Is It Possible To Reduce Medication Costs?

Q:  More and more of my mother’s limited income is being spent on medications. I’ve heard that many Americans are traveling to Mexico and Canada to purchase prescriptions at greatly reduced costs. This sounds very interesting to me. What can I do to learn more about how to do this?

A:  No doubt many have read about busloads of seniors traveling across the border only to return with shopping bags full of medications purchased at bargain basement prices. Based on some research I’ve done, this is not as easy as it may sound.

For those inclined to travel to Canada, the process in its simplest form is as follows. Armed with a prescription for a six-month supply of medications, a patient travels to a Canadian destination known to provide for the needs of Americans looking to save money. For a $20 charge, a Canadian physician re-writes the script and checks one’s blood pressure as well as conducting a brief interview to make sure the patient understands why the drugs are being prescribed. There are now companies in Canada that claim to render unnecessary the trip and will provide this service over the Internet.

Technically, it is illegal to import prescription medications to the US. One of the sources I viewed indicated that the customs service is not enforcing this law at this time when limited amount of medications for personal use are being brought across the border. There is some evidence that Canadian authorities are planning to tighten up their regulations thus limiting some of this easy availability. This is clearly a situation where the buyer must beware. One is assuming that the drugs being sold are in fact legitimate and appropriately potent.

There are other options to reduce the cost of medications. Many pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance plans that make medications available at a reduced cost. You can go to the website for The Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America at www.phrma.org to locate a list of such companies. Talk to your pharmacist, who may be able to suggest lower cost alternatives to your current medications. I would be willing to make a change if there was no therapeutic difference between two medications, knowing that one cost less than the other.

Where possible, one can also reduce dependence on medications through lifestyle changes. Weight loss through exercise and a proper diet can be of immeasurable help for people with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and arthritis. You’ll feel better because you’re healthier and your out of pocket expenses will diminish as well.

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