Medication can be a huge expense, especially for families with young children. Kids tend to pick up illnesses easily, and when they’re mixing at school, on playdates, and with their sports teams, trips to the pediatrician can be pretty regular. Pharmacy bills soon rack up, and this makes a significant dent in the family finances.
Fortunately, there are ways to cut down on medication costs while keeping your children healthy. We’ve selected six of the best; read on to save money today!
- Talk To Your Pediatrician
If anyone can help you with lowering the cost of your child’s medication, it’s your pediatrician. Ask them about prescription prices or if they know any cheaper alternatives you can give to your child. They’ll be more than willing to answer your questions. In fact, they may even give you free samples.
Don’t feel embarrassed to tell your doctor about your financial situation, because they can work with you and suggest a less costly treatment option. You can even negotiate with them about lowering fees or giving a discounted rate.
You’ll need this especially if your child needs to see a specialist for long-term follow up, such as acne treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
You can also do a phone consultation with your pediatrician. This is a convenient way to ask them if your child needs pay a visit to the clinic if they’re feeling under the weather, or if treatment can be managed at home.
- Buy Medication Online
You can find anything online these days, including medication.Did you know you can buy medication, compare pricings, and find the best deals available on your smartphone? This not only saves you time, but it also helps you save money in the long run.
It’s always sensible to use caution when ordering medicine online, however. Make sure you use a reputable dispensary. Websites like GoodRx provide money-saving deals for all kinds of medications including acne drugs, which can otherwise be expensive. Go ahead and check prices at GoodRx to see if you can find the best deal for your health needs.
- Learn The Generics Language
Branded drugs are medication manufactured by massive pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. You might know them from well-known over-the-counter medicines like Advil, Tylenol, Benedryl, Zyrtec, etc.
Generic drugs, on the other hand, are less expensive equivalents of branded drugs. They are made following the strict U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, so you can be assured that generics are safe for your child.
Is there a difference? Yes and No.
In terms of quality and effectiveness, you have nothing to worry about. Generic drugs work the same way as branded ones. However, note that not all name brand medicines have generic counterparts. There are certain medications that are currently under exclusive license to manufacture.
Where they differ most is in pricing.
Branded prescription drugs can be expensive, even when they’re covered by your health insurance. Under your insurance, your drug co-pay might range from USD$40-$50 per month when you buy branded prescriptions. On the other hand, drug co-pay for generic prescriptions is only around USD$5-$10. Switching to generics from branded medicines can help you save hundreds of dollars a year.
- Use Coupons To Get A Discount
If you’re anxious to try generic drugs and want to stick to buying name brand medication, then use this trick to offset some of the cost.
Do a quick search of the manufacturer of your desired medication and visit their website. Drug manufacturers usually offer discount coupons on their website. This can help you save a few bucks on over-the-counter and prescription meds.
While you’re visiting the manufacturer’s website, double-check the side effects of suggested treatments and discuss with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.
- Choose The Right Health Plan
It’s fairly easy to look over the benefits each health plan has, and choose the one with the lowest premium. But in the long run, choosing a health plan based on your family’s medical records and regular visits to the doctor can help you save money and maximize benefits.
- Eat Healthy
Prevention is always better than cure. You’ll save a lot more money if your kid doesn’t have to go to the doctor often because they’re sick. Unfortunately, teaching kids how to eat healthy can tricky, especially when they’re picky eaters.
The best way to help them in the long run is by showing them what healthy eating looks like. That could mean changing what you normally eat together as a family. Or letting your kids pick healthy choices for lunch.
Conclusion
Maintaining your child’s health is your primary responsibility as a parent, and it certainly takes hard work. You want to give your child the best care possible, especially when they’re sick, but you also want to be practical as medication isn’t cheap. Use the tips above to save money on medication, and don’t forget that healthy habits can prevent trips to the doctor in the first place!
