. Research to find programs that are available to help minimize your prescription drug bill.
You may not qualify for coupon savings programs from the drug manufacturer, but many brand-name drug manufacturers offer patient assistance programs for uninsured or low-income patients.
You may find these programs on the manufacturer’s website or search for the drug name on RXAssist.org. RXAssist is recognized for finding reliable patient assistance program information and criteria.
The Epoch Times copyright © 2026. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
