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Shocking News that your doctor didn’t tell you!

By

Pastor Cheryl

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Sheltered in Faith Anchored in Grace is here to offer hope, practical tools, and spiritual encouragement for those who struggle with different life issues. God cares for our whole being — body, mind, and soul and this week you will find tips on how to save on prescriptions.Through it all, remember you are not alone!

Shocking News that your doctor didn’t tell you!

Did you know you might be paying more for your prescriptions than you need to?

Often your doctors don’t tell you this good news. Your pharmasist doesn’t share the savings possible. Subsequently many people don’t realize that you can often save 50%–80% simply by comparing prices, using free discount cards, or asking the right questions at the pharmacy. Whether you have insurance or not, it’s worth checking!

I was given prescription for a medication that was ringing up to over $1,700 per month! I told the doctor that I simply could not pay for the medication. She said, “Well that’s okay. We will get you signed up for the discount drug plan through the drug company. If they approve you, it will cost $5.00 per treatment.” WHAT? How is that possible? They got me hooked up with the manufacturer and I began getting the medication for $5.00 per treatment. WOW! I was shocked.

When my husband faced a similar problem with his prescription, I said, “Did you contact the manufacturer? Often they have plans to help save consumers on the prescription.” Did the doctor tell him? No. Did the pharmacist offer this information? No. He then contacted the manufacturer and was given a deep discount on the medication.

This is a common practice, yet most consumers, people like you and me, do not know about the possible savings. That almost makes me sick!

So I decided to do something about it. A plan. A ministry. A way to share this with you as we shelter in faith anchored in grace. Here’s the information…

How to Save Money on Prescription Medications — and Help Others Do the Same

💊 SECTION 1: Prescription Savings Resources

1. Prescription discount cards & apps

  • GoodRx: Compare prices across pharmacies and use free coupons to save up to ~80% off cash prices—you just show the coupon to your pharmacist (en.wikipedia.org, goodrx.com).
  • SingleCare, WellRx/ScriptSave, BuzzRx, Drugs.com: Similar services that let you search for a drug, pick a coupon, and present it at the pharmacy .
  • Walgreens’ Rx Savings Finder is powered by RxSense and helps find discounts specific to Walgreens locations (walgreens.com).

🏷 2. Manufacturer coupons & patient assistance programs (PAPs)

  • Many drug companies offer free single-use coupons (especially for brand-name meds) and long-term PAPs for people with low income or without insurance (thesun.co.uk).
  • Examples include savings up to $5/month or free medications. For instance, Novartis has provided zero-cost coupons for Medicare patients (time.com).
  • If a discount card isn’t enough, a Reddit user suggests:

“Your best option…would likely be the manufacturer patient assistance program… work with the doctor to find a generic” (walgreens.com, reddit.com).

💡 3. Compare options & explore generics

  • Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if a generic or therapeutic alternative exists; these are almost always cheaper (vox.com).
  • Compare prices at multiple pharmacies—sometimes paying cash without insurance is cheaper than using your insurance copay (vox.com).
  • Consider programs like Cost‑Plus Drugs (Mark Cuban’s startup) for low-cost mail‑order generics (costplusdrugs.com).

🏥 4. Insurance‑based support & Medicare strategies

  • If you’re on Medicare Part D, you might qualify for “Extra Help” to reduce premiums, deductibles, and co‑pays. The annual income/resource limits (2025) are:
    • Single: ≤ $23,475 income and ≤ $17,600 in resources
    • Married: ≤ $31,725 and ≤ $35,130 in resources (medicare.gov).
  • Under the 2025 Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare Part D now caps out‑of‑pocket spending at $2,000/year and includes a monthly $35 insulin cap (washingtonpost.com).
  • Some insurers (e.g., Costco drug discount card, Walmart) offer in‑store discount programs outside insurance (costco.com).

🤝 5. Non‑profits & surplus medicine

  • Organizations like NeedyMeds, SIRUM, and disease‑specific nonprofits can help cover drug costs or redistribute unused medications (time.com).

✅ Tips for making the most of savings

TipDescription
Decide between insurance vs. cash discountCan’t combine both in one transaction—choose whichever is cheaper .
Use mail‑orderOrdering 90‑day supplies via mail‑order pharmacies or Cost‑Plus may be significantly cheaper.
Reevaluate medsAsk your provider periodically if the prescription is still needed or if dosage can be reduced .

✅ So what can you do right now?

  1. Check price and coupons on GoodRx, SingleCare, or similar.
  2. Compare that to your insurance copay.
  3. If costs still high, ask your doctor/pharmacist about generics or therapeutic alternatives.
  4. Visit manufacturer websites to see if coupons or PAPs exist.
  5. If on Medicare, check eligibility for Extra Help and review your Part D plan, especially for the new 2025 caps.
  6. Look into nonprofit resources for additional assistance.

I am here to listen and hopefully direct you to the best resource for you. Please let me know if you want help finding coupons for a specific medication, checking manufacturer programs, or walking through your Medicare options!

Follow me here for other spiritual resources for you to stay sheltered in faith and anchored in grace.

Blessings, Pastor Cheryl

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