How to Spend Less at the Pharmacy

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I am a pharmacist. I just wanted to add a little food for thought. Some of these businesses that offer cheap prices do so at the expense of customer service. The waittimes for a prescription may differ by as much as 2-3 hours. before you focus just on cost, be aware that the level of service recieved is part of that price. The old saying goes...you get what you pay for. We have to be careful that we dont create what we currently have is las vegas. A chain drug store took over many of the prime locations and put most competitors out of business. Once the competition was out of business the company instuted policies that led to 2 options for patients with new prescriptions, pick them up tomorrow, or you can wait 4 hours. How many mothers with sick children want to wait 4 hours for a prescription?

noah of WI 11:53AM October 21, 2011

I have been to the same situation.. when you apply some of the above methods described, you will definitely reduce the monthly expenses on drugs.. Thanks for coming up with such an informative web site.

Something to add ... Always ask your doctor for coupons. If Doctor is prescribing a medicine, generally they would have coupons OR they will prescribe some other brand. You can ask for coupons as many times as you need the prescription. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

I have reduced my expenses from about 400 to 40.

Thanks once again !!

Navin Bansal of GA 10:04PM August 01, 2011

LocalDrugSearch.com allows users to compare prices of over 2,000 drugs at about 20,000 chain pharmacies nationwide by simply typing in your zip code and medication. Totally agree, that you can save significant money (we found up to 90%) by shopping around. (Full disclosure- I do run this site... it is 100% free to use)

Michael Todasco of CA 7:04PM July 27, 2011

I shop at online pharmacies, mostly at International Drug Mart, shopping more quantity, that is for more than a months supply.. and also on joining these online pharmacies they send lot of offers and discounts which again help in reducing the medication costs.

Sandy of NY 5:39AM July 18, 2011

This is great thinking! This is such an innovative idea. I must have to implement! In fact, I've already saved it to my 'favorites'. Thank you for informing us about this website! Why didn't I think of it!

Jon-Jay Kalaivani of DC 2:37AM July 17, 2011

Kudos to Kaminski for coming up with a practical idea for people to find affordable medications!

Jon Krieg of IA 10:39AM July 15, 2011

I never thought the drug prices might vary this much from pharmacies until i looked at the website. It saves lot of time for so many people who have to either call or visit pharmacies to compare the drug price..

Awesome thinking...

kalaivani of MO 5:18PM July 13, 2011

The website is great, especially considering the economy. You would think the goverment would support something like this instead of spending more money on war.

Great Idea and Great Job!

Jay of PA 1:20PM July 13, 2011

Good thinking!

I must have to implement!

And specially for the website!

Thanks.

Gifty of FL 6:54AM July 13, 2011

All I can say is ......... Why didn't I think of it!

This is such an innovative idea. FrugalPharmacies.com is a site I will absolutely take advantage of. In fact, I've already saved it to my 'favorites'.

It seems like I am forever on the phone contacting pharmacies to compare prices of various prescriptions for my elderly grandpop who does not have any prescription insurance. Making use of this site will allow me to be able to more easily compare the prices to get him the best price especially since he is on a fixed income.

Thank you for informing us about this website!

SnowFlake of PA 6:51PM July 11, 2011

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Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about making smarter financial decisions. She’s the author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back.

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