Finding cheaper medicine

Paying for prescription drugs is getting harder. New drugs are more expensive than they used to be, and consumers are shouldering more of the out-of-pocket costs. But there is help out there.

1) Help for the unemployed

Pfizer recently announced that it would provide 70 of its most widely prescribed prescription drugs for free to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance. The company will give away the medications for up to a year to people who have lost their jobs since January 1 and who have been on the Pfizer drug for at least three months. To sign up call 866-706-2400. Warehouses like Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's also have competitive prices on medicine.

2) Use the web

The web is a great tool for comparing price. Check out the following: Needymeds.com and destinationrx.com. One word of caution here, beware of fly-by-night sites, where your risk of getting counterfeit or tainted drugs rises. Look for sites that carry the "VIPPS" seal - it stands for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site.

3) Drug discount cards

Think about drug discount cards. They are available from state governments, membership associations, non-profit organizations or for-profit businesses. You may be able to save anywhere from 15 to 50 percent on certain medications. The cards may have annual fees that range from $30-$60 per family or up to $9 bucks a month. Here are some places to get discount drug cards.

Togetherrxaccess.com, Merck has a drug discount card program. Go to merckhelps.com and Pfizer also has a program called Pfizer friends. Keep in mind there may be income requirements. And of course, don’t be shy. Ask your doctor for medicine samples.

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