This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Frugal Family: Saving Money on Prescription Drugs

When pollen allergies turn lethal, here's how to get over it affordably.

This week’s Frugal Family focuses on how to save money on prescription medications.  With the crazy weather changes and all the pollen lately, many people have had the sniffles and the sneezes, and when that leads to the inevitable sinus infection, it can be an expensive trip to the pharmacy.  Here’s a rundown on how to get those antibiotics and other common prescription drugs as cheaply as possible.

Publix Pharmacies offer free 14-day supplies of seven common antibiotics. Click here for the list.  All you need to do is bring in the prescription.

Target, Walmart, and Kroger pharmacies all have extensive lists of medicines available for $4 (30-day supply) and $10 (90-day supply).  They are mostly the generic brands for commonly used drugs, but click on each store name to view the full list.

Find out what's happening in Tuckerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Another little-known fact is that for the wholesale warehouses (Costco, Sam’s, etc), you do not have to have a membership in order to use the pharmacy.  Just go on in (if asked at the door, tell them you’re going to the pharmacy).  The prices on prescriptions tend to run lower there than anywhere else.  Sam's also has the same $4 and $10 generic list that Walmart has. 

Other ideas: talk to your insurance company about whether using a mail-order pharmacy is optional.  Some insurance companies are partnered with pharmacies that can give you a discount on drugs you take regularly if you order a 90-day supply at a time.

Find out what's happening in Tuckerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And, when it comes to new medicines (or even meds you’ve been taking for a while), it never hurts to ask the doctor if samples are available.  I had a doctor who used to give me a three-month supply of my daily medication every time I went in, because, to quote him, “the sample closet was overflowing.”  Yes, doctors have closets full of samples…don’t be afraid to step up and help clear them out.     

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?