Raleigh, N.C. – An investigation on the cost of generic medications found that those who are using commonly prescribed drugs are actually spending too much money.
In the U.S, there are around 82% of prescriptions for generic medications and those who have health insurance normally pay minimum co-pay but the investigation on the prices of such drugs found that there are dozens of them that can be bought cheaper than what their insurance are charging.
According to internist Dr. David Belk who runs his own urgent care near me in California, if a customer would use his or her insurance to buy a generic prescription, chances are the person will be paying too much for it. The internist also blogs about costs of health care as he tries to find ways to help his patients save a little bit on their hard earned money.
Belk says that Americans have long been led to believe that prescriptions are pricey and that health insurance providers are helping them save money but it’s actually not true. With the expiration of patents, more companies begin to offer generic medications and prices go way down which sometimes only cost pennies for each pill according to Belk.
Today, there are more than 20% of Americans who’ve been checked in urgent care clinics are at least 5 prescription medicines and the price can add up. Pam Grimes of Johnston County for instance, takes 6 prescription drugs—four generics and two name brands and she have already beaten Stage 3 of breast cancer. Since she has a health insurance, she shoulders $10 co-pay every month at the local drugstore and spends not less than $40 per month for her generic prescriptions. With this monthly spending on an urgent care clinic prescription, Grimes hopes to find something a cheaper cost of generic medications and is certain that there is something for her somewhere.
For those who are looking for a cheaper cost of generic medications, there’s Walmart, Kroger and Target selling over 200 generic drugs for only $10 for three months. There is no insurance required and those who already have insurance, the get charged a much lower price.
As for the record of IMS Institute of Health Care Informatics that tracks sales for pharmacies, a person who needs urgent care and is prescribed of a certain drug can now take advantage of the availability of generics that are already dispensed 95% of the time.
The cost of generic medications can break the bank if you don’t decide to shop around and get to know a new pharmacy that’s willing to help you save a bit.
