Health Care Consumer Protection

Finding less expensive prescription medicines can be difficult for many of us. Even if we have health insurance, the prices and co-pays may still be too high. This can lead us to look for other options and sometimes these can be risky. Below are some tips to find affordable medicine.

1. Ask your pharmacist and doctor if there are cheaper alternatives
   
   
   
   • Is there a generic alternative to the medicines that you need?
     
   • A generic drug has the same active ingredient as the brand name drug, and they often cost a lot less.
   • Ask your doctor if there are any other drugs that might be cheaper but just as effective.
     
     
   
   
   
   
2. Mail order pharmacy
   
   

   If you have insurance, and your health care provider has given you medicine for a long period of time, your insurance company may be able to mail you a 3-month supply. This can save time and reduce the number of co-pays but the costs may be higher than at pharmacies. Compare prices to see which option works best for you.

3. Prescriptions and insurance plans
   
   
   • If you are shopping for health insurance, look for a plan that covers medicines. If you don't have insurance, information is available in multiple languages by calling 2-1-1 or using the online chat at 211la.org.
   • If you have Medicare, visit the Medicare.gov "How do Drug plans work?" webpage to learn about Medicare drug coverage.
   • If there isn’t a generic medicine available through your insurance, ask for a medicine that is on your insurer’s formulary. A formulary is a list of medicines that your insurance company will help you pay for.
   • To make filling your prescription easier, bring a copy of your insurance plan’s formulary to your doctor’s appointment.
   • To get a copy of your insurance plan’s formulary, call the customer service number listed on your insurance card or find your plan’s formulary on their website.
     
     
4. Patient-assistance programs
   
   
   • Patient-assistance programs are sponsored by companies that make prescription medicine.
   • You may be able to get medicine for free or at a lower cost.  Ask your provider or pharmacist.
     
5. Shop around
   
   
   • Some pharmacies, including those located in large retail stores, sell generic medicines at discounted prices.
   • Many pharmacies offer drug discount cards but you still may get a better deal by shopping around.
   • It is good practice to get all your medicines from one pharmacy so that the pharmacist can check for drugs that should not be taken together.
   • Many pharmacies, including smaller ones, may be willing to match prices.
     
     
   
   
6. Use online pharmacies with caution and avoid counterfeit drugs
   
   
   • Avoid fraudulent and unsafe prescription medication by only purchasing from legitimate websites. Use the Safe Site Search Tool safe.pharmacy from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to check a website before you buy medication online.
   • Signs of a trustworthy pharmacy website:
     
     
     • It's accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
     • The website url ends in .pharmacy which means that it has been accredited by NABP (unlike logos, the .pharmacy domain cannot be faked).
     • It has a licensed pharmacist available to answer your questions.
     • It requires a prescription from your doctor.
     • It provides contact information and allows you to talk to a person if you have problems or questions.
     
     
7. Don’t split pills without talking to a physician or pharmacist
   
   
   • Some people cut pills in half to save money but not all pills can be safely split. Before considering splitting, talk to your doctor and pharmacist. For more information, read this brochure from the California State Board of Pharmacy.
     
     
8. Don’t buy prescription medicines from anyone but a licensed pharmacist
   
   
   • Counterfeit (fake) drugs are widely available. You can buy packages of what looks like prescription medicines from websites, local grocery stores, botanicas, swap meets, and street vendors.
   • Sometimes these fake products will have no effect and sometimes they can make you sick.
   • There have been recent reports of counterfeit street drugs that contain a powerful and deadly opioid drug.
   • Don't buy prescription medicine or medical devices from online sellers such as EBay and Craigslist. They may be out of date, tampered with or stored incorrectly.
   • Only buy prescription medicines from a licensed pharmacist.
   • To look up a pharmacist’s license or to file a complaint visit The California State Board of Pharmacy, Consumer Protection and Enforcement or call (916) 574-7900.
   • Contact Crime Stoppers to report medicines that might be counterfeit. Call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Health Information and Medicines: HealthFinder has information on using medicine safely, frequently asked questions (FAQs) on antibiotics, quizzes, drug interactions and other helpful tools and resources.

Drug / Sharp Disposal: For information on how to dispose of unwanted drugs and sharps, click here.