Show Me The Money

Let's talk about money...and how to save some at the pharmacy counter

When I first started sharing my vision for Atlas with friends I got the full range of reactions - from a bored “Oh” to medical provider friends excitedly asking for business cards. One friend, when I explained what I would be doing said “Ohhhh….so it’s for rich people.”

Yikes.

What?!

Y’all, I did not start this business venture to just help “rich people!” I started it to provide a service that I think is valuable to a large range of people (and budgets).

At Atlas, part of our mission is to reduce errors, waste, and excess spending associated with the current healthcare setup and to help you SAVE. How?

• Making sure you get answers to important questions focused on preventing errors, confusion and extra provider visits (and/or time in the hospital = BIG $$$)

• Navigating confusing insurance options and extra requirements meant to steer people into spending more out of pocket dollars than necessary

• Identifying possible medication duplications or overuse contributing to additional medication costs

And the biggest savings? Time.

We all know that TIME IS MONEY and there are periods of life when there just never seems to be enough of it to go around. If you are responsible for helping a parent or other family member with their healthcare journey, this can feel especially true.

You can love your family members with your whole heart and still not have the ability to set aside hours of time to wade through medication lists and confusing test results. I’m here to help fill in these gaps and be an advocate for your loved ones when you find yourself limited by time or distance.

With that being said, MONEY IS ALSO MONEY! So here are a few quick pharmacy tips & tricks you can use on your own to save dollars today at the pharmacy counter.

• If your insurance company charges a high copay for a generic medication, check prices on GoodRx.com or another of the many coupon websites out there now (EzRx.com, etc. There are lots!). These types of coupon cards are accepted at most chain pharmacies but may not apply if you use an independent pharmacy.

**NOTE: Keep in mind that independent pharmacies will generally offer better personal attention and sometimes have free delivery or other services… so its important to decide what is more valuable to you at the time!

• If you are receiving a brand name medication, look for a coupon online from the manufacturer. I’ve seen this save patients literally thousands of dollars over the course of a year.

**Check the fine print on these coupons before you get to the pharmacy to save yourself time & frustration in the long run - you may have to call a 1-800 number to activate the card before use and if you also have Medicaid or Medicare you may not be eligible.

• If you use a medication that’s been labeled as a “specialty drug” like an injectable immunologic (ex: Humira, Remicade, etc) - find a specialty pharmacy associated with a hospital. They are often able to get better prices on these medications because of their hospital association and will generally have a dedicated staff working on these prescriptions to give you the best deal possible.

These are just a few general tips I often share with family and friends, but I’d love to chat and see if I can be helpful for you or your loved ones specific healthcare navigation needs as well!

Krista@atlasadvocates.com