Many older adults take several prescription medicines, and the costs can add up quickly. Some people cut back on doses or skip filling prescriptions because of price, which can be dangerous. Before you do that, try these ways to lower your costs.
1. Ask about generics and alternatives
Generic drugs have the same active ingredient, strength and effect as brand-name drugs and must meet the same FDA standards, but they usually cost much less. If there is no generic version, ask your doctor whether another drug in the same class would work as well and costs less. Ask your pharmacist, too; they see prices every day.
2. Compare pharmacies
The price of the same drug can vary a lot from one pharmacy to another, even within the same insurance plan. If you have Medicare Part D, your plan may have "preferred" pharmacies with lower copays. Use your plan's website or the Medicare Plan Finder to compare.
3. Get a 90-day supply
For medicines you take every day, a 90-day supply, often through mail order, can cost less than three 30-day fills. It also means fewer trips to the pharmacy.
4. Use your Medicare protections
- Yearly cap: in 2026, once you spend $2,100 out of pocket on covered Part D drugs, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year. The cap rises to $2,400 in 2027.
- Insulin: covered insulin costs no more than $35 a month.
- Payment plan: the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan can spread your costs across the year in monthly payments.
- Open enrollment: each fall, compare plans to find one that covers your drugs at the lowest total cost.
Read Medicare Part D in 2027.
5. Apply for Extra Help
Extra Help lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays for people with limited income and resources. Many people who qualify never apply. See Extra Help with prescription costs.
6. Look into assistance programs
- Drugmaker patient assistance programs provide free or low-cost medicines to people who qualify, often based on income. Check the manufacturer's website or ask your doctor's office.
- State pharmaceutical assistance programs in some states help older adults or people with disabilities pay for drugs.
- Nonprofit foundations help with costs for some specific conditions.
7. Review your medicines every year
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all your medicines at least once a year. You may no longer need some of them, or there may be a combination pill or lower-cost option. If you have Medicare Part D and take many drugs, your plan may offer a free Medication Therapy Management review. See managing medications safely.
8. Be careful with pill splitting
Some tablets can be safely split, and a higher-strength tablet cut in half can cost less. But many pills, such as extended-release or coated tablets, must never be split. Only split pills if your doctor and pharmacist say it is safe, and use a pill cutter.
Tell your doctor about cost
If you cannot afford a medicine, tell your doctor. They would rather find an affordable option than have you skip it. Never stop taking a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor first.
Buy safely
Be cautious of websites that sell prescription drugs without a prescription or at prices that seem too good to be true. They may sell fake or unsafe medicines. The FDA's BeSafeRx program explains how to spot a legitimate online pharmacy.
