What’s the best way to save money on medications? Get them for free, of course.
It’s easier than you might think, at least for certain meds.
Some pharmacy chains offer free prescription drug programs. Through these programs, you can get commonly used generic drugs — like antibiotics and maintenance medications for chronic conditions — for $ 0.
You generally need only a doctor’s prescription to qualify for and obtain these drugs for free.
Granted, the freebie may be a lure designed to get you to buy other things at the pharmacy or associated grocery story while picking up your free meds. Or, it might be an attempt to get you to transfer other not-free medications you take to the pharmacy. But there is no real catch here.
See for yourself: Below we’ve listed several grocery store chains with free prescription drug programs, along with the meds they offer for free.
Pharmacies offering free prescription drugs
1. Good Neighbor Pharmacy
Through its Free Vitamin Program, this chain offers free:
- Prenatal vitamins
- Multivitamins for children
- Multivitamins for adults
Good Neighbor Pharmacy has locations across the country.
2. Meijer
This supermarket’s pharmacy offers the following for free:
- Certain antibiotics
- Certain prenatal vitamins
Meijer has locations primarily in the Midwest.
3. Price Chopper
Through this grocery store pharmacy’s Diabetes AdvantEdge Program, the following are free:
- Several diabetes medications
- Glucose meter
- Lancet device and lancets
Price Chopper has locations primarily in the Northeast.
4. Reasor’s Foods
This grocery store pharmacy offers free liquid antibiotics for children.
Reasor’s has locations in Oklahoma.
Other ways to get prescription drugs for free or for less
If you belong to a warehouse club, you may also be able to get free medications through it.
For example, if you have a Sam’s Plus membership at Sam’s Club, you are eligible for extra discounts on certain prescription drugs — including select medications you can get for free.
If you live near a Kroger or one of the many other Kroger Co.-owned grocery stores, look into the Kroger Rx Savings Club. It costs $ 36 per year for an individual and $ 72 per year for a family, but boasts savings of as much as 85%. Club members can buy certain medications for only $ 3 for a 30-day supply or $ 6 for a 90-day supply, and several prescriptions are completely free.
If you do not have health insurance, you may qualify for free or low-cost prescription medications through a patient assistance program.
For more ways to lower your medication costs, check out:
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