How to save on prescriptions
Making smart choices will save you time and money on your prescriptions. Here are five easy ways to maximize your pharmacy benefits today.
Ask your provider or pharmacist for the lowest tiered medication or a biosimilar when available.
- When you’re filling a new medication or getting a refill, ask your provider or pharmacist if there is a lower-cost equivalent.
- Learn how to read your prescription drug formulary so you are better prepared to talk with your provider or pharmacist about your options.
Fill acute prescriptions at a health system pharmacy.
Acute medications are prescribed to treat short-term symptoms and can be filled by the health system pharmacy or an in-network pharmacy.
Filling acute medications at an in-network pharmacy will cost you more.
HSA Advantage Plan members can save on some medications related to chronic conditions
Many maintenance medications used to treat or reduce the risk of chronic conditions (such as insulin) are on the preventive drug list.
For these, HSA Advantage Plan members pay the Signature Plan copay, which is typically lower than the deductible plus coinsurance.
While these copays do not apply to the HSA Advantage Plan deductible, they do apply to the out-of-pocket maximum.
Manufacturer assistance programs
- Check the manufacturer’s website to see if other cost assistance is available. For some medications — mainly specialty and high-cost tier 2-4 medications — the pharmacy will ask you to enroll in a manufacturer coupon card program. The health system pharmacy team will assist you in this process.
- Please note, manufacturer assistance dollars do not apply to your maximum out of pocket and HSA Advantage Plan members must meet their deductible before manufacturer assistance can be applied.
Use pretax dollars to pay medication costs:
- Members of the HSA Advantage Plan can use funds from their Health Savings Account.
- Members of the Signature Plan can sign up for a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account during annual benefits enrollment.