1. USE A FREE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD. They have one located in mailed coupons called the Simple Savings Card. It's good for the entire family. There's this other one called the USA Drug Plan which I used in Publix grocery store. Both cards can save you from 10% to 80% on brand name or generic drugs. An example of this can be explained like this:
30 Clonidine HCL 0.1 MG was $11.99 at Publix.
I used the USA Drug Plan and the price was knocked down to $6.72.
Now, Walmart was not an option that day, so I couldn't pay the $4.00 (plus they don't take the $10 gift card coupon I got at Target that day).
2. USE A COUPON IF POSSIBLE. Sometimes it's not possible to get a gift card coupon, but if you get one, treat it like cash. Some gift cards give you $10 for a new prescription, but others give you $25 for a transferred prescription.
Here's the dish on who will let you use them and who won't (from memory):
*Rite Aid and CVS will allow you to use 1 per day whether it's from their store or from a competitor. (Tip: If your pharmacy is rude like the one on 900 Government Street in Mobile, AL, you may call the 1-800 number on the back of your CVS card or call the corporate number to Rite Aid.)
*Publix will allow you to use (I think) 1 per day whether it's from their store or from a competitor. Some Publix stores will allow you to exchange their store gift card for any one they have on stock. For example, you may exchange your Publix gift card (at redemption) for a Home Depot gift card. That is very YMMV (your mileage may vary).
*Target will allow you to use their coupons only, but competitors is YMMV.
*Walgreens will only allow you to use their coupons only, but competitors is YMMV.
*Walmart is YMMV on every issue. Be sure to print out their coupon policy.
*Kroger (which is NOT in the Mobile market) has the $4 prescriptions and will allow use of any prescription coupon.
3. ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR SAMPLES IF THERE IS NOT A GENERIC EQUIVALENT. Doctors get plenty of sample medicines to give to their patients in case they need it. If there is an generic for that your condition, see if the doctor can find a $4 equivalent for that drug.
4. When you go to the doctor and you are insulin dependent or you check your blood sugar at least once a day, ask your doctor for a prescription for cheap items such as alcohol swabs, insulin syringes, or lancets. And if you have a coupon for a drug you need (They're listed on http://www.needymeds.org in alphabetical order) where you can get a 30 day sample or 5 free pens of insulin, get a prescription for that and take it to the pharmacy. Please note that for the free prescription, there will be no refills and no free gift card for a new prescription.
5. CVS is not the cheapest place in the world to buy prescriptions, and most stores will not match competitors prices (unless the price is cheaper using the discount card and it's worth it to you, do it). Therefore, use the EXTRA CARE card. For every 2 prescriptions you fill at CVS, no matter if it's a free script or not, you will receive a $1.00 ECB (Extra Care Bucks) at redemption of the last quarter. Quarterly ECB's will print on January 10th I think.
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