Get the best deals on prescription drugs

Just ask Albany resident Tim Garrity. When he puts out all the medications and over-the-counter products he takes, they fill up half his kitchen counter. Not only does he have health problems, he's had headaches paying for all his pills. The irony, is that he's a full-time pharmacist in the Capital Region.

Tim's costs went from $200 to over $700 dollars a month, when he fell into the Medicare Part D donut hole. That's when patients hit a threshold, and have to pay 100% for prescription drugs up to the point when the Federal government will pick up the tab again. Something the organization AARP is working to change.

More Information:

Patient Access Network  Caring Voice Coalition  NeedyMeds  HealthWell Foundation

"Its crucial to fill that donut hole, and in our opinion, crucial to pass that legislation to create access to affordable health care," said Bill Ferris of AARP, speaking about the current health care reform bill being considered by Congress.

So what can people like Tim do in the meantime?

"My physician, we were able to change things around, so I could save money, and get generics," he said. He also worked with a pharmacist on driving down costs.

That's our first Strategy for savings: tell your doctor, you just can't afford it, and ask for generics.

"All of a sudden, people are saying, 'I can't afford Lipitor anymore. Hey Doc, give me something else!'" said Pharmacist John McDonald of Marra's Pharmacy in Cohoes.

For instance, McDonald said Nexium goes for about $5.25 a pill. A therapeutic alternative will run you only 60-cents.

Strategy Number Two: drug companies are fighting the generic competition, by offering coupons.

"So whether you're paying cash or co-pay, $25 off Combigan, $10 off Ambien, $25 off Crestin, $25 off Angidal," said McDonald.

You can ask for the coupons at the pharmacy, or find them on line.

And here's Strategy Number Three: Find the best price for a drug close to where you live. Just go to the State Department of Health website, type in your zip code, and within seconds, find three three pharmacies within ten miles that offer the rock bottom price.

Schaghticoke resident Stephanie Galvin learned Strategy Number Four by accident: she didn't even need her insurance card to get the lowest price.

"I was shocked, Number one, because I couldn't believe it was true," she said.

Galvin found a better deal at Walmart that was hard to believe. Four dollars for a 30-day supply of hundreds of generic drugs; ten dollars for a ninety-day-supply.

"Well, (I thought) it's probably not true, it's probably a rumor. But when I actually went there, it was in writing, and it was ten-dollars a prescription versus 32-dollars a prescription. This was a large savings."

A final strategy:  if you are taking a medication long-term, just call the manufacturer directly, and ask for a discount.

Shopping around to get the best price does take time. But McDonald cautioned to look at the big picture and not simply focus on price. His advice? Find a pharmacist within your budget who can oversee and manage all the drugs you are taking, to ensure your safety.

With all these cost-cutting strategies, you can cure what's ailing your prescription budget.