Taking your medicine as prescribed is important
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol and don't take medication as prescribed, your chance of complications can be serious.
Here's what you can do if you need help
Can’t afford it?
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lower-cost or generic medicines.
- See if your health plan has programs to save you money. See your plan materials or call customer service to see if you’re eligible.
- Try mail order. If your benefits include mail-order prescriptions you can get prescriptions in the mail. It’s convenient and may save money.
- Switch from monthly refills. You may save with 90-day prescriptions.
- Stay in your pharmacy network. Search pharmacy networks.
- Shop around. Not all pharmacies charge the same price for the same medicine. Search prescription drugs and see costs.
- Learn about your plan. Understand your prescription drug benefits.
Forget or don’t have time?
We’ve all been there. Sometimes a reminder can help.
- Use a reminder app on your phone. Search the Apple or Android app stores for a prescription reminder or pill tracker app.
- Write it down.
- Ask your pharmacist about automatic refills if you forget to refill your prescription.
- Refill prescriptions less often with 90-day prescriptions (by mail or retail).
- Get drugs by mail. Use mail order to save time. It might save money, too.
Don’t understand or bothered by side effects?
Sometimes it’s not clear how you should be taking your medicines. Your doctor and friends or family can help.
- Ask your doctor to write down detailed instructions and make sure they're clear to you.
- Take a friend or family member with you to your doctor's visit to listen and ask questions.
- Talk with your doctor about help for any side effects. Other options may be available.