Honestly, one of the hardest parts of my job isn’t diagnosing — it’s finding out, weeks later, that a patient quietly stopped taking their medication because the refill cost too much. No call, no question asked. They just quietly went without. That happens more than most people realize, and it’s almost always avoidable.
After years of treating patients across Alaska — many in communities where the nearest pharmacy is a long drive or a short flight away — I’ve picked up a lot of strategies that genuinely work. These aren’t complicated loopholes. They’re simple steps that most people just haven’t been told about.
Ask Your Provider About Generic Alternatives
This is the single most effective thing you can do right now. Generic medications contain the exact same active ingredient as brand-name drugs and go through the same FDA approval process. The only difference is the price, which can be 80 to 90 percent lower.
Honestly, I think about cost every time I prescribe something. But I can only do so much without knowing what’s actually affordable for you. If you’ve been picking up a brand-name medication and quietly wincing at the price — ask about a generic. The science is the same. The price usually isn’t. And it’s a completely normal thing to bring up.
Use GoodRx or Similar Discount Programs
GoodRx is free to use and can dramatically cut the cost of many common prescriptions — sometimes more than your actual insurance copay. You search the medication name on their website or app, enter your zip code, and it shows you the price at nearby pharmacies.
For patients in remote parts of Alaska who use mail-order pharmacies, these discount cards often work there too. Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs (costplusdrugs.com) is another option worth bookmarking — they sell hundreds of generic medications at transparent, low prices with no membership fee.
Neither of these requires insurance. They work for anyone.
Look Into Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs
If you’re on a brand-name medication that doesn’t have a generic yet — and it’s expensive — the pharmaceutical company that makes it likely has a patient assistance program. These programs provide the drug-free or at a very low cost to people who qualify financially.
RxAssist.org is a free directory that lists hundreds of these programs and tells you how to apply. The process takes some paperwork, but for medications that cost hundreds of dollars a month, it’s absolutely worth the effort.
Consider a 90-Day Supply Instead of a 30-Day Supply.
Many pharmacies and mail-order services offer a lower per-pill cost when you fill a 90-day supply versus a 30-day supply. If you’re on a maintenance medication — something you take every day for a chronic condition — this switch alone can save you $30 to $50 per prescription per year.
Ask your pharmacy what their pricing looks like for a 90-day fill. If your current prescription is only written for 30 days, your provider can update it to a 90-day supply during your next visit.
Double-Check What Your Insurance Actually Covers
Many people don’t know their plan’s formulary — the list of drugs their insurance covers and at what tier. A Tier 1 drug might cost $5, while a Tier 3 version of the same medication could cost $60.
If a medication your doctor prescribed is on a higher tier, there are two options worth exploring. First, ask your provider if there’s a therapeutically equivalent medication on a lower tier. Second, your provider can submit a prior authorization to your insurance company requesting coverage for the specific drug — this takes a bit of back-and-forth but often works.
Use Telehealth to Avoid Unnecessary Urgent Care Visits
There’s a cost that doesn’t come in a prescription bottle — it’s the visit itself. The drive. The wait. The company. For a lot of my patients, getting to any kind of clinic isn’t a quick errand, it’s a whole ordeal. And when you’re doing that every few months just for a refill or a routine check-in, it adds up in ways that are easy to overlook until you actually do the math.
A virtual visit with me at Telemedicine Alaska costs a flat $75 — no surprises, no travel, no waiting room. For Alaska residents in rural areas, especially, this can save hundreds of dollars a year just in time and transportation costs, before you even factor in the visit fee itself.
I can prescribe medications, review your current treatment plan, and discuss cost-effective alternatives — all in a single video call from your phone or computer.
Talk About Cost Openly With Your Provider
Your provider should know if a medication is too expensive for you. Not because they’ll feel bad, but because it changes the clinical conversation. There are almost always alternatives, and a good provider will want to find one.
I ask about the budget because I’ve seen what happens when I don’t — people nod, take the prescription, and never fill it. That helps no one. If the cost doesn’t work, tell me. Finding an alternative is almost always possible, and it’s always worth trying.
A Quick Checklist Before Your Next Prescription Is Filled
Before you hand over your credit card at the pharmacy, run through this:
- Is there a generic version of this medication?
- Have I checked GoodRx or Cost Plus Drugs for a lower price?
- Am I filling 30 days when 90 days would be cheaper?
- Does my insurance cover this, and at what tier?
- Is there a patient assistance program I qualify for?
Checking even two or three of these consistently can save a real amount of money over the course of a year.
Ready to Talk Through Your Options?
If prescriptions are eating into your budget more than they should, let’s just talk about it. Bring your medication list to a virtual visit and we’ll go through it together — what you’re taking, what it’s costing, and whether there’s a smarter way to manage it. Sometimes one conversation changes a lot.
Book your appointment at telemedicinealaska — flat rate of $75, same-day availability, and care designed specifically for Alaska residents.
You shouldn’t have to choose between your health and your budget. Let’s figure this out together.
