Six Ways to Lower Your Costs in the Drug Coverage Gap

By: Mark Mabaquiao

 

Are you interested in lowering your prescription drug costs? Then I may have some good news for you. The official Medicare website, medicare.gov, offers six ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs. To view the exact page and learn more, visit medicare.gov/partd/ costs/coverage-gap/ways-tolower- drug-costs.html. Here they are:

1. Consider switching to generics or other lower-cost drugs. Talk with your doctor to find out if there are generic or less-expensive brand name drugs that would work just as well as the ones you’re taking now.

2. Choose a plan that offers additional coverage during the gap. There are plans that offer additional coverage during the coverage gap (Medicare pre scription drug coverage). These plans may charge a higher monthly premium.

3. Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs. Some pharmaceutical companies offer assistance programs for the drugs they manufacture. Visit the website to enter your drugs and learn more.

4. State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs. Many states offer help paying drug plan premiums and other out-ofpocket costs, but unfortunately, Illinois is not one of those states.

5. Apply for Extra Help. Medicare and Social Security offer this program for people with limited income and resources that help pay for prescription drugs. You can enroll online at ssa.gov or call 800.772.1213 for a paper application or to make an appointment with Social Security.

6. Explore national and community-based charitable programs that can help with your drug costs like the National Patient Advocate Foundation, National Organization for Rare Disorders, and BenefitsCheckUp.