This month’s Erickson Health Consumer Health Education Newsletter features everything you wanted/needed to know, on medications. While geared primarily to the over 65 crowd though, I believe, everyone can benefit from this one. I am summarizing the articles from which everyone can benefit. You can get these free by going to www.ericksonhealth.com and clicking on more information banner. Or, if you subscribe to the Erickson Tribune, a newspaper geared to the 65 (some 55+ get it) crowd at www.ericksontribune.com, click on subscribe. The Erickson Tribune features coupons to get the Consumer Health education newsletter. It’s free. So here is some information, from the last edition, on saving money on medications.

Fighting the Rising Cost of Medications; There Are Options You Can Explore

Medications account for 10% of all health care costs, and costs keep rising. For seniors, the latest review shows the prices of the 200 most commonly used drugs rose, on average, 6.3% in one year. Here are some cost cutting tips on Medications. Remember to review these ideas with your physician:

 Consider generics—That 6.3% increase was for brand name drugs. The price increase was only 0.4% for the 75 generics most widely used by older adults. Ask if generics are available for any of your medicines and if they would be right for you.

Opt for 90 days?—A 90-day supply of a drug may be cheaper than renewing monthly. If a monthly generic co-pay is $4, but the 3-month supply only costs $10, you’ll save $2.

Ask for sample packs—Ask if your physician has any of your medicine(s) in the small sample packs pharmaceutical sales reps leave at doctors’ offices. If your doctor has 10 three-pill packs, you have a free one month supply.

Ask about Patient Assistance— Since February 2008 at least 31 states already had some type of state-run Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). The income level that qualifies you varies and not all drugs are available, but find out if you can get your medicines for little or no money through PAP. See the end of article for ways to find a PAP.

Compare Part D drug plans—Medicare re-enrollment is coming soon. Call different Medicare Advantage or private insurance “Medi-gap” programs and find out what their annual deductibles are for medication and their co-pays. Also compare via Medicare’s hotline (1-800-633-4227) or Part D website: www.cms.gov or call your state Dept. of Aging.

To Find a Patient Assistance Program (PAP):
• Call your state’s Department of Aging
• Call pharmaceutical companies that make your medicine(s)—Ask if they have a PAP. If so, they can tell you if any of your medicines are included and if you qualify.
• BenefitsCheckUp—The national Council on aging’s division can help you find drug assistance programs. must be completed via computer: www.benefitscheckup.org.
• PPARx—The Partnership for Prescription Assistance web¬site lists companies that offer PAPs and also breaks the list into state assistance programs. Call 1-800-477-2669 or go online to www.pparx.org.
• RxAssist—Sponsored by the drug company AstraZeneca, it lists state drug assistance pro¬grams: www.rxassist.org.

Hope this is helpful to you. Feel free to share the information with your friends and family. Alot of the Patient Assist programs are available regardless of age.