Pharmacy

Comparing Drug Prices

Drug prices can vary from drug to drug and pharmacy to pharmacy. Here are some shopping tips:

Know your plan's list of preferred drugs

You get the best value when you use medications that are on your plan's preferred drug list (formulary), the list of drugs approved by Medica's independent review team. It's a good idea to print a copy to take with you to a doctor appointment.
View the list on medica.com

Check out 3-month supply options

Some plans offer programs that allow you to obtain a 3-month supply of medications at your local pharmacy or a mail order pharmacy – saving you time and money.
Learn more on medica.com

Call around

Pharmacies can offer different prices for medications. Depending on your pharmacy benefit plan, you may be able to reduce your share of the cost by simply picking up the phone. Try calling two or three pharmacies in your area and ask them what the medication you have been prescribed will cost. Some pharmacies will match a competitor's lower price.

Compare prices online

Find cost estimates for hundreds of medications. Medica's online tool allows you to compare the cost of brand-name drugs with the generic alternative(s).
Look up a cost estimate

Choose Generic Drugs

If you're taking a brand-name prescription drug, you may be spending more money than you need to for your medicine. Generally, switching to a generic drug can add up to big savings for you.

A generic drug is a copy of a brand-name drug. Generic drugs are closely regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They are as safe and effective and usually cost a lot less than brand-name drugs. Not all brand-name medicines have a generic equivalent, but many do. Always ask your doctor if a generic drug is available for any prescription medication that you take.

Take Advantage of Low-Cost Generic Drug Programs

Several pharmacies have programs to provide a 30-day supply of many popular generic drugs for as little as $4. Some also offer low-cost 90-day supply options. The drugs available and prices offered through these programs vary by pharmacy. Not all pharmacies offer a low-cost generic program. Here are a few that do:

Offers $4 and $10 options:	Offers $10 and $15 options:
Target Wal-Mart	Kmart

When you bring your prescription to a pharmacy with a low-cost generic program, be sure to provide your ID card and ask for the lower generic rate.

Note: In some cases, a two percent MinnesotaCare tax may be applied to a prescription. For example, a $4 prescription may actually cost $4.08. This fee is usually added when the cost of the prescription is less than the individual's copay. Prior to making a purchase, you can always ask the pharmacy staff if this tax will be added to the price of your prescription, or if it is included in the posted price.   

See How the Savings Add Up

The chart below shows examples of just how cost-effective it can be to swap a brand-name drug for a generic one as of June 2011.

Price Comparison Chart

Drug is used for treatment of	Brand-name drug or drug not on preferred drug list (non-formulary)	Estimated cost for 30-day supply*	Generic or Preferred Drug List (formulary) alternative	Estimated cost for 30-day supply*	Estimated monthly savings
Allergies	Allegra® - 180 mg	$109	Loratadine - 10 mg	$4	$105
Contraception	Yaz®	$100	Levonorgestrel-eth estra	$29	$71
Depression	Lexapro® - 20 mg	$128	Citalopram - 40 mg	$4	$124
	Cymbalta® - 60 mg	$155	Sertraline - 50 mg	$4	$151
	Effexor XR® - 150 mg	$165	Venlafaxine - 75 mg	$39	$126
Diabetes	Actos® - 30 mg	$358	Metformin - 500 mg	$5	$353
Heartburn/Ulcer	Nexium® - 20 mg	$207	Omeprazole - 20 mg	$7	$200
High blood pressure	Diovan® - 80 mg	$97	Lisinopril - 10 mg	$2	$95
High cholesterol	Lipitor® - 20 mg	$173	Simvastatin - 40 mg	$3	$170
Insomnia	Ambien CR® - 12.5 mg	$222	Zolpidem - 10 mg	$2	$220
	Lunesta® - 2 mg	$210	Zolpidem - 10 mg	$2	$208
Pain	Lidoderm patch® - 5%	$356	Gabapentin - 300 mg	$16	$340
	Lyrica® - 75 mg	$185	Gabapentin - 300 mg	$16	$169
Pain/Inflammation	Celebrex® - 200 mg	$290	Ibuprofen - 800 mg	$9	$281
Sleeplessness	Provigil® - 200 mg	$531	Methylphenidate - 10 mg	$14	$517

* = What the pharmacy would be paid based on Medica's contracted rates as of June 2011.

