Tag: prescription costs

Health Savings News Podcast
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Health Savings News – Episode 2: Drug Costs

This a transcript to episode 2 of Health Savings News. In the interest of making the podcast more accessible, we will post transcripts every two weeks as episodes release.


Evan (00:09):

Hello, and welcome to Health Savings News, the podcast about healthcare savings in America and how to save money on the often expensive care all kinds of people need. I’m your host, Evan O’Connor, joined by retired doctors, Rich Sagall and Mike Woods. How’s it going guys?

Rich/Mike (00:23):

Good.

Evan (00:25):

Great. Each episode we discuss healthcare costs in America, offer tips for saving money and relevant news that affects and reflects the expense landscape of healthcare in the United States. Today’s topic is prescription costs. The United States does not regulate or negotiate the price of prescription drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to set their own prices for any given product, leading to excessive drug prices being the single largest area of healthcare overspending in the U.S. Many drugs cost over $120,000 per year. A few drugs even approach a million dollars annually.

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Drug Discount Card, NeedyMeds
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NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card and How It’s Unique

For over 20 years NeedyMeds’ mission has been to educate and empower those seeking affordable healthcare. Starting in 2009, the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card has been helping patients afford their medications. To date, we have saved patients over $295 million on their prescription prices. The free NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card can be used anywhere in the United States at over 65,000 participating pharmacies including all of the major chains to save up to 80% on the cash price of your prescriptions. There are no income, age, or immigration status restrictions. There is no activation or registration needed and no personal information is ever shared when using our card.

The only rule is you can’t use the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card with insurance or any state or federal program. If you’re uninsured, you can use it any time you are purchasing a prescription. If you have health insurance, the card can fill in the gaps in your coverage. If you have any medications not covered

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Drug Discount Card, NeedyMeds
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All About the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card

For over 10 years, the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card has been helping patients afford their prescriptions. To date, we have saved patients over $280 million on the price of their medications. The free NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card can be used anywhere in the country at over 65,000 participating pharmacies including all of the major chains, to save up to 80% on the cash price of your prescriptions. There are no income, age, or immigration status restrictions. There is no activation or registration needed and no personal information is taken when using our card.

The only rule is that you can’t combine insurance with the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card. If you’re uninsured, you can use it any time you are purchasing a medication. If you have health insurance, the card can fill in the gaps in your coverage. For example, if you have any medications not covered under your insurance or if you have a high copay or deductible you could try using the card instead of your insurance. You can also use the card on

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Diabetes, Drug Discount Card, NeedyMeds, Prescription Drugs
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Save on your Durable Medical Equipment & Diabetic Supplies

The NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card is adding a new benefit for patients! The NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card can now be used to save 40% on durable medical equipment and diabetic supplies. Our new partnership with My Virtual Doctor allows patients to buy hundreds of items online at a discount when you enter a NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card ID at checkout. You can now use your NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card to save on:

  • Diabetic supplies — needles, syringes, meters, test strips, lancets and more;
  • Splints and braces for ankle, knee, wrist, back;
  • Catheters and incontinence supplies;
  • Bathroom safety supplies — commodes, grab bars, bath benches and more;
  • Compression stockings;
  • Mobility devices such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs;
  • Footwear — inserts, socks, slippers;
  • Bladder control pads;
  • and more!

For over 10 years, the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card has been helping patients afford their prescriptions. To date, we have saved patients over $280 million on the price of their medications. The free NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card can be used anywhere in the country at over 65,000 participating pharmacies including all of the major chains, to save up to 80% on the cash price of your prescriptions. There are no income or age restrictions. There is no activation or registration needed and no personal information is taken when using our card.

The only rule is that you can’t combine insurance with the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card. So if you’re

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Healthcare Reform, Prescription Drugs
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Trump’s Speech on Drug Prices Boosts Pharmaceutical Stocks

President Donald Trump gave a speech about pharmaceutical drug prices last month. During his presidential campaign and leading up to his inauguration, he accused pharmaceutical companies with “getting away with murder” for what they charge patients for prescriptions and promised to enact reforms to lower drug prices. After sixteen months in office, his speech last month consisted of few proposals as opposed to proposing meaningful legislation or guidelines that could have an immediate effect on prescription costs and actually led to pharmaceutical stocks rising.

Trump took aim at Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who he referred to as “middlemen” who implement “gag rules” that forbid pharmacists from telling patients they are spending more than they need to on a prescription (you can read our blog on the laws proposed to combat PBM gag rules here). He also touched on other popular proposals such as removing barriers to generic medications

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About Us

Welcome to the NeedyMeds Voice! We look forward to presenting you with timely, provocative pieces on healthcare reform, patient advocacy, medication and healthcare access, and other health-related news. Our goals are to educate, enlighten, and elucidate; together, we will try to make sense of the myriad and ongoing healthcare-related changes in the U.S. today.