The fact that your prescriptions are free when you pick them up the first week of summer is not always a good thing. It might feel like a relief at the time, but the fact that a customer is already receiving free prescription by June 1 may be an indicator that he or she has already reached their maximum out of pocket goal for the year in a mere six months time.
For this particular customer the reason that prescriptions are for the most part free the last six months of the year is because their older daughter had ankle surgery. Not only was their a surgery in April, but several doctors appointments and procedures occurred before that time. X-rays, MRIs, physical therapy, and immobilization were all tried before the ankle was actually operated on. All of these appointments, examinations, and scans let to a hefty bill that meant the family met their out of pocket limit by the end of May.
Over the Counter Medicine Pharmacies Are a Part of the Lives of Many Americans
In North Carolina, Outer Banks pharmacies and serve a population that is a combination of young families with children and retired couples who have opted for a new location for their golden years. In Nebraska, Omaha residents have their choice of the typical grocery store prescription pick ups areas or a new health center that combines nearly all patient services and pharmacy services in one building. In fact, in almost all locations across country prescription pick up locations can be found on a number of street corners. From grocery stores to stand alone pharmacies, prescriptions have become a daily part of many Americans lives. From thyroid medicines to blood pressure and high cholesterol prescriptions, many Americans rely on these medications to keep them healthy between the occasional need for antibiotics for infection.
How Often Do You Go to Your Local Pharmacy?
The fact that 54% of all prescriptions are filled with generic brands may contribute to the fact that the average copay in America is 10.73. And while this relatively low copay can be a comfort to many consumers, others still struggle to afford the prescriptions that they need. Expensive and unique needs like Epipens or cancer drugs can run into the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for a single order. For these reasons, retail pharmacies are often very competitive in the services that they provide their customers. Some may offer incentives of gift cards or cents of gas for a transferred prescription, others may offer fuel points and $2 off coupons for every prescription that is picked up.
Vaccines may prevent more than 2.5 million deaths every year, but some would argue that it is the daily prescriptions that keep Americans going. And while some customers can get by with a trip to the pharmacy once every few weeks, families with small children may find themselves on a first name basis with the workers at their local pharmacy.
Research indicates that heart disease was the number one killer of both men and women in the year 2013. For this reason, high blood pressure pills and cholesterol prescriptions may go hand in hand for many prescriptions. Fortunately, for every person who dies of heart disease a number of other patients are able to live healthy lives because of the daily medications that they take.
In addition to dispensing medicines, pharmacies both large and small often offer a variety of other health related services and information. In fact, many people who get an annual flu shot do not even go to the doctor. Avoiding the wait at a doctor’s office, many customers get flu shots for themselves and their children at their local pharmacy. Additionally, a pharmacy is a location that may also have free blood pressure machines and hand outs about the recommendations for other ways to stay healthy. Pamphlets that encourage frequent exercise and activity sit along side flyers on healthy menu choices and the need for bug repellent as the Zika virus makes its way into America.
Whether you have spent so much that prescription copays have now reached zero or whether you are still paying the full amount for some specialized medicines, pharmacies play an important part in America’s health.
