Minimizing Your Prescription Drug Costs with a Health Savings Account

Starting in 2006, no plans that are qualified torefills. This will get you a year's worth of drugs,
work with a health savings account may coverwith only one shipping fee.One company that has
prescription drugs as an insured benefit until aftergood prices is Save Now Discount Pharmacy.
the deductible is met. So for HSA owners, one ofThey have a 'no insurance' business model, and
your biggest health expenses could be forhave been able to reduce their prices by
prescription drugs. Here are some ways to reduceeliminating the cost of dealing with insurance
those costs.GenericsA report was published thiscompanies. They also post prices online, so it's
week by Express Scripts Inc., a pharmacy benefiteasy to compare. Unfortunately, they are only
manager, indicating that increased use of genericlicensed in 13 states at present, but they will
drugs would save consumers $24 billion in 2005.apparently be expanding soon. You can check
Generic drugs cost an average of $60 less perthem out at Prescription DrugsThe city of Boston,
month, than brand name drugs.A report wasthe city of San Francisco, the state of Wisconsin,
published this week by Express Scripts Inc., aand the State of Minnesota all use a company
pharmacy benefit manager, indicating thatcalled Total Pharmacy Care to give their citizens
increased use of generic drugs would saveaccess to international mail-order
consumers $24 billion in 2005. Generic drugs costpharmaceuticals.Officially, re-importation of
an average of $60 less per month, than brandprescription drugs by anyone other than the
name drugs.It is important to understand thatdrug's manufacturer is a violation of federal law.
brand name drugs often have little or no benefitBut FDA enforcement guidelines allow agents to
over older generic versions. A prime example isexercise discretion for drugs imported for
Prilosec, a heartburn medication whose patentpersonal use. According to the guidelines, "FDA
was scheduled to expire in April of 2001. Prilosecpersonnel may consider a more permissive policy"
consists of two "isomers", a right-hand versionin cases where an individual seeks to import no
and a left hand version. Studies showed an 87%more than a three month supply of a product
success rate for this drug. AstraZeneca, thethat does not appear to pose an unreasonable
manufacturer, decided to offer a newly patentedrisk, if the individual affirms in writing that it is for
single isomer version called Nexium, which showedpersonal use and provides the name and address
only fractionally better results with a 90%of the U.S. doctor supervising their
success rate.A $500 million marketing campaigntreatment.Advocacy groups cite these guidelines
ensued, aimed at both physicians and consumers,as proof that re-importation is legal. But in a
to convince them that Nexium isFebruary 2003 letter, the FDA's Associate
"state-of-the-art". AstraZeneca now sells over $3Commissioner, Thomas Hubbard, said the
billion worth of pills annually, at $120 per box. Thisguidelines have been misinterpreted. They were
is a drug that is essentially only a repackagedmeant to allow FDA agents discretion in allowing
version Prilosec, which sells for about $20 perU.S. citizens access to medicines for serious
box.When your doctor is prescribing a drug, makeconditions that were unavailable or hard to find in
sure to ask him if there is any benefit to taking athe states, not to allow international comparison
brand name over a generic, and let it be knownprice shopping.Nevertheless, thousands of U.S.
that you'll be paying for the prescription out ofcitizens have found they can save money by
your own pocket.Drug Discountbuying their drugs from outside the country. Drug
ProgramsPharmaceutical prices are a lot likeprice comparisons from several countries (Canada
hospital prices - very few people actually pay theis not always the cheapest!) can be found at
listed retail price. There are numerous drugKeep in mind that since this importation is
discount cards available on the market, whichtechnically illegal (though rarely enforced), it may
provide savings that average 15% to 40% belownot be proper to use your HSA to pay for
retail at participating pharmacies. Typically, mostprescriptions purchased this way. Talk to your
of the chain pharmacies (CVS, Eckerd, Walmart,accountant if you decide to go this route.Avoiding
Kroger, Costco, etc.) participate in thesePrescription DrugsThe people who spend the least
plans.Many insurance companies include discounton prescription drugs are those who rarely take
cards as an additional benefit that comes withthem. The need to take an antibiotic for an acute
their coverage. Because these cards are notinfection may seem fairly expensive, but it is
considered to be insurance, they can be offerednothing compared to the cost of taking a
with an HSA-qualified plan. Insurance companiesmedication for the rest of your life. Unfortunately,
that provide Rx discount cards with their HSAby age 45 over half of all Americans are on a
plans include American Medical Security, Anthemregular prescription medication, and by age 65
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Assurant, Golden Rule,nearly half are on three or more prescriptions
Imerica, Unicare, and World. We also know of oneduring any given month. Most of this is entirely
HSA administrator - - that provides a drugpreventable.Some of the biggest selling drugs are
discount program to people who useto treat elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and
them.Stand-alone drug discount plans are alsoacid reflux. A paper published this year in the
available to anyone with access to the internet.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition entitled Origins
We've found the average cost of these discountand evolution of the western diet: Health
plans to be around $7 or $8 a month. HSA forimplications for the 21st century, explains how
America has secured for its members (andthese and other common health issues did not
readers of this newsletter) a free discount Rxexist for our hunter-gatherer ancestors, and how
card through a company called Drug Carddiet is the root cause of so many of the health
America. To enroll online, simply visit:problems people in our culture experience.The
9c22-d335be23527c}. You may want this card inauthor is Dr. Loren Cordain, one of my professors
addition to any other cards, since the card thatat Colorado State University. In a nutshell, he
offers the best deal usually varies, depending onshows why the healthiest diet is one based on
the drug.If you're looking for a plan that hasfruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meat. Foods to
co-pays for prescription drugs rather than onlybe avoided or limited include added sugars,
discounts, American Health Care Options offers ashortening and other processed vegetable oils,
four-tiered prescription card program where yougrains, and legumes. These are all foods that did
pay $10, $20, $50, or a special discount price fornot exist in our diet prior to about 10,000 years
generic and brand name drugs. You can check theago, and are thus foods that we are not
tier of any drug you're interested in, and applygenetically adapted to eat.Remember that all
online at The cost of this plan is $19.95 per monthqualified expenses, including prescription drugs, can
for an individual, or $29.95 for a family.Mail OrderIfbe paid for tax-free, from your HSA. If you've
the need for a prescription is not urgent, or if youstill got a traditional health insurance policy and
are on long-term medication, mail order is almostwould like to investigate a health savings account,
always a less expensive way to buy prescriptionplease visit us at HSA for America and we'll be
drugs. It is generally cheaper to get a 90-dayhappy to help you.By Wiley P Long - President,
supply because of a volume discount. IHSA for America. At HSA for America, we
recommend asking your physician to write themakes it easy to learn about and set up health
prescription for a 3-monthly supply plus threesavings accounts.