Try this easy way to save on prescription drugs.
By Clark Howard (Action News 2 WSB TV )
August 29, 2001 -- The fastest growing expense in medicine is the cost of prescription drugs. What can you do about it?
Well, you can take your prescriptions to Canada. Iif you can't get there in person, you can go on the Internet.
With web sites like this one you can order your prescriptions for 30 to 70 percent less than you pay at the drug store.
In Seattle, Washington, seniors board a bus bound for Canada. They're destination: discount prescription drugs. Now, metro Atlantan's can do the same without the bus, thanks to the Internet.
Bill Hall found great deals on the Internet from a company called canadameds.com. "Oh, I was shocked," he said. "I just couldn't believe the difference in prices. I figured something has to be wrong.
No, the price is right. Canadian pharmacies are selling medicines to Americans over the internet. And the savings are huge!
For example, Vioxx, I pay on average here for 30 tablets, around $85. In canadameds, I pay $26.71 for the same thing. My wife's cholesterol medicine is $141 dollars. It around $85. (For the) same thing."
So how does it work? All you need is a prescription from your doctor. You, then have to fill out a medical history and waiver form. You fax those forms along with your prescription. Give a credit card number and you're done. Two weeks later you get your medicines.
But you can only order a three-month supply each time, due to U.S. Customs and FDA rules.
"This is what they call free enterprise," said Brian Abrahams. Abrahams, like Bill, saves big buying Candadian medicines. He's creating a non-profit company called Medicines Cheaper.
"I want to help people get their drugs, and not have to worry about paying their rent at the end of the month," Abrahams said. "And I will help them do that at no charge."
"Without this, we would be having a tough time," said Hall.
The savings mean a lot to Bill. He's retired and on a fixed income.
"I'm saving about $2,800 a year," he said. "You can't beat it by far."
Why are these prices so low? Because of a good exchange rate between the Canadian and U.S. dollar. And Canada has price controls, and we don't."
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