How to Compare Drug Prices

Medical treatments can be expensive, and insurance often will not cover the bill. But there is no shame in being a thrifty consumer when it comes to purchasing prescription drugs, so do'nt feel bad about comparison-shopping for your medical needs.

Instructions

• 1

  When your doctor writes you a prescription, ask him whether there are any comparable drugs that can be substituted and whether they are more or less expensive. It's possible he will not know which of the potential drugs is the most cost efficient, but he should be able to provide you with a list of alternatives that you can use for the remainder of your comparison-shopping.

• 2

  Talk to your local pharmacist, using your list of prescription medications to determine which is the cheapest for your particular need. Also ask whether there are any generic versions of your chosen medication, since generic prescription medications tend to be significantly less costly than their brand-name counterparts.

• 3

  Utilize an online pharmacy to perform your own independent research prior to having the prescription filled. It's possible you'll find a better price for the medicine online, so if your need isn't entirely imminent, consider ordering from a web-based distributor.