In light of the bad economy, drug companies have been mass producing coupon cards (aka voucher kits/cards, savings cards, etc.) to help patients save money on their prescription medications. I think this is absolutely awesome!
In fact, I highly stress you check out manufacturer websites or call the maker of each of your prescription medications to see if they have any savings programs going on at the moment!
My point in bringing this topic up though (aside from informing you of the existence of such programs) is to teach you how to make the process of using these cards a more pleasurable experience at the pharmacy.
As of right now, what I find happening over and over again is patients are waiting until they pickup their prescriptions to inform the pharmacy staff that they have a coupon card to use. This causes a little angst at the pharmacy because the processing of said coupon card is a little more difficult than say, processing your prescription through your insurance.
For one, each program has different processing requirements so it takes a little bit of time to figure out what needs to be entered into the system (i.e. codes, ID numbers, group numbers, etc.) in order to get the claim to go through. If you plan to wait around for your prescription, be sure to allow the pharmacy staff a few extra minutes to figure out how to process the discount/coupon card.
Some of these coupon cards need to be activated by the patient before use…please do this before you hand the card over to the pharmacy! You’ll know it needs to be activated if there’s a sticker or message on the front of the card telling you to do so (much like activating a new credit card). This way you won’t come back to the pharmacy just to find out the savings from the coupon card hasn’t been applied yet!
Another great idea is to read the rules and terms of the savings card. All the necessary information should be typed (in very small letters!) somewhere on the card (front or back). By doing this, you’ll know whether your card can be used for refills or if it can only be used one time. Some programs can only be used once in a lifetime…crazy, right? But very true!
Knowing the details of the program will decrease stressful situations at the pharmacy. It would be no fun if you were planning on paying a certain amount for your prescription, but then learn that you actually have to pay more because the coupon card can only be applied to the first fill of the prescription or because it expired.
The absolute best time to tell your pharmacy that you have a coupon card to use for your prescription is right when you drop the prescription off. If you need a refill of a medication that has a coupon card to go with it, make sure you talk directly to someone in the pharmacy versus using the automated system to initiate the refill process. There would be know way for us to know you have a coupon card to use unless you actually tell us…this will eliminate any delays at the pick-up window!
Be prepared for the pharmacy staff to have to call the company involved with the coupon card…some of the cards are really confusing and it’s sometimes faster to get help from a representative than it is to play around with the card information to try to get it to go through. Your patience would be much appreciated and the process will go much smoother if all involved are calm, cool, and collected!
One last thing, I’m pretty sure all of these coupon cards are for brand name medications only. Just thought you should know!
With all that being said, another great way for you to keep money in your bank account is to view our free video course on how to save money on your prescription medications. Check it out for sure!
Know of any other ways to make using drug coupon cards more enjoyable? Share your thoughts below or e-mail me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com.
Thanks for tuning in…happy weekend!