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Common Myth: Insurance Copays are the Cheapest Option

Michael Rea, PharmD — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:00:38 +0000

Nearly one third of all prescriptions written in the United States are never filled, largely due to cost. Too often, people (both insured and uninsured) are under the impression that filling their prescription medicines will cost huge amounts of money, and don’t do so as a result. In many cases, this is false, and may actually end up costing you more down the road. Today’s prescription insurance structure is a complicated maze of different copays/coinsurance, certain drugs not being covered because they are not “preferred,” and less coverage for more money. Meanwhile, pharmacy insurance companies (othewise known as PBM’s or Pharmacy Benefit Managers) are making more money than ever by dictating what medication your doctor can prescribe you based on what medications they can get the best deal on from manufacturers. By sharing our prescription medication report with your doctor, lower cost alternatives … Continue reading →

Medication Compliance could save you $1,000′s

Michael Rea, PharmD — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:00:04 +0000

Every year in the United States, doctors write millions of prescriptions for their patients. Of those prescriptions, nearly 33% are never filled. There are a variety of reasons for this, which include the perception they are not sick and don’t need the medicine, or even mistrust in the medical system as a type of scam to get their money. The main reason these prescriptions go unfilled correlates strongly with cost and/or the inability to pay.

This situation for those who cannot afford their medication is unfortunate at best. Not taking these potentially life savings medications can cost you in many ways. It can cost you more money due to an adverse event, time spent with family, and quality of life. Think of it this way, if you didn’t fill and take your blood pressure medication and had a heart attack, it would cost you tens of thousands of dollars and potentially your life. Thats quite a risk to take for savings $50 or $100 a month. That being said, if you don’t have $50 or $100 a month, that makes it pretty tough to buy your medicine. Good News, thats where we come in!

At Rx Savings Solutions, we specialize in reducing the out of pocket cost of medication for our clients. We have ways to bring the price of that $100 medication down to $10 or $20 a month. Our pharmacists know the ropes, and they know how to help you save. Our services are guaranteed 100% or your money back. There’s no risk involved, and we won’t charge your card unless savings are found. Try it today!

Why 24% of People Admit to Taking less than the Recommended Dosage of their Medication

Michael Rea, PharmD — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:00:03 +0000

As a follow up to the article posted two weeks ago on our blog, “Why 31% of people never fill the prescriptions they are given,” this week we are going to take a look at the fact that 24% of people who fill their prescription take less than the prescribed amount. This percentage is directly proportionate to the cost of the medication and the patients ability to pay. By taking less, consumers are in essence trying to stretch their dollars and feel less of a financial burden.

Each year, non-compliance to prescription medication costs the American economy thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. Two week’s ago, we talked about the large percentage of patients not filling their medications. This weeks focus is on those that take the initiative to fill the prescription, but then make decisions that are not in line with their doctor to stretch out the costs over a greater period of time. This is a problem, because many chronic disease states (such as atherosclerosis, or high-cholesterol) are asymptomatic meaning a person may not feel any effect in their day to day life. Eventually, however, a large and potentially life threatening event can take place.

Our recommendation to combat the financial strain is to again be a proactive consumer and advocate for your own health. If you truly doubt your diagnosis, get a second opinion, but don’t skimp on your medication therapy. It could have fatal consequences for you or a loved one. If your paying more than you can currently afford, there is help available! Contact one of the pharmacists at Rx Savings Solutions for more information and help from healthcare professionals who really care!

An Aspirin a day keeps the doctor away?

Michael Rea, PharmD — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:21:50 +0000

For many years physicians have encouraged patients to take a low dose (81mg) aspirin to help prevent cardiovascular problems. But that may all be changing, and some new guidelines may replace the old after a new study in the United Kingdom found evidence suggesting the benefit may not be worth the risk for some groups of people.

Aspirin can thin the blood and help prevent clots, and is generally accepted as safe in small amounts daily. But there are risks with this over-the-counter medication, including gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcers, and a small risk for bleeding in the brain. Along with these side effects, the study done in the United Kingdom suggests that diabetic people taking low dose aspirin daily who have never had a cardiac event were just as likely to have an event when compared with patients who were not taking daily aspirin therapy.
As stated on CNN Health, Dr. Steven E. Nissen from the Cleveland Clinic states “If you have had a heart attack, bypass surgery, or a history of coronary artery disease, the benefits of daily aspirin therapy do outweigh the risks.”

Often times when people see the potential negative associations with a medicine, either they are scared off or a productive conversation with a healthcare professional ensues. The message is not to scare anyone currently taking aspirin, but rather to talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional about its use. Like any medication, it is a great thing if used correctly. If, however, its not ruled by your doctor for the benefit to be worth the risk, it might cut down on potential side effects and save you some money in the process!

For more information, click the link below to read the full article on CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/04/aspirin.risk.heart.attacks/index.html