In this time of year, many Medicare beneficiaries have to pay in the “donut hole” or gap between Medicare for drug coverage and what each of them paid for.

The way health insurance works is that it covers to $ 2,700 per year in prescription costs. Then stop reporting on Medicare. Insurance coverage begins only when the cost back to $ 6,100 higher than this year. This means that drug costs between $ 2,700 and $ 6,100 paid by the individual himself.

What can you do to reduce your medication and avoid Doughnut Hole

Generics

One of the most important steps you can take to reduce your costs is for drugs, to use a generic product. A generic drug is the same as a brand whose patent has expired. Which are generic and brand name drug, the same chemicals. The generic drug is sold under the chemical name. For example, Zestril ® brand name for lisinopril and Pravachol ® is the brand name for pravastatin.

Generic drugs are much cheaper than brand name drugs and in the same way. In addition, there are many pharmacies that now offer many generic drugs for only $ 4.00 per month. This is a very significant savings and help you lower your drug costs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have your medication is available in generic form and whether this is for you.

Drug at a lower cost alternative

Many doctors prescribe cheaper medicines instead of expensive, new drugs. These are not the same drugs are identical, are very similar in effect. For example, if you need medication for your cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe a new drug costs $ 150.00 per month. Otherwise, your doctor may prescribe a lower cost, like medicines that cost only $ 25.00 per month. With cheaper drugs to save $ 125.00 per month or $ 1,500.00 per year.
» Read more: How to Reduce Your Prescription Costs and Avoid the “Donut Hole”

While it is true that many drugs help people live longer and better, a host of others you can in other ways that you know not to hurt. complement Pharmaceutical and manufacturers need to increase sales and profits, because all companies, in part, through the development of drugs for the treatment of diseases and also people who need drugs to prevent, to convince, illness or reduce the perceived risk of future disease . The result is that the non-disclosure of potentially harmful side effects of the drugs that she is to do routine.

The last training for new pills on the shelves and in people’s mouth began to help as the deregulation of government and a serious attempt to combat HIV / AIDS patients access to important life-prolonging drugs collided. In the 1980s there was a strong movement, the role of government regulation in all businesses and budgets of regulatory agencies like the FDA to reduce, as part of this effort has been reduced. The Reagan administration, the FDA as a bloated bureaucracy that slows down the approval of drugs and was in the way business processes are painted.

There was some truth to that request. At the time it took up to two years for drug approval, two years too long if you were suffering from HIV / AIDS. During the 1980s, AIDS activists and patients against the feelings of the pharmaceutical company complained it took too long to drugs that can fight the disease on the market. The pharmaceutical industry has an open ear and a loud voice to calls borrowed approval of drugs against AIDS as Agenerase (amprenavir) speed. Since the drugs on the patent for a limited number of years, spent every year the FDA approval wait for the loss of a year means profits.
» Read more: Why Do Americans Take So Many Prescription Medications?

You have probably noticed that some of the drugs that you see in grocery stores or pharmacies, also available with a doctor’s prescription. Are these drugs the same? Do they work as well as the prescription version? What is the process, a prescription drug is to be a prescription drug?

Once prescription drugs are approved for the release of persons, the company holds the patent for the drug starts, it can not be copied and sold by another company. This patent only lasts for a specified period. When the patent expires, other companies can post generic versions of prescription drugs, patients should be offered at a lower price.

Manufacturers give their drugs medications to improve their profits and protect them from the due date to competing companies. If a product is sold over the counter, it is likely that more people will buy because they do not need to consult a doctor and obtain a prescription. Publication of a prescription drug to eliminate the need for the counter generic products, which are available at doctor’s office.

Sometimes, prescription drug companies also release an enhanced version of their old medications for those who are held to be covered by their health care. People do not pay out of pocket for the OTC version of the drug increased, so that the company is a drug that has a different active ingredient or a time-release to release.

The prescription drug companies should devote some of their money to attract a new advertising campaign, the people who buy their prescription products, design and encourage them to consult their doctor and get the new form of the prescription version. The business of prescription drugs is based on the fact that his advertising work and people start buying their drugs.
» Read more: How Prescription Drugs Switch to Over-the-Counter Medications