Hints from the hospital, saving money on drugs afterwards

**Judi Dial** · 01-19-2009, 11:41 AM

I had an operation last weekend, not fun. But got the following money saving tip from a nurse and my roommate.

If you're getting drugs prescribed after leaving a hospital, get the doctor to not specify brand name drugs only then get the cheapest generics you can. (Target around here, $4 per prescription.) From what I'm told, the hospital pharmacy is REALLY pricey!

Judi

**Contrary Housewife** · 01-19-2009, 01:01 PM

It depends on the hospital. The pharmacy at one hospital where my doctor had an office had better prices than my local drugstore, but they are across town and a chore to get to since we moved, so I don't use them any more.

I have found that there can be a huge difference among local pharmacies, and it really does pay to shop around. I have seen price differences of $5-$20 for the same prescription within a couple miles of my house.

And, alas, the list of $4 prescriptions is quite limited. I have 7 different prescriptions and not one of them is available for $4 anywhere. It would also cost me $15 to join the "saver's club" in order to get that price.

So before you fill any script, check around, the hospital might or might not be a good choice, but you won't know until you look.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 01-19-2009, 01:04 PM

I would also recommend going directly through the pharmacy companies (Astra Zenca for example) and see if they have any low cost programs you can join.

**karone** · 01-24-2009, 02:03 PM

lol, im glad that my mom is a nurse. after i got out of the hospital from having merrick she told me that it would be cheaper to get the otc stuff rather than fill my scripts out. what we did was get regular motrin and stool softeners. so depending on what it is it might also be cheaper to get the otc stuff.

**angelbumpkin** · 01-24-2009, 06:27 PM

I get several meds through patient assistance programs.

**sue s** · 01-27-2009, 09:02 PM

$4.00 perscriptions???? I would be thrilled! Here in the US my company persciption plan calls for a co-pay of $35.00 for a 3 month supply of perscription drugs - and that's considered great (and only goes for generic drugs). I've been looking at Canadameds.com because they ship over the border, and will do my non -generic version for about the same price. With the lay offs coming, I may need this as you lose those benefits when pink slipped.

**Gardengal18** · 01-27-2009, 09:07 PM

My doctor suggested that she write a script for double the amount and Generic. Then she told me to get a 90 day supply ($10 CASH NOT to use my Insurance) at Kmart and also CVS I think) and then to just cut the pills in half. You wind up with 180 days of pills for $10. Just make sure you don't forget to CUT the pills with a pill cutter

**HandyMom** · 01-28-2009, 02:19 AM

My doc mistakenly thought all generics were $4 at walmart and I found out after waiting an hour that only 2 of my 5 meds were only $4 there and the rest were expensive. I had to fill my other prescriptions elsewhere to use my insurance and get them for $7 each. It might pay to call first to ask.

**SweetCasey** · 01-28-2009, 08:52 AM

We have to order our prescriptions through a mail order service if they are "maintenance" drugs. My company just changed the service and my drugs arrived late this time - a real hassle. But normally the service works well. I have all generics and 1 brand - the brand requires added authorization from my doctor and is a $25 copay. But everything else is $5 for 3 months, so it is a great deal. I can get non-maintenance drugs - like antibiotics - from a retail pharmacy, but the co-pay is slightly higher. But when a drug goes over-the-counter (like Zrytec did), the price to buy it retail is insane. I have found that BJ's Wholesale offers the best prices on many items like that in my area. But shopping around is important.

**Jeanna** · 01-28-2009, 06:34 PM

We have no insurance so if at all possible we get generics. My husband was put on Plavix after his heart procedure and it, with a discount is $146 a month. We have a application in with the maker to, hopefully, get it free. We have already paid for it since November and will have to get it again Friday. Hopefully by next month they will let us know if we qualify. We also have almost $50,000 in hospital and dr bills on top of that. But whatever we have to do we will for my husband is worth more than anything else.

**PrairieRose** · 01-28-2009, 08:27 PM

Jeanna ask your dr. about this but I think my mil's dr. told them that Plavix is an iota (is all) better than a baby aspirin a day (?!). Please check with him about this......could save you a bazillion if that's true.

**shortstack** · 01-28-2009, 09:02 PM

Another tip for hospital bills ,if you can pay them in full, is to ask for a discount. Here if you pay your bill in full they will knock off %20 just for asking. This also goes for some Drs. offices.

Andrea

**PrairieRose** · 01-28-2009, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by singersullivan

Another tip for hospital bills ,if you can pay them in full, is to ask for a discount. Here if you pay your bill in full they will knock off %20 just for asking. This also goes for some Drs. offices.

Andrea

Yep, I've done this as well, gotten up to 40% off.

**kita** · 01-29-2009, 08:32 AM

Make friends with your local pharmacist as well. I have had two of them save me a ton of money.
I had a doctor prescribe a "fancy" new antibiotic for me. He warned me it would be expensive. I knew I was REALLY sick (rotating infections for two weeks), so I had been willing to go to the doctor ($50) and get antibiotics which I assumed would be another 50-60 dollars since I had didn't have insurance. Wrong. It was a $125. After seeing my expression the pharmacist gently asked when the last time I had used antibiotics. Since I hadn't had antibiotics in 10 years he said I would probably respond well to penicillin. HE called the doctor and asked for the change, said if the penicillin didn't work we could always go back to the other. It worked at less than on tenth of the other.
I also had another pharmacist suggest I try an OTC med instead of Claritan when it was not OTC and no generic available.
Don't be afraid to ask if you can even change meds if the med will do the same thing for you. Of course, the important thing is that if the doctor prescribed it, to ask and clear it with him before deciding to drop Plavix for baby aspirin. Although now, I would be asking if I was on Plavix...