medications_rx_cost_prescription_drugs]]>Medicare’s Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)]]>, introduced in January 2006, was specifically designed to cut drug costs for seniors and people with chronic disabilities. Some reports have shown the plan as a cost-savings, while others have portrayed it as being no less expensive than non-Medicare plans. To address the large cost of medications, there are several online pharmacies and other companies that offer additional discounts beyond what the government can offer. As you do your homework to learn more about the Medicare drug plan, you may also want to look into these online prescription services, some of which are listed below.

Major Umbrella Site

Partnering with pharmaceutical companies, doctors, pharmacists, patient advocates, and community groups, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) provides a single access point to 400+ public and private programs designed to aid patients lacking prescription coverage. Along with information on government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, the site covers 200+ programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Organizations collaborating with PPA include the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, the Lupus Foundation of American, the NAACP, and the National Medical Association. PPA’s toll-free number is 1-888-477-2669.

Additional Online Prescription Services

  • DestinationRX is a free-membership site that searches for the lowest online prices for specific medications. The company describes itself as providing “free, easy-to-use tools to help you securely manage and make decisions about prescription purchases for you and your family.”
  • NeedyMeds.org collects information about patient assistance programs for people without health insurance or who can’t afford to buy their medications. The company claims that the free information contained on its website is reliable because they regularly contact drug companies to confirm the information’s accuracy.
  • BenefitsCheckUp is an interactive site run by the National Council on Aging. The company helps people aged 55 and over connect with private and government programs that may help them pay for prescription drugs.