HEALTHCARE 101 The cost of prescriptions is expected to rise at about 24% each year. This is an area where we really need to pay attention to what we use. Major pharmaceutical companies advertise heavily to sell new drugs. Sometimes these medications are an improvement over drugs on the market, but there are many times when the new formulation is simply a way for the manufacturer to get a new patent on a medication whose patent protection is about to expire. Companies who patent a medication have seven years before the competition can manufacture a generic equivalent. The new medication may differ only slightly and be no more effective in treating the illness or disease. It serves a financial purpose for the manufacturer, hence the heavy sell. If you need a particular medication because of untoward side effects of the generic, then that is a medical necessity. Nobody expects you to use something that would be harmful, but please keep in mind, the money we save on effective, but lesser priced medications, is our money. If your doctor is trying you on a new medication that may or may not work for you, try asking for a smaller, short term prescription, rather than a full supply. Many times a patient will have to try a number of different medicines before finding the one that is most appropriate for him/her. Perhaps the doctor can give you samples until you determine that it is right for you. Again, the money you save is yours. There is a mail in program for maintenance medications which would save everyone money. For people who are on blood pressure meds for example, a ninety day prescription can be obtained for a two month co pay. So for example for twenty dollars you could have three months supply, if your co-pay is $10 per perscription, and also cost the insurance plan less money. The money we could save in pharmaceuticals would be money we would not have to pay. Unfortunately, this program is rarely used. If we all make a concious choice to be more active when it comes to the prescriptions that we are on and the way in witch we purchase the drugs then we can make a difference.
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