Why prescription drugs are so expensive and what you can do about it?

In more than 30 years of dispensing well over a million generic prescription drugs, our pharmacists have e been asked the most is “Why are prescription drugs so expensive?” The answer is rather complicated: research, government regulations, corporate greed, etc., all play a role in adding expense to prescription drugs. But, marketing and advertising are the main costs associated with prescription drugs. So, the question remains, what can we do about it? Vote with your money and buy generic drugs from one the cheapest pharmacies online. If you compare total cost for what you paying for prescription medications you will save money.

In America, free-market forces have worked well to keep inflation in check. So why hasn’t this happened in healthcare, especially in the case of prescription drugs? The answer is choice. Consumers have little or no choice when it comes to selecting their prescription medications.

When we want to buy a refrigerator, car or even a toilet, we make the decision on the size, color, style, and even the price that we want. But when we are told, for example, that we have high blood pressure, we have no choices. We are told what to do, what to take, and when to take it. Sometimes it’s not even our doctor telling us. Big drug manufacturers, or pharmaceutical companies, pay billions of dollars each year to tell us on TV and in magazine ads what they think we should take. HMOs and insurance companies tell us everyday how to manage our health by not covering certain drugs or charging us more for others.

Pharmaceutical companies are experts at marketing. Once your doctor leaves medical school and their clinical training, the majority of his/her drug education will now come from the drug manufacturers themselves. Even research studies are sponsored mainly by the pharmaceutical companies.

Pharmaceutical companies are an important part of our medical system. The valuable medicines they bring to market not only save lives, they help us live longer and in better health. However, most Americans are painfully aware that we pay the highest prescription prices in the world. Pharmaceutical company marketing programs and patent extensions cost all of us.

Insurance providers have been arranging rebate deals with drug companies for years regarding certain medications. That is why some drugs have lower co-pays than others and some aren’t covered at all. A University of Michigan study showed that some drug plans actually favor more expensive drugs over cheaper generic alternatives because they are making a fortune on kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies. In fact, the Maine Attorney General is trying to get all states to pass legislation mandating that insurance drug plans disclose all rebates and special deals to plan sponsors and ultimately you.

What can you do? First if you are buying brand name medicines ask your doctor if generic equivalent is available. Second compare total prescription cost (include your time, transportation cost, shipping cost, co-pay and medication cost). For example, the popular blood pressure med Atenolol 50mg for 90 pills is $11.20 and includes free mail order shipping at our drugstore versus $12.00 from Walmart phamarcies (plus transportation cost). Another example is many insurance co-pays have gone up and a $20.00 or more copay is very common; so if you are using such meds as Zolpidem Tartrate (generic Ambien) or Alprazolam (generic Xanax) compare our prescription cost versus your out pocket expenses. In most case, you will save substantial dollars purchasing at US Generics.

Please contact our discount pharmacy regarding any questions you might have about our pharmacy and/or your drug prescription by clicking now Ask the Pharmacist or please do not hesitate to call us at 888-551-6337.