Practical ways to lower your prescription drug costs

Start with a list

Before you try to save money, write down every medicine you take, the dose, how often you take it and what you pay now. Bring the list to your doctor and pharmacist. Many of the steps below work best when they know the whole picture, and some savings only show up when someone checks each drug one by one.

Ask about generics and lower-cost options

Generic drugs have the same active ingredient as the brand and must work the same way in the body. They usually cost less. Medicare suggests asking your doctor whether you can take a generic, or a cheaper brand-name drug if one is available.

If there is no generic for your exact medicine, there may be a similar drug in the same class that costs less on your plan. Only your doctor can decide whether a switch is safe for you, so ask rather than changing on your own.

Compare cash prices and discount cards carefully

Pharmacy prices for the same drug can vary a lot from store to store. You can call pharmacies and ask for the cash price, or use free online price comparison tools and discount cards. Medicare.gov also points people to TrumpRx, a federal website that lists special offers and cash prices on some drugs.

Know the trade-offs before you use a discount card:

• A discount card is not insurance. Medicare.gov notes that TrumpRx and other discount cards are not considered creditable drug coverage, so they do not protect you from Medicare's late enrollment penalty.
• You generally choose either your insurance or a discount for a given fill. You can't use an online discount together with your Medicare Part D coverage for the same prescription.
• If you have Part D, a drug you buy with a discount card instead of your plan does not count toward your plan's yearly out-of-pocket limit. That can matter if you take expensive drugs and expect to reach the cap.
• Drug makers' copay coupons generally can't be used if you have Medicare drug coverage, because of the federal anti-kickback law. People with job-based or other private insurance can often use them.

Fill 90 days at a time or try mail order

Many plans charge less per month for a 90-day supply of a medicine you take every day. Medicare also suggests checking mail-order pharmacy prices, since mail order is sometimes cheaper. Ask your plan which pharmacies are preferred, because using a preferred pharmacy can lower your copay.

Look for help from drug makers and your state

Some drug companies run patient assistance programs that offer free or discounted medicine to people with low incomes. Rules vary. Some programs are only for people with no insurance, or whose plan does not cover the drug. Check the drug maker's website, or ask your doctor's office, which often helps with applications.

Some states run State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs. According to the National Council on Aging, fewer than half of states have one, and they generally help low-income older adults and people with disabilities, often by paying costs Medicare Part D does not. Medicare.gov lists programs by state.

If you have Medicare: know the caps

Medicare limits what you pay for insulin. You pay no more than $35 for a one-month supply of each Part B- or Part D-covered insulin product, and you don't have to pay a deductible for insulin. For a three-month supply, you'll generally pay no more than $105.

Part D also has a yearly cap on out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027. Once you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of that calendar year. The highest deductible a Part D plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.

If big costs hit early in the year, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs over monthly payments. It doesn't lower the total, but it can make bills easier to manage. Also compare plans each fall during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, because a different plan may cover your drugs for less.

Apply for Extra Help if your income is limited

Extra Help is a Medicare program that lowers drug plan costs for people with limited income and resources. Medicare.gov lists 2026 limits of $23,940 in income and $18,090 in resources for an individual, and $32,460 in income and $36,100 in resources for a married couple. These limits may change each year, and they are different in Alaska and Hawaii.

With Extra Help in 2027, you pay up to $5.80 for each generic drug and up to $14.40 for each brand-name drug, and $0 once your covered drug costs reach the $2,400 cap. You can apply through Social Security. If you think you might be close to the limits, it can be worth applying.

Get free, unbiased help

Your pharmacist is a good first stop and is often the person who spots a cheaper option. People on Medicare can get free counseling from their State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), whose counselors don't sell insurance. This article is general information. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before changing how you take or buy any medicine.