Spilt Pills To Save on Prescription Drug Bills.

You can save a significant amount of money by splitting your pills and in effect using them more efficiently. For example, Cindy Davis was paying about $45 a month for her prescription Zocor medications, and needless to say was not very happy about the high cost of these cholesterol-reducing tablets. The Westerville, Ohio resident said that she then started looking around to try to save money. Zocor wasn't on the $4 prescription list at Giant Eagle or Kroger. But she did find it on the discount list at Walmart.

Davis was then able to buy a 90-day supply for a $15 co-pay and, with the approval of her doctor, who went ahead and doubled the strength of her Zocor prescription, Davis physically split her pills by cutting her Zocor pills in half so they would last six months. So she split her prescription medications. After this, her annual bill for her Zocor medication went from $530 to $30. A savings of $500 per year! Also, find how you can save on prescriptions from companies like Walgreens and others. More.

Is splitting pills safe?

Yes. Prescription drug pill splitting is a growing trend, and it is one that is recommended by physicians, health insurers, and pharmacists. However only certain types of pills, such as ones that lower cholesterol and blood pressure and antidepressants are candidates for splitting. And you should always have your physician's approval before doing this. But it is safe, just ask first.

 

 

 

Hae Mi Choe, a professor and clinical pharmacist at the University of Michigan Health System. said that splitting prescription drug pills is not a novel concept and it has been around for many years. She performed a medical study in 2007 that found splitting pills, such as cholesterol pills, does not reduce their effectiveness.

The results of this study encouraged the university's healthcare system to initiate a pill-splitting saving program that ended up saving the university system almost $200,000 in the first year. It saved more than 500 employees about $25,000 in co-pay costs. So hundreds of people are using this approach to save money.

Health insurers split prescription drugs

Now, many health insurers such as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and United Healthcare offer half-tablet programs. In Columbus, Ohio, about 12.5 percent of United Healthcare members are using the half-tab program. Statewide, about 13.3 percent of members use the program. United Healthcare even provides free tablet-splitters, and these devices are also sold at most pharmacies. A common antidepressant medication such as Lexapro is a good candidate for splitting.

Even the federal government is pushing this program as a way to save on prescription drugs and medical bills. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs introduced a pill-splitting program for Zocor in 2003 and it saved over $46 million the first year.

However, not every pill can be split.

Richard Gajdowski, who is an emergency physician and central Ohio market medical director for United Healthcare health insurance company, splits both his cholesterol  and blood pressure pills. This medical director from United Healthcare goes on to say that nobody should leave any money on the table. He estimates he saved $500 last year on his prescription drugs. .

Choe has not met any resistance from doctors.

 

 

How much can you save on medical bills by splitting prescription drugs?

Many health insurance companies offer programs that strongly encourage members to start pill-splitting for certain drugs to save money. Some examples:

• Lexapro antidepressant
• Before cost: $1,031.88 (retail price without drug-insurance coverage)
• After splitting cost: $635.88 (halving 15 20-milligram tablets each month)
• Savings: $396 per year
• Zocor cholesterol-lowering drug
• Before cost: $528 per year
• After splitting cost: $30 (cutting double-dose pills in half and working with a pharmacy that had Zocor as one of its $4 prescriptions.)
• Savings: $498 per year

What drug qualify for splitting?

Always check with your doctor, pharmacist, and/or health insurer before doing this. However, United Healthcare is one of the many insurers that encourage physicians and clients to split prescription drug medicines when appropriate. The health insurer lists these medications under its half-tablet program:

ACE inhibitors, which are often used to lower blood pressure: Aceon, Mavik, Moexipril (generic Univasc)

Angiotensin receptor blockers, which are often used to lower blood pressure: Atacand, Avapro, Benicar, Cozaar, Diovan

Antidepressants: Lexapro, Pexeva, Sertraline (generic Zoloft)

The cholesterol-lowering drugs: Crestor, Lipitor, Pravachol (and its generic equivalent, Pravastatin sodium)

Note: Always check with the doctor, insurer, or pharmacist before doing this.

Source: www.halftablet.com

Other questions

While pill-splitting can in fact cut your prescription medicine bills and co-payments in half, but keep these things in mind:

• Never try splitting pills without first consulting your pharmacist, doctor and/or health insurance provider.
• Not all prescription pills can be split. The most common candidates for this method are medications for depression and for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. Pills that are coated, or time-released are not good candidates for splitting.
• When doing this, only use a tablet-splitter to divide pills, not a kitchen knife or some other type of sharp instrument. Some healthcare providers and pharmacists offer the proper tools for free. They also can be purchased at most pharmacies.
• Sources: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, United Healthcare,