By Trish Svoboda/Image courtesy Canva
The cost of prescription medications are rising causing a growing a crisis for many Kansans. But experts say patients can take steps to manage expenses while protecting their health.
Joshua Fredell, pharmacist and senior vice president at CVS Caremark, said the first step is understanding your prescription drug benefit.
“You want to understand your prescription drug benefit. So literally those things that are covered by your plan, what copay tier they may be on. Sometimes people don’t understand that for the vast majority of health care conditions, there are many safe and effective lower cost options like generic drugs and others. So, it’s a really important place to start.”
Patients are encouraged to discuss these options with their doctors or pharmacists, as switching medications can lead to significant savings.
Fredell said it’s important that people don’t take shortcuts when it comes to their health. He said that “Taking your medication as prescribed today really helps you be healthier tomorrow.” Staying on track may also lower long-term medical costs because overtime missing doses can create more serious health problems and higher expenses.
There are a few simple tips to help. First, he said, explore lower-cost medication options, since affordability is a key reason people skip doses. Second, use reminders-many pharmacies, benefit managers, and health plans provide tools, or you can use digital apps to track daily doses and monthly refills. Finally, consider home delivery from a local or mail-order pharmacy to make staying on schedule easier. Fredell said following these steps helps patients stay consistent with their treatment and improves overall health in the long run.
Pharmacists are valuable local resources, offering guidance on medications and connecting patients to additional support. Online tools from pharmacies, insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers can also link patients with community groups facing similar health challenges.
Alongside medications, Fredell said that there’s other steps we can take to improve our health and save money. “Wellness and preventative exams, lifestyle changes, just a little bit more walking and a little bit different choices in our diet can have huge positive impacts for helping us manage our health. And when we’re doing that, we’re going to help lower the cost for ourselves as well as for the healthcare system.”
For more information, patients can contact their health insurance provider, or local pharmacy.
