 [ Symptoms ] how can i save money on prescription medications [ Disease ] the best single step you can take is to use a generic substitution for brand name medicines whenever possible generics are safe and reliable versions of medicines that are far cheaper than name brand products not only are generics less expensive they are also older medicines with longer track records of safety if a pharmacist tells you that a prescribed medication has no generic version there may be a medicine that is similar enough to do the job in generic form even if there is not a generic of any similar medication a different one might be in a lower tier for your copay ask the pharmacist to contact your doctor before switching any medicine samples can save you money in the short run but may cost you later for long term medicines you may be able to order a larger quantity through a mail order service ask your insurance company if you have a mail order pharmacy benefit sometimes a larger quantity can be prescribed for the same copay this will not work for pills taken every day — the pharmacist will not give you more than a one month supply — but for prescription skin creams or medicines taken “as needed” your doctor could prescribe a larger amount at once many drug manufacturers offer “patient assistance programs” to help low income families afford medications an excellent non profit website with clear instructions for finding and using these programs is www needymeds org needymeds also features a free drug discount card for your whole family to use