How to Fill Your Medical Prescriptions While Unemployed

Unemployment can be scary. Even though you no longer have a steady income, sadly the bills don’t stop. Being unemployed can be especially nerve-wracking when you have medications to pay for. Fortunately, there are several easy ways you can save on prescriptions. Just because you are job-less, it doesn’t mean you should go without your medication.

Here are five simple ways you can save on prescription medication.

Make sure you’re getting the generic version:

Most prescription medications have two kinds: brand name and generic. Brand name medication is created by the original manufacturer of the drug. Generic medication is typically made by a different manufacturer but has the same ingredients as the brand name drug, and is a lot cheaper. The distinction between brand name and generic medication isn't necessarily about the quality of the medication.

The brand name medication has exclusive rights to the market for a set amount of time. When the time is up, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows a manufacturer of a generic version of the drug to enter the market. Generic prescriptions are significantly cheaper – up to 80-85% cheaper than the brand name prescriptions because the original manufacturer pays for research and trials, which drives the original cost up.

If you’re not sure if you’re taking the generic form of your medication, check with your pharmacist. If you’re not taking the generic form and would like to switch, you shouldn’t have any issues considering it’s the same drug as the brand name. However, it’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before making the switch.

Use your Health Savings Account (if you have one):

Many health insurance plans come with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). This is where pre-taxed money, typically from your paycheck, is put into an account for you to use on qualified medical purchases.

These purchases include prescription drugs. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) work similarly to HSAs. (Hint: HSAa can be used for other medical procedures such as dental work, hospital services, laboratory fees, oxygen and more).

Enroll in a Patient Assistance Program:

Manufacturers provide free drugs for many name brand medicines for low or no income patients. Many physician offices may not be aware of these programs. They can change on a regular basis and some require regular re-enrollment to stay current with the benefits. These programs are available on a wide-spread basis and for many different conditions. There are several online databases to search for the best match for your specific medication.

Free Clinics

If you are in or near a city with a free clinic, they offer free medical care and access medications. Free clinics can be found by searching online at the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Call before visiting to confirm appointment steps. The clinics are generally open some nights and weekends to make it easier to not conflict with other life responsibilities. Short-term issues are usually easiest to manage and many patients walk out with prescriptions in hand the day of the medical visit.

Check for prescription discounts or coupons:

The majority of the time you can find discounts on prescription medication, and fortunately, we have resources to help you locate them!

Our free RxSaver tool helps you search for prescription discounts at nearby pharmacies.

Our users typically save up to 85% on prescription drugs. The tool is super simple. All you have to do is type in the name of your prescription in the search bar, and you’ll see a list of where your medication is available nearby with discounted prices. When you go to pick up your prescription, show your pharmacist the coupon from our site. Finding discounts on medication has never been so easy.