Prescription discount programs can’t be used with insurance or Medicare, but they’re often less than your co-pay. Find out when you should use them!
You might already know that a prescription savings coupon from Kasasa Care and GoodRx can save you up to 80% on your prescription medications. But we have another trick up our sleeve — you can reap the benefits for your over-the-counter ones, too. That’s right: if you’re a seasonal Claritin taker or refuse to go anywhere without a few just-in-case Advils, you’re just a few steps away from significant savings.
How does it work? Keep reading to find out.
What are over-the-counter medications?
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are drugs that are sold directly to a consumer without a prescription. Anyone can purchase them (unless there’s an age requirement) at any time. They’re usually located on shelves in pharmacies, grocery stores, and even gas stations.
OTC medications are typically used for aches, pains, and itches, and can even manage recurring problems like migraines or allergies. As long as you follow the instructions on the drug label (or from your doctor), they’re completely safe to use according to the FDA.
But keep in mind there are a few risks to taking OTC medications:
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They could interact with other medicines, supplements, foods, and drinks.
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Some drugs are not right for people with certain medical conditions (check with your doctor to find out more).
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Some people might be allergic to certain medications (even OTC ones!).
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Some medicines are not safe to use during pregnancy.
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Take care when giving OTC medications to children — don’t just kitchen spoon it. Use a marked measuring cup to make sure they have the correct dose if you’re administering liquid medicine.
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You shouldn’t take OTC medications longer than the label recommends. If you find you need to, it might be time to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.
How can you use a prescription savings coupon for over-the-counter medications?
You can get a prescription savings coupon for popular over-the-counter medications like Zyrtec, Claritin, aspirin, Advil, Tylenol, nicotine patches, and more using Kasasa Care and GoodRx. Before you head out to the pharmacy, here’s what you need to do to save on your OTC drugs:
- Get a prescription. We know, we know. The whole point of over-the-counter medications is that they don’t require a prescription! However, to take advantage of the sweet discount, you’ll need a prescription. Luckily, because it’s an OTC medication, you don’t need to make a special appointment. Just simply call your doctor’s office and have them call in a prescription for what you’d like to be sent to one of the 60,000+ pharmacies that accept GoodRx.
- Get a GoodRx coupon. Just look up what you’re having sent over here and download your coupon. You can screenshot it on your phone, text or email it to yourself, or print it out.
- Go to the pharmacy counter — not the cash register. You might be used to adding a bottle of Advil to your grocery cart and running through a speedy self-checkout, but not this time. To redeem your coupon, you’ll have to go to the pharmacy counter. Many of these medications are kept behind the counter, or you can grab it yourself on the shelves. All that’s left to do is pay... and maybe do a little happy dance.
Other ways to save on over-the-counter medications
If you have a health savings account (like an HSA or FSA), you can use these tax-free dollars to pay for your over-the-counter medications! That’s right: HSAs are tax-advantaged accounts. This means you can put money in your account tax-free, and if you spend that money on an IRS-qualified medical expense, you don’t have to pay taxes on that either. To learn more about health savings accounts, keep reading here.
You know what they say: the more you know, right? Now that you know you can take advantage of up to 80% savings on your over-the-counter medications, you’ll never go back to your old, frivolous ways. (Kidding!)