Please note: Prices can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy and may be higher at non-participating pharmacies. The actual price you pay is determined by your pharmacy benefit plan.

Also, not all of the alternative medications listed are the chemical equivalent of the brand-name options.

Consider Splitting Pills

Talk to your doctor about pill splitting. Essentially, splitting pills allows you to buy two for the price of one. Not all pills can be split, but many can. Splitting your pills may be an option for you if:

• your doctor approves of it.
• you learn the proper way to split them. Your pharmacist may be able to show you.
• you split only pills that are scored (never split extended- or continued-release tablets).
• you use a device designed specifically for splitting pills, available at most pharmacies for under $10.

Understand Your Medications

Take your medicine

When your doctor prescribes a medicine for you, it's important that you take it as directed. Not taking medicines as prescribed can lead to needless illness and suffering, preventable hospitalizations and higher costs. Be responsible and take your medicine. Your life could depend on it.

Prevent medication errors

Complications from getting the wrong medication or from medication interactions are all too common. Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid such problems. Learn more.

According to the Institute of Medicine, medication errors cause more than 1.5 million injuries to Americans each year. Below are some suggestions to help keep you safe.

Make sure your medicine is working

An annual medicine review or "Med-Checkup" with your doctor can help to make sure you are taking only the medicines you need. It also allows your doctor to check for potentially dangerous medication interactions. Here's what you need to do:

• Next time you schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor, let your doctor know that you want to review your medicine.
  
• Before the appointment, put all of the medicines you are taking in a bag. Be sure to include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal/dietary supplements. All items should be in their original containers.
  
• Take the bag with you to the appointment and discuss the contents with your doctor. See a list of questions to ask.

Avoid medication mix-ups

Many drug names look and/or sound alike. For example, acebutolol is used to treat high blood pressure, whereas albuterol is used for wheezing and shortness of breath. These similarities can cause confusion when prescriptions are filled at the pharmacy and may pose health risks for you. To help avoid errors, follow these tips:

• Ask your prescribing provider to write down the purpose of the medication on the actual prescription. This will help your pharmacist.
• Ask your pharmacist to verify that each prescription is appropriate for your condition.
• During your doctor appointment, write down the correct name, spelling and dosage of the medication to be prescribed. When the prescription is filled, make sure the medication matches what you were expecting.
• Talk to your pharmacist about any questions you have regarding your prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Know what you're supposed to take and why

The Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety has compiled the following list of questions you should ask about each medicine that you take:

• What is the name of the medicine?
• What is it for?
• What does it look like?
• What time should I take it?
• How much of it should I take each time?
• How should I take it?
• Should I take it with food?
• How long should I take it?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Are there any side effects? What should I do if I have any?
• How should I store it?
• Is it safe to take with other medicine that I am taking including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and/or herbal supplements?
• Are there certain foods, drinks or activities I should avoid while taking it?

 

You can find a wealth of information, including answers to some of the questions above, for hundreds of medicines in the "Drugs A – Z" online resource. Research a medication.

Keep a current list of your medications

Many people have trouble keeping track of their medicines. A medication list provides a simple way to manage all of the medicines that a person needs to take on a regular basis. A medication list should include information for each medication including the name, dosage, how it's taken, when it's taken and the reason it's taken. Be sure to keep your list current and update it each time you start or stop taking a medication.

 

Always carry your current medication list with you so you will have it in case of an emergency. The Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety has developed a medication list that you can use.

Download a medicine tracking form.