Top 10 Ways to Save on your Prescriptions at Walmart

If you're like most Americans, you may have noticed an increase in prices on your prescription medications over the past several years. With medication spending on the rise, your prescriptions can be pricey even with some insurance plans. There are ways to save and still get the care you need, whether you're insured or not.

1. Use a Discount Drug Card - Consider using a prescription assistance program like FreeDrugCard.us. With savings of up to 75% on most medications, it's easy to print a card or save it to your phone and bring it to one of over 68,000 participating pharmacies in the US for instant savings on your prescriptions.
2. $4 Prescriptions - Take advantage of Walmart's $4 generic prescription program. While the selection of drugs offered is limited there's still a lot of saving to be had on some of the most popular generic medications. Check the Walmart website for more information on this program and to see if your medication qualifies for their $4 program.
3. Use Coupons - Make a habit of flipping through magazines and searching online for coupons of the medication you're taking. Manufacturers will often offer a free 30-day trial or a coupon for a discount on the purchase of a prescription. Also, there are websites devoted to finding coupons for your prescription, searchable by your medication strength. One such site is RxPharmacyCoupons.com.
4. Use Preventative Care - Just like the age-old adage says, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." By taking advantage of your yearly wellness visits on your insurance, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regiment, and listening to your doctor's advice on prevention can reduce the chance that you'll need to be prescribed multiple expensive medications down the road.
5. Shop Around - Compare prices at pharmacies in your supermarket, retail stores and online to find the best price for your medication. There are even online portals like the one found on UNA Rx Card that can help you find the lowest prices on your medication in the surrounding area. Simply visit www.unarxcard.com/medication-pricing and search for your medication to start saving.
6. Divide and Conquer - Depending on your medication and the advice of your healthcare professional, your medication may be eligible to split into smaller pieces from a higher dosage. Your medication may not double in price for double the dose, so ask your doctor for a double-strength prescription and take half of a pill instead of a whole pill.
7. Talk Openly With Your Doctor - Make sure you discuss your situation with your doctor. They may know an alternate course of treatment to fit your budget, and they may not know how much you're paying for the drugs they are prescribing.
8. Ask For Samples - Often times when starting a new medication, your doctor may have samples on hand for you to try for 10-14 days. This applies especially for brand-name drugs where a pharmaceutical rep may have dropped off samples for just such a reason.
9. Go To The Source - If you're unable to afford your prescription even in its generic form or with a coupon, you may still be eligible to receive a drug at free or minimal cost. Many pharmaceutical manufacturers have patient assistance programs to help uninsured or underinsured patients afford their medications.
10. Always Ask - "Is this your lowest price?" Many pharmacies have policies in place that prevent them from offering you a better (often cash) price unless a customer asks. Also, the pharmacist will usually process your prescription with insurance unless you ask them to do otherwise, and depending on the formulary that your insurer uses, some medications may be more expensive with your insurance plan. Don't be afraid to ask the pharmacy to process it multiple ways to find the price that best fits your budget.

Overall, with a little legwork and some initiative, there are plenty of ways to save on your prescription medications. Whether shopping at Walmart or another pharmacy, be sure to communicate with your doctor and your pharmacist to find the best price available for your medication.