Let’s face it – talking about health care costs is not at the top of anyone’s “Oh heck yes, I wanna do this!” list. 

As we get older, we may find ourselves with fewer benefits and more medications to take. And with people now responsible for more out-of-pocket expenses, it’s essential to consider the value of treatments. 

Let’s check out some ways to save on these necessary expenses.

Look into Generics. Lots of doctors get a kickback from the big pharmaceutical companies for marketing their name-brand drugs. It’s just the way it is. But that doesn’t mean you have to pay the price; in most instances, there is a generic version of the drug available that can be less than 50% of the cost of name-brand. 

Some of these medications may even be available over the counter as a generic! A good rule of thumb is to ask for the generic version when your doctor writes the prescription; this will save time at the pharmacy.

Ask for Freebies. Doctors will often have full-size samples they can pass along for free, especially for maintenance medications such as asthma inhalers or blood pressure medications. 

This tip can be helpful if you have no benefits (pay directly out of pocket) or don’t tolerate many kinds of drugs. If you don’t respond well to the treatment, you won’t be on the hook paying for multiple different prescriptions to find the one medicine that treats your condition.

Be Wary of Online Offers. It can be very tempting to respond to advertisements for online pharmacies – but use an abundance of caution. 

Avoid unreliable-looking websites, and do not use foreign online pharmacies. According to the FDA, “the safety and effectiveness of imported drugs have not been reviewed by the FDA, and their identity and potency can’t be assured.” 

You could receive the wrong drug, the wrong strength, fake drugs, or even outdated, expired medications. The FDA’s BeSafeRx can help you identify and avoid fake online pharmacies.

These tips will surely help you narrow down unnecessary fees. 

As time goes on, it’s more important than ever to have money available for these necessary expenses, and we want to help you plan for the future. 

Give us a call at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book an appointment online for a free checkup on your finances. We can help you learn how to manage your finances so you can be comfortable and avoid compromising on your healthcare.