Medications Online: Saving Safe and Sound
Dateline: 07/21/98Everything else is discounted on the Internet, you say, why not prescription medications? The good news is, you're right. Not only can you find online pharmacies that can fill your doctor's prescription, but you can also get discount cards to use in the pharmacy nearest you. The bad news is, you have to assume more responsibility for getting the information you need. This article will help you learn where to go to get that information, how to use online pharmacies, and where to obtain discount cards. In some circumstances, you might even be able to obtain free medicines. We'll tell you how. Plus, if you take several medicines, you'll discover a unique dispensing system that might be just the thing you need. Read on!
Before you consider using one of the online pharmacies mentioned in this article (or discovered independently), you need to understand that you will, of necessity, have to assume more responsibility than you might be called upon to share if you simply take your prescription to your corner drugstore. Online pharmacies dispense drugs, and that's pretty much it. They may not provide all your medications. They may not give you information regarding drug interactions. The price you pay for cheaper medicines is less information.
Before you decide to fax or phone your prescription to an online pharmacy, you need to understand the medication and why you are taking it. I have no idea what to ask, you say. Fortunately, there is a very useful list of questions to ask your physician:
- How is this drug supposed to help me?
- What are the side effects of this medicine?
- Are there any medicines I should avoid while taking this drug?
Besides asking you physician, you can do some work on your own without leaving the comfort of your computer desk chair. The National Council on Patient Information and Education, a cooperative effort of the National Institute on Aging and the Administration on Aging, is committed to improving communication between health care professionals and patients about prescription medicines. However you choose to do it, you need to learn as much as possible about the drug you are about to take.
One other caveat: different states have different regulations about how drugs are dispensed, and you will be subject to the laws of the state where the online pharmacy is located. You should ask whether generic drug substitution is allowed (or even mandated), particularly if your physician believes you should receive the brand name of the drug he or she is prescribing. This may be especially important for different brands of some cardiovascular drugs (e.g., digoxin) or some hormones (e.g., thyroid hormone). Better to be sure before you spend your money.
All right. I've checked out my medication, and I understand everything I need to know, you say. Where do I get the best deals online? Before you start searching for the pharmacy, take a few minutes to look at this Special Report from the Savvy Discounts Newsletter. It lists sixteen ways to save money on medicine, no matter where you get them. I'm sure you'll be glad you did.
There are many online pharmacies, and your guide cannot hope to investigate all of them fully. Here, though, are some general guidelines:
- Plan ahead. Because even online pharmacies send you your medications by mail, you must anticipate at least a day or more between the time you send them your prescription and the time you receive your medications. Be sure this delay is safe by asking your doctor or having an initial supply on hand for the time you have to wait.
- Make sure you have the information you need. Most online pharmacies require a copy of the prescription or your physician's phone number to confirm the information you provide. They may also need your insurance information, credit card number, and other information to give you the best, quickest service.
- Shop around. Sure the prices matter, but pay attention also to the different dispensing fees (up to $5 per prescription for putting the tablets into the bottle) and the shipping fees (some are free, some are not).
Okay, now you have the information you need to check out these online pharmacies. All of these have discount plans, regardless of whether or not you have a prescription insurance plan, and they provide cost saving examples in tables you can examine online.
- Member Health
- Preferred Rx
- Unicare, Inc.
- Mizuno Pharmacies (for my friends in Japan)
Reluctant to order your prescriptions online? That's okay, too. Health Smart offers both a prescription drug card and a mail order pharmacy.
Two online services suggest the possiblity of obtaining your prescription medications free. The Medicine Program offers free prescription medicine to those who qualify. Here are their main qualifying criteria:
- you have no insurance coverage for outpatient prescription drugs
- you don't qualify for a government program that provides prescription medications (like Medicaid)
- your income is at a level that causes a hardship when you have to buy medications at retail prices
Even if you don't meet those criteria, at least one web site offers a publication that promises Medicine for Free. Send them ten bucks for their book, and they promise you'll be able to get your prescriptions for free. And they offer a double-your-money-back refund if you're not satisfied.
This article only scratches the surface regarding online pharmacies, mail order prescriptions, and the like. If you have specific concerns that we haven't addressed, ask your doctor or, especially regarding online services, ask your guide. We'll do our best to answer your question.
Finally, if you are having trouble getting a prescription filled, you might want to email for info about Secrets of Buying Prescription Drugs Without a Prescription, a book that claims to tell you how.
Whenever you launch an expedition on the Internet, be sure you know what you are looking for. And what you need to know about what you are seeking. Online pharmacies abound. Be certain, before you buy, what your medication does, how it interacts with other drugs you are taking, and exactly how much you are spending for your "discount" prescription. A few moments of research invested before you go surfing could save you lots of grief down the line. It might even save your life.
Last Updated: 8/10/98