Why Prescription Costs Are a Real Problem

Prescription medications are a major driver of healthcare spending for millions of people. Whether you're managing a chronic condition or filling a short-term prescription, the costs can add up quickly — especially if your insurance has high drug tiers or a large deductible. The good news is there are legitimate, practical ways to pay less for the medications you need.

1. Ask Your Doctor About Generic Alternatives

Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts and are held to the same FDA safety and efficacy standards. They are often dramatically less expensive — sometimes by 80–90%. Many brand-name drugs have generics available, and your doctor may not automatically prescribe them unless you ask. It's always a reasonable question: "Is there a generic version of this medication?"

2. Use a Prescription Discount Card

Prescription discount programs like GoodRx, RxSaver, and NeedyMeds offer coupons that can significantly reduce the retail price of many medications — sometimes lower than your insurance copay. These are free to use and require no enrollment. Simply search your medication on the platform, find the best local price, and show the coupon at the pharmacy.

Important: Compare the discount card price against your insurance copay each time — whichever is lower is the one to use.

3. Compare Prices Across Pharmacies

The same prescription can cost very different amounts at different pharmacies. Large chain pharmacies, independent pharmacies, and warehouse stores (like Costco) often have noticeably different pricing. Online pharmacies that are NABP-accredited can also offer substantial savings on maintenance medications.

4. Ask About 90-Day Supplies

For medications you take regularly, switching from a 30-day to a 90-day supply can lower your per-dose cost. Many insurance plans charge a lower copay for a 90-day mail-order supply than for three separate 30-day fills. Ask your doctor to write a 90-day prescription and check your plan's mail-order pharmacy option.

5. Check for Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs

Most major pharmaceutical manufacturers offer patient assistance programs (PAPs) for people who meet income or insurance criteria. These programs can provide brand-name medications at little or no cost. Search directly on the manufacturer's website or use NeedyMeds.org as a directory of available programs.

6. Review Your Insurance Plan's Drug Formulary

Your insurance plan's formulary (the list of covered drugs) places medications in tiers, with different cost-sharing at each level. If your medication is on a high-cost tier, ask your doctor whether a therapeutically equivalent drug exists at a lower tier. This is called a formulary alternative, and many plans allow you to request a tier exception with supporting documentation from your doctor.

7. Consider Pill Splitting (With Your Doctor's Approval)

For some medications, a higher-dose pill costs the same as a lower-dose pill. With your doctor's explicit approval, you can buy the higher dose and split the tablets, effectively halving your cost. This is safe only for certain medications and must never be done without medical guidance.

When Cost Becomes a Barrier to Care

If you're skipping doses or not filling prescriptions because of cost, tell your doctor directly. They may not be aware of the financial impact and can often find a solution — whether that's switching medications, providing samples, or connecting you with assistance programs. Your health should never be compromised because of cost — and with the resources available today, it often doesn't have to be.