If you should be like many Americans, you are without health insurance. And the ranks of the uninsured are growing. According to the National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC), the number of uninsured was a record-breaking 45 million in 2003. The growing quantity of uninsured is, in large part, being driven by individuals abandoning the corporate life to pursue their dreams as entrepreneurs and small company owners.
Unfortunately, this trend comes at a time when more and more medications are available to help treat the serious (and the not severe) illnesses that most of us face today. But as you almost certainly already know, without medical insurance coverage, the prescription medications that you might want are frequently too much out of reach; they are too costly!
To create matters worse, most prescription medications cost much more in the United States than they do in other industrialized nations. These cost differences, together with the fact that so many Americans do not have prescription medication coverage, have spurred a national dialogue and heated debate. Despite these discussions, the needed regulatory changes have not materialized. Thus, the uninsured are left feeling that no affordable prescription coverage options exist.
Don’t Give Up Hope: There Are Options!
Fortunately, however, you are not without options. In reality, it is likely as you can pay the medications that you need. How, you ask, is this possible? Well, keep reading!
You will find two primary ways you can afford or spend less on your prescription medication. They include participating in a single of the numerous (National, State, and Pharmaceutical) assistance programs and purchasing your medication from pharmacies located not in the U.S.
Assistance Programs: Save From 25% to 100%!
Most persons are not aware there is a vast selection of programs available that provide either discounted as well as free prescription medications to eligible U.S. citizens. In reality, you can find over thirty different national programs, just about any state in the U.S. offers some prescription medication assistance, and there are many than 250 various assistance programs provided by the countless domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies.
As you can probably guess, navigating the countless programs to get the one that best fits your preferences can be complicated. Each program has different eligibility requirements, application requirements, etc. However, the task required to take advantage of this program that best fits your preferences will more than likely pay off free prescription. If you should be eligible for assistance through one of these programs, you can expect to save lots of from 25% to 100% at the expense of your prescription medication. Savings like which are hard to ignore. And luckily, you can find powerful tools available to assist you in seeing this program that’s best for you.
Purchasing Your Medication from Pharmacies outside the U.S.
Let’s assume that you do not qualify for an assistance program; there’s always the possibility of buying your medication from pharmacies located outside the U.S. While there are many pharmacies in a variety of countries that are willing to sell to U.S. consumers, the best option is Canada. Why? The clear answer is twofold. First, buying from Canada is safer. The Canadian equivalent of the FDA, Health Canada, is stricter compared to the FDA (and other countries’regulatory agencies) in its approval of new drugs. Second, Canadian pharmacies, usually, can sell medications for far less than pharmacies in the U.S. and other countries. They could do this for the following reasons:
- The Federal Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) regulates medications that are under patent. The PMRB dictates the total prices which can be charged in Canada for patented drugs.
- Health insurers, such as the provincial drug benefit plans, negotiate with the major pharmaceuticals to secure more favorable pricing on the medications which they cover.
- Usually, your $1 will buy you approximately $1.40 to $1.60 in medication from Canada.
- Health Canada is significantly quicker to approve generic versions of the patented medication. The result is generic medications, which always cost less than proprietary drugs, are available sooner in Canada.
Although there are many Canadian pharmacies, you can find just a select few that you may wish to buy from. Exactly like in the U.S., there are many people prepared to rip you off. And where your quality of life is worried, you do not want to take a chance. Consequently, navigating the Canadian pharmacy option can be confusing and complicated. Luckily, just like the assistance programs, you can find powerful tools available to assist you to find the pharmacy that’s best for you.
It’s Simple to Start Saving
Because you don’t have medical insurance doesn’t mean that you can’t pay the medication that you need. The many assistance programs offered to U.S. citizens combined with the viable option of purchasing your prescription medication from Canada present the uninsured with the ability to choose the drug which they need. Visit Rx Savings Guide [http://www.rxdiscountguide.info] to find out about the various tools available to assist you afford your prescription medication.
