PRESCRIPTIONS

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE!! If you are covered by a large group policy, you are shielded somewhat from this reality.   But when you are covered by individual health insurance or small group health insurance, this reality becomes crystal-clear: You will be paying for your prescriptions one way, or the other.

You can pay for prescriptions out-of-pocket - or you can run them through your insurance company and see your rates raised in direct correlation to the cost of the prescriptions.

So how can someone on small group or individual insurance save on prescription drugs? 

• Ask your Doctor about the switching your current name brand prescription
  to a generic prescription, AND
• Source your generics from reputable international pharmacies
   

Where Generics Come From...

FDA has issued many warnings about generic drugs sourced from some international  pharmacies.  And with good reason.  Scam artists DO exist, setting up fake online pharmacy sites and/or selling fake drugs to unknowing victims.

The assumption is produced by these FDA warnings is this - U.S. drug stores provide drugs that are manufactured in the U.S., and international pharmacies provide drugs  that are manufactured "God-knows-where".

Wrong.  About 90% of the generic drugs made available in U.S. pharmacies are manufactured in company-owned plants that are located overseas - primarily India.  So that generic you get in the drugstore?  Odds are it was not manufactured by the good-old U.S.A., but off-shore in India or another country.

Importing

In terms of U.S. regulations regarding importing of prescription drugs, the current interpretation of these laws seem to indicate that it is permissible to import a
3-month supply FDA-approved brand or generic drugs for personal medicinal use.

How to Source Quality Generics

Okay.  How do you NOT source your generic drugs overseas? 

• DO NOT respond to ANY unsolicited email advertising international
  drugs.  The likelihood that this is a legitimate source of quality, regulated
  generics is about the same as you having won the lottery in Uganda...NIL.
  Delete and block these emails!  Do not respond!

Now let's learn what you SHOULD do:

• First and Foremost - Verify the legitimacy of an overseas pharmacy through an independent source.  I am very happy to recommend Pharmacy Checker.  This organization verifies and approves international pharmacies according to a very specified set of criteria.  Their website provides links to these sources, along with helpful features such as price comparison and consumer ratings.  Place a search below to go to Pharmacy Checker.

Find Low Drug Prices from Verified Pharmacies

 

• Choose international pharmacies were the prescription is REQUIRED.  NEVER order from an online pharmacy in which the prescription is optional. 
   
• Do your own research on the MANUFACTURERS of various generics.
  The legitimate overseas generic drug manufacturers have websites - in
  English - that will talk about their compliance with regulators, whether
  FDA or European. 
  
  I can't say enough good things about my favorite online pharmacy provider.
  They list the generic manufacturers ONLINE, their customer support is
  excellent, and I've ALWAYS received my order on time.  CLICK BELOW to
  place an order:
  
  
  
  I also order from this Canadian pharmacy, and I believe they are the best
  Canada pharmacy on web.  CLICK BELOW to place an order:
  
  
   
• Know the countries that provide legitimate generics.  Many
  U.S. and European generics are sourced from India.  Canada is an obvious choice, but in terms of generics, Canadian pharmacies often source their generics from India.  Other countries that provide pharmacies and/or manufacturers are Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia England & Germany. 
   
• Ask the international pharmacy WHICH MANUFACTURER is providing
  the generic.  The best online pharmacies will list the manufacturers of
  the generics they provide.  If the manufacturers are not listed online,
  call customer support and ask.  Don't accept substitutions if you prefer
  a certain manufacturer.
   
• Make sure the online pharmacy has English-speaking customer
  support.  That is, English-speaking and understanding support!  Ask
  questions for which you already know the answer, in order to test
  their knowledge, and to see if you can actually have a conversation.
  If the site does not post a phone number, or does not have a good
  support team when you call - don't bother.
   
• Plan to receive your prescriptions in 3 to 4 weeks.  It takes longer
  to ship products from another country.  Plan accordingly, especially at
  refill time, so you won't find yourself out of medicine.
   

We've learned about Your Medical History, and its effect on your premium price, and how to save money on your Prescriptions by ordering from legitimate international pharmacies.  It's time to find out - finally - how to pick out a health insurance plan.

CLICK HERE to go on to Insurance Plans.
 

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