Sunday, July 8, 2018

Is Your Pharmacist Banned From Helping You Save Money?

By Coleen Elkins, Managing General Agent

RV Insurance Benefits
24-7 Health Insurance 



Lawmakers on both sides of the isle are working to find ways to stop a practice which can keep customers from saving money at the pharmacy counter. "Gag clauses" buried in the fine print of pharmacy contracts, and imposed by pharmacy benefit managers prevent many pharmacists from telling consumers when the cash price for a medicine may be less expensive than their insurance co-pay unless the customer asks directly

Ending "gag clauses" is one option Republicans and Democrats are attempting to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. President Trump singled out the clauses when he said he wanted to ban them in a May speech on drug prices. 

In the meantime as we wait for a government solution be a savvy consumer and ask at the pharmacy counter "Is this medication less expensive if I don't use my insurance".