Speak with a Doctor

If you’re taking a newer medication, your doctor may be able to give you samples or even a discount card that lets you get an entire month’s supply for free. If you explain your inability to afford the medication you need, many doctors will do what they can to help you get the drugs you need at a price you can afford or even at no charge. If you’re taking an older drug, talk to your doctor and see if he or she would be able to switch you over to a newer drug that works just as well while also giving you the chance to use samples and discounts from manufacturers.

Consult a Pharmacist

Pharmacists are often aware of special discounts available from drug manufacturers before doctors find out about them. Even if a pharmacist doesn’t know about specific discounts, he or she may be able to give you contact numbers for manufacturers that you can call to inquire about discounts. This is a great avenue to check out if you’re looking into how to get prescription medication without health insurance.

Consider Health Discount Cards

A variety of cards are available for discounts on medications. They are different from insurance and actually involve deals that are made between doctors and manufacturers to provide patients with drugs at lower prices. You’ll generally pay less if you buy medications through one of these cards, but check to see how much money you’ll save before you choose one. Not every plan offers discounts that are actually worth the cost of the card itself.

Check State Health Plans

Health plans in many states allow consumers, especially children, to obtain health care at lower prices if health insurance is unaffordable but income is too high for Medicaid. Income information will be necessary to get onto a state plan. If you lack health insurance but continue to earn a fairly high income, you may not be able to find coverage through a plan offered by a state. Some states do cover individuals with higher incomes, but they may require premiums that can exceed the costs of many drugs.

Talk to Drug Manufacturers

If you’re still trying to find out how to get prescription medication without health insurance, contact drug manufacturers directly. Many give discounted or free medication to patients who can’t afford the medications they need. Manufacturers have different standards regarding who is qualified for their programs, but few are very strict on income limits for patients who lack insurance. However, the companies all require participants to reapply annually and notify them if they gain health care coverage at a later time.

Purchase Medications from Canadian Pharmacies

More consumers are ordering their medicines from Canadian pharmacies thanks to prices that can be anywhere from 40 to 80 percent lower than retail prices in the United States. Not all pharmacies have the same prices and levels of service, however, so the use of a drug price comparison service is recommended.

About this Angie’s List Expert: Cary Byrd is the president and founder of eDrugSearch.com. Based in San Antonio, eDrugSearch.com is a free cost comparison engine that helps consumers get safe access to affordable medications and advocates licensed online pharmacies as a widely accepted alternative.