You Don’t Have to Pay Full Price! 6 Smart Ways to Save Money on Prescription Costs
Simple doctor-backed strategies to shrink prescription costs and stress less
If you take prescription drugs but are worried about the rising cost, take heart: You don’t have to drain your savings to pay for your much-needed meds. New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School outlines simple ways to save on prescription drug prices, making it easy to get all your medicines without the stress. Here, six simple, money-saving strategies you can try today.
How to save money on brand-name prescription drugs
A brand-name Rx is often more expensive than its generic counterparts, but that still doesn’t mean you need to pay full price. To save big:
Use a co-payment card
If your doctor prescribed a medication that doesn’t have a cheaper alternative and you have private health insurance, you may qualify for a discount. Drug manufacturers often offer co-payment cards that can save you a bundle on certain meds. “These cards can reduce out-of-pocket costs to less than $30 per month for some patients,” says study coauthor Hussain Lalani, MD. “I had a middle-aged patient with diabetes and obesity who was prescribed the weight-loss drug semaglutide (Ozempic), which was costing him $100 a month. Since he had private health insurance through work, I signed him up for a co-pay card that reduced the cost to $25 per month.”
Just be aware that money you spend using these cards may not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, so check with your insurer for details. Most co-payment cards last 12 months, but manufacturers may renew them. To find a co-pay card for your medication, simply check the drugmaker’s website or search NeedyMeds.org.
Apply for patient assistance programs
When you take a brand-name medication that doesn’t have a generic equivalent and meet certain financial criteria, you may qualify for aid to bring the cost of your prescription down. “There are two types of patient assistance programs,” explains Dr. Lalani. “In one program, drug companies provide prescription drugs for free or at very low cost. With the other, nonprofit organizations provide financial assistance.”
To find a program that covers your meds, search RxAssist.org. You’ll typically need proof of income and a form from your healthcare provider. Once approved, you may get medications free by mail, receive a prepaid debit card from the manufacturer or have out-of-pocket prescription costs reimbursed.
Look farther afield
“International pharmacies are an option for people taking brand-name drugs for a serious medical condition without affordable alternatives in the U.S.,” says Dr. Lalani. You can purchase the type 2 diabetes medication Januvia, for example, for as little as 70 cents per tablet—nearly $10 less per pill than from U.S. pharmacies. Find trusted international online pharmacies at PharmacyChecker.com.
Best ways to cut the price of generic medications
Two smart ways to shrink the prices of generic drugs:
Save with coupons
Pharmacy coupons can save you up to 80 percent on generic prescriptions. These discounts are available through online and app-based programs like GoodRx.com, RxSaver.com and SingleCare.com. While some brand-name drugs qualify, the biggest price savings are on generics. “Coupon discounts vary by pharmacy and ZIP code,” says Dr. Lalani. So it’s worth comparing them.
Opt for these pharmacies
Online and in-person drugstores that sell directly to consumers can offer steep savings on common generic drugs—like the beta blocker atenolol or blood sugar–regulating metformin—for as little as $4 a month or $10 for a three-month supply. Check out options like Costco, Cost Plus Drugs, Health Warehouse and Walmart.
How to apply for public prescription aid and extra help
Another way to save on generic and brand-name drugs alike is to apply for public assistance, says Virgie Bright Ellington, MD, author of What Your Doctor Wants You to Know to Crush Medical Debt. “These are available from state and federal agencies.”To secure help with co-pays and deductibles, visit CoPays.org. And to explore state programs, head to Go.Medicare.gov/spap, Medicaid.gov and BenefitsCheckup.org. If you have Medicare Part D, apply for the Extra Help program at SSA.gov/extrahelp. Follow the simple steps, and you could save hundreds each year.
This story originally appeared in the May 5, 2025, issue of Woman’s World
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