The internet has brought a plethora of new ways for consumers to buy prescription drugs. Some are legitimate enterprises that offer convenience and savings, while others may be illegal or sell counterfeit drugs.
Use online price-compare tools and apps, such as GoodRx or RxSaver. These programs search for a drug and show prices at pharmacies in your area. Some also have coupon cards that can save you money.
Price-compare tools
Price comparison tools help customers shop smart by showing them the lowest prices for a given product. In addition to displaying prices, these tools offer valuable insights, such as market trends and competitor analysis. Choosing the right tool for your business is important because it can have a direct impact on sales.
A good price-compare tool is easy to use and offers a variety of useful features, such as the ability to filter results by country or channel. It should also be able to track different variants and provide data in csv format. This is especially important in the pharmaceutical industry, where each product comes in multiple packages.
These tools can help consumers save time and money by allowing them to compare the prices of prescription drugs and other medical services before they make a purchase. However, they are not without limitations. A 2016 study published in JAMA found that these tools may not increase health care transparency and could lead to erroneous claims.
Online pharmacies
Online pharmacies are businesses that sell medicines, including those that require a prescription, over the Internet. Many of them provide a medical consultation and a written consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet. Others offer a direct relationship between the patient and a physician. These sites are not to be confused with mail-order pharmacies, which sell drugs without a prescription. These companies typically operate illegally, and are not subject to the same regulations as brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
Some researchers have studied the quality of online pharmacies. Peterson [87] found that all of his sample provided drug information, while Wagner et al found that all of their small sample of 4 US-based online pharmacies had better CMI than community pharmacy websites.
A pharma app can simplify the process of shopping for a drug by letting customers compare prices, save medications to their profiles and allow them to track order statuses. A pharmacy app can also let customers contact specialists by email or messaging within the platform.
Discount programs
Unlike copay cards, these programs are designed to connect you with specific drug manufacturers. You can find these discounts by searching online or asking your pharmacist for help. However, the best discount program for you will depend on your medications and health conditions. Look for a program with credibility, such as the Better Business Bureau or a membership organization.
Stacey Swartz, PharmD, co-owner of Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray in Alexandria, Virginia, says she’s very selective about the coupon programs that her store accepts. These discounts often require a higher operating cost to process the claim, and they may not cover the pharmacy’s costs, she notes.
In addition, accumulator and maximizer programs can lead to costly surprises for uninsured patients. For example, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation recently published a graphic showing that uninsured patients can end up paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars for maintenance drugs through these programs. Moreover, they can be difficult for patients to understand and navigate. https://pharmalabglobal.com/product-category/tb500/