Medicines are one of those unavoidable expenses, and they can really start to pinch the pocket. I remember when I purchased two strips of tablets for my uncle at the pharmacy, and walked out with a bill that looked like I had purchased food for a week! That was when I started figuring out some little tricks to bring the cost down, and I want to share a couple that you might find helpful as well.
Just Ask Your Doctor
This seems simple enough, but the majority of people never do this: doctors tend to prescribe and suggest the more expensive brand. If you just say, “Doctor, is there a cheaper option?” They will usually suggest one. I have done this several times now, and it definitely works.
Don’t ignore generics
The absolute best way to save money is with generics. They have the same formula, they have the same effect, and they do not have shiny packaging. Once I asked my chemist if there was a generic version of a medicine priced at ₹500. The chemist handed me another strip that cost ₹120. My usual response was, “Is it real?” and the answer was yes! It worked even more effectively than what my doctor prescribed. It’s just that most of us never ask.
Consider Visiting More Than One Pharmacy
Not all pharmacies sell at the same price. I discovered this when the chemist I usually went to had run out of stock. I popped into another, and the same tablet was ₹50 less. Since that day, I never just pick one store blindly. You can potentially save a decent amount from simply comparing quickly.
Online Pharmacies Can Work for You
If using apps is an option for you, please try! If you’re like me and are apprehensive at first, let me tell you what happened to me. I ordered through one of those apps and had tried it out. I was pleasantly surprised when I received 20% off without asking. Just for the fun of it, that was a total savings of ₹600 for one order. They even bring it home, which is wonderful when you are tired!
Jan Aushadhi Stores
These stores are government-operated generic shops usually with substantially lower prices than the pharmacies. The challenge is that you won’t find every medicine there nor are these stores everywhere. For those with a store near them, I highly recommend it. You will be surprised with the price difference.
Buying in Bulk, but Wisely
If you take medications daily, for example for BP or sugar, it does make sense to buy a month’s supply, as your chemist will likely offer an extra discount if you buy more. However, don’t accumulate indiscriminately. On one occasion, I purchased enough quantity that half expired before using them. So, true, I wasted my money rather than saved it.
Small is Big
Sometimes it’s just small things, like if pharmacies offer loyalty points, or look for pharmacy “discount days” at a large chain. Saving 5-10% is easy to overlook in one pharmacy visit, but saving every time you give a pharmacist your prescription adds up quickly over months.
Just a Heads Up
Don’t be enticed by the cheapest strip before checking on basics like expiry date and packaging. Of course, you want to save, but safety is most important. You always want to purchase from trusted sources, even if that packing a price.
A Final Word
We can’t get away from paying for medications, but we can escape some of the grasp of pricing. Ask for generics, compare shopping, app store options, and think about bulk purchasing, With a little practice, you will wonder why you ever purchased at the posted price without thinking twice.
