How Can I Cut the Cost of My Prescription Drugs?

Has the cost of your prescription drugs jumped? A recent article in USA Today, notes that the price of prescription drugs has risen 3.6%, which is twice the 1.7% inflation rate, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

If you are on prescription drugs and looking to cut your expenses, Health Advocate, the nation’s leading advocacy and assistance company, offers advice on getting drugs at a discount. Here are some ideas that can help you reduce your prescription drug expenses.

Get it for free. Doctors often have free samples of medications on hand.  Ask your doctor if they have samples available that you could use.  This could be an especially helpful tactic if you are trying out a new-to-you medication—trying a free sample may help you learn whether you like the medication enough to purchase it on your own after you’re finished the sample.

Go generic. Generic equivalents are available for many brand-name prescription drugs, and they are often just as effective as their brand-name counterparts.  Check with your doctor to get their recommendation on whether a generic equivalent would be right for you. Generic drugs usually range in cost from 20 to 80 percent less than brand-name versions.

Mail order might be cheaper. Consider mail order prescriptions. Ask your doctor to write a three-month prescription for your maintenance medications, such as insulin or cholesterol-lowering drugs. Many insurance plans allow you to purchase a three-month supply at a discount or with a lower co-pay when ordered through the mail.

Scour the internet. For brand-name drugs, check the drug manufacturers’ websites for discounts, offers and coupons.

Check the retail chains. Walmart, Target, Kroger, and members-only retailers such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club offer generic prescriptions for as low as $4.

Substitute an OTC med. Ask your doctor whether you could take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication for your condition instead.

Ask your doctor about non-drug strategies.  Find out if your doctor thinks you could try losing weight, eating healthy and/or quitting smoking in lieu of taking medication.

Whether you’re taking a maintenance medication for a chronic condition, or you need to take a prescription drug short-term, you may be able to save money by following these tips. If you are a Health Advocate member and would like to learn more about reducing your prescription drug costs, call your Personal Health Advocate for more helpful advice.

Not Gone Yet: The Flu’s Still Here

Increase Your Chances of Staying Well

Have you noticed coworkers calling out sick or your cubicle-mates sneezing and coughing? These are all signs that flu season is here. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are calling this the worst flu season in a decade.  While many reports have cited that cases of influenza have dropped over the last few weeks, flu season is still not over, and you are still at risk.

The flu is highly contagious and requires rest for full recovery. If you have the flu, stay home. Going to work or being out and about while sick will only spread the disease.

Health Advocate offers some tips on preventing the flu. While nothing is fool-proof, this information may help keep you safer this flu season as well as help protect you from other respiratory and gastrointestinal bacteria and viruses year-round.

-          Get a flu vaccination. This can be one of the most effective ways to avoid the flu. Many employers offer free flu vaccinations onsite. There are also many pharmacy chains that offer the flu vaccination at a low cost.

-          Avoid close contact with people who are sick. And if you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

-          Clean your hands. Washing your hands often can help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

-          Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

-          Practice other good health habits. The CDC recommends cleaning and in some cases disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone around you is ill. Also, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

-          Think you might have the flu? Know the symptoms. A fever over 100 degrees, achy muscles, chills and sweats, dry cough, fatigue, weakness and congestion could be indicative of the flu. It’s important to remember that many other viruses cause the same symptoms as the flu. Call your medical provider, who may provide advice and, in some cases, anti-viral treatment to help you get better. Some health and age factors can increase a person’s risk of serious complications from the flu--the CDC lists them here—so be sure to seek medical treatment if any of these factors apply to you and you suspect you have the flu.

-          Know what constitutes an emergency. Some symptoms indicate a need for immediate medical attention. These symptoms could be caused by the flu, or by a number of other illnesses.  Regardless, if any of the following symptoms are present, the CDC advises that you seek medical help right away.

Children:

·         Rapid breathing/trouble breathing

·         Bluish skin color

·         Not waking up/interacting

·         Not drinking enough fluids

·         Irritability to the point where the child doesn’t want to be held

·         Fever with a rash

·         Flu-like symptoms going away, then returning with a fever and worse cough

Infants:

·         Any of the above symptoms

·         Inability to eat

·         Produces no tears when crying

·         Having fewer wet diapers than normal

Adults:

·         Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

·         Pain or pressure in chest or abdomen

·         Sudden dizziness

·         Confusion

·         Severe or persistent vomiting

·         Flu-like symptoms going away, then returning with a fever and worse cough

Someone close to you could have the flu--perhaps it is a coworker, your spouse or the person on the train next to you during your commute. While you can’t control their health, you can take measures to help keep yourself healthy. If you are a Health Advocate member, call your Personal Health Advocate to learn more about flu prevention.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day in a Healthy Way

Valentine’s Day often brings to mind cards, candy, dinner out, and romantic gifts. It’s a day that gives us all a chance to express how much we care about those nearest and dearest to us. But there’s no greater gift to someone you care about than the gift of good health and well-being. This Valentine’s Day, why not give the holiday a new meaning to those you love by giving gifts that can promote good health? Consider these fun gift suggestions that keep health top-of-mind during this heartfelt holiday:

·         For the busy person who often burns both ends of the candle, consider a gift certificate for a massage. A massage may help relieve tense muscles, alleviate stress, and promote relaxation.

·         For someone in your life who loves to cook, how about giving them a cookbook that features delicious, gourmet, healthy recipes? This can encourage eating healthier foods without taking the fun out of cooking. As an added bonus, they can always invite you over to try out those fat-free, lower calorie dishes—it’s a win-win for everyone!

·         Looking to get your loved one to exercise more?  Consider giving a pedometer, a device that counts the number of steps a person takes, which can help foster more interest in daily exercise.  Use Valentine’s Day and February—which is Heart Health Awareness month—as an opportunity to commit to fitness for a healthier heart. Come to think of it…could you benefit from a few extra steps in your life, too?  Why not buy two pedometers and take those steps together?  (You can become “sole mates!”)

·         Stumped about what to get the kids for Valentine’s Day? How about giving them a gift that starts their day off right—the gift of breakfast! Start their day off with a healthy smoothie made with fresh, antioxidant-packed fruits (berries, bananas, oranges, pineapple) and low-fat yogurt. Serve the smoothie in a plastic thermos or water bottle decorated with hearts or another seasonal design.  The kids can reuse this bottle and fill it with water or other healthy drinks.

·         Instead of gifting a high-calorie box of chocolates, how about giving a gift that has more permanence? Either write your own poem, or search online for a poem, that describes your feelings towards your loved one. Type the poem and put it in a festive frame for a gift that can bring a smile to someone’s face!

·         Go nuts on a food basket filled with healthy snacks.  Use Valentine’s-themed treat bags to create single-serve packets that contain a handful of heart-healthy nuts like walnuts, almonds or cashews.  For an extra-special touch, consider adding a little love note to each bag. Create a gift basket that includes fresh fruit like apples and bananas in addition to the treat bags.

Use this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care, and share ways that you can support each other’s health and wellness. If you are a Health Advocate member and want to learn about more heart-healthy ideas, call us!  Our Personal Health Advocates can guide you in finding a new doctor who can perform a blood pressure and cholesterol screening, a nutritionist who can help you improve your diet, and more.