Do you find it increasingly difficult to pay for necessary prescription drugs? Maybe your drug copays have increased, or your doctor has prescribed a pricey, brand-name drug that’s not covered by your plan.

There are practical ways to navigate the pharmaceutical maze so you can save money and get the drugs you need to stay healthy — and even have a little cash left over.

It all starts with your neighborhood pharmacist. Here are five ways that the druggist can help you save money on your prescriptions:

1. Explore All Your Options

Make sure your physician writes prescriptions allowing for a generic substitution, if it’s appropriate, says Thomas R. Bizzaro, a retired registered pharmacist and the former vice president of health policy and industry relations at First Databank.

“Talk to the pharmacist if you are prescribed a high-cost drug, and ask if there is a lower-cost alternative therapy,” says Bizzaro. “Also, ask the pharmacist to contact your physician.

“New standards allow a physician to do a real-time pharmacy benefit check in their electronic prescribing system,” he adds. “This has the potential to help lower costs by examining alternatives and at least informing the patient of their cost at the point of prescribing.”

While generic alternatives may help you save money, there are some cases, such as medications for transplant recipients, where there are medical risks associated with switching between generic and brand-name. Be sure to consult with your doctor before making a change. As a general rule overall, once you start a prescription, it’s usually best to stick with whichever option you choose, whether brand-name or generic.

2. Learn About Patient Assistance Programs

“Your pharmacist can help you look for patient assistance programs that can help you afford expensive medicines,” says Nicholas Barger, PharmD, vice president for product at DrFirst in Rockville, Maryland, a company that provides e-prescribing software.

“Some states offer these programs, some are provided by pharmaceutical companies, and there are several programs managed by nonprofit organizations, such as The Assistance Fund,” says Dr. Barger.

3. When Possible, Go Generic

A key way to reduce medication costs is to use generics rather than brand-name drugs, as generics can be 90 percent less expensive.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that generics have the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug.

“Always ask your physician to allow generic substitution or write for generics whenever possible,” says Bizzaro. “If you have prescription insurance, generics are usually in the least expensive tier.”

“Most insurance companies offer lower copays for generic medicines,” adds Barger. “Today, pharmacists can fill your prescription with a generic medicine even if the prescription was written for a brand-name drug, unless the prescriber notes that it should be filled as written.”

Another money-saving tip is to ask your pharmacist if there are any similar, less expensive drugs in the same therapeutic class that are used to treat your health condition.

“Then, have your pharmacist follow up with your prescriber for a new prescription,” Barger says.

4. Get Answers to Your Drug Plan Questions

If you don’t fully understand your prescription drug plan, your pharmacist will have the answers for you. They can review things like your deductible, premium, and the plan’s drug formulary.

The formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by your prescription drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits. It lists generic and brand-name drugs in a three- to five-tiered pricing structure. It also lists drugs that treat the same conditions and their prices.

“Your pharmacist can point out options for different drugs used to treat your condition that may have a lower copay,” says Barger.

5. Schedule a Medication Therapy Review

A key way your pharmacist can help you save money is to do a medication therapy review, which is an assessment of all your drugs and any medication-related questions or problems you may have.

If you want to do a review, it’s best to make an appointment and bring all your medicines with you when you go in. Also, bring or list any over-the-counter medicines and nutritional supplements you’re taking.

“Medication management and reviews are meant to assure that the patient’s drug therapy is appropriate,” says Bizzaro. “It can save money by assuring that dosing is correct, that unnecessary or discontinued drug therapy is not occurring, that there is no duplicate therapy, and that no drugs are administered that could cause known adverse events.”

“Your pharmacist can identify gaps in therapy depending on your health conditions or your age, which can ultimately save quite a lot of money by avoiding problems that could be prevented,” Barger says.

“For example, someone with diabetes may be at greater risk of heart or kidney problems and may need medicines to help avoid these serious health problems,” he adds. “Also, you may need certain vaccines to protect against the flu, pneumonia, or shingles, depending on your age, as treating these conditions can be extremely costly.”

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