Pharmacy ProgramsSometimes, affordable or no-cost choices are as close as your local pharmacy. Among the cost saving programs pharmacies offer are:Independent programs. If there’s a small local pharmacy near you, check to see if it has a program for those who need more affordable prescriptions. Several chain pharmacies, such as Walgreens and Walmart, offer prescription savings programs for an annual fee.Partnerships with community health centers. Another option is to look for a 340B pharmacy. These pharmacies are part of a federal program that lets them partner with community health centers to provide medications free or at low cost. Some Albertsons, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart pharmacies take part in these partnerships. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration website offers a Find a Health Center tool that can help you find a health center near you.Nonprofit pharmacies. Some pharmacies are funded by donations and grants. This allows them to give free medications to people looking for support. For instance, St. Vincent de Paul runs about a dozen pharmacies in the U.S. Visit the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics website to find other nonprofit pharmacies.Online or mail-order pharmacies. Not only are they convenient, but these pharmacies are often less expensive. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of your prescription, which means fewer copays for refills. Ask your doctor if this might be an option for your medication.Discount Cards and CouponsCoupons and discount cards are other money-saving options that work at thousands of pharmacies across the nation. In many cases, you use them instead of insurance. Your pharmacist can see which will cost you less. Keep in mind that if you don't use your insurance, the expense may not count against your plan's deductible or annual out-of-pocket maximum unless you submit your receipts manually.County prescription drug discount cards. U.S. counties that are members of the National Association of Counties (NACo) and join the association's Live Healthy program may offer their residents a free prescription drug discount card. The card gets you discounts on medications at more than 65,000 pharmacies across the country.Other prescription discount cards. Different companies and organizations offer these cards that act like coupons. The discounts you get vary, and so do which medications you can use them for. Watch out for cards that charge a fee. And read the fine print to see if the card provider will sell your personal information.Prescription coupons. You may get them from your doctor, companies like GoodRx, or online (including through WebMDRx). Drug companies also offer copay coupons, also known as copay cards, to help insured people lower copay costs for their brand-name medications. You can't use manufacturer coupons with Medicare or Medicaid, because these programs classify them as kickbacks. Check with your doctor or pharmacist or check online to see if your medication has a copay program.Nonprofit Groups Can HelpMany nonprofits will help you pay for prescriptions, if you meet their requirements, or find the information you need to get the best price. A few include:Partnership for Prescription AssistancePatient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay ReliefAccessia HealthSome nonprofits that advocate for specific conditions also offer help for people with those conditions, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the American Diabetes Association.SourcesUpdate HistorySharePrintPhoto Credit: 10'000 Hours/Getty ImagesSOURCES:Asthma and Allergy Association of America: "Drug Assistance Programs."RxAssist: "Frequently Asked Questions About Patient Assistance Programs."Harvard Health Publishing: "7 ways to save cash on prescription drugs."NeedyMeds: "Prescription Assistance," "Co-pay Cards FAQs."National Alliance on Mental Illness: "Getting Help Paying for Medications."Consumer Reports: "5 Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs," "How to Get Free or Discounted Prescription Drugs During the Coronavirus Crisis," "A Drugstore Tool We're Not Crazy About."The diaTribe Foundation: "When and Why to Consider Mail-Order Prescriptions."Medicare: "5 ways to get help with prescription costs," "Lower prescription costs."National Council on Aging: "Prescription Help from States and Drug Manufacturers."Medicare Interactive: "SPAP basics."Mental Health America: "How Can I Get Help Paying For My Prescriptions?"National Association of Counties: "With NACo, Saving Feels Better."Health Affairs: "Prescription Drug Coupons: A One-Size-Fits-All Policy Approach Doesn't Fit The Evidence."Medicare Rights Center: "Charity programs that help pay for prescriptions."National Conference of State Legislatures: "State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs," "Medicaid Prescription Drug Laws and Strategies."Journal of The American Geriatrics Society: "Medication Access in America and Medicare Part D: Prescription Shopping Saves but May Be Costly."SharePrintMore on Health Insurance and Medicare Recommended FEATURED Top doctors in , Find more top doctors on Search Related LinksPoliciesAboutFor Advertisers © 2005 - 2025 WebMD LLC, an company. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. , NeedyMeds has free information on medication and healthcare costs savings programs including prescription assistance programs and medical and dental clinics. NeedyMeds Find help with the cost of medicine., Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they .