Prescription drugs
Astronomical prescription drug prices – with markups ranging from 200 to 3,000 percent – are enough to give patients a headache. In fact, price hikes caught the eye of Arizona’s Attorney General Tom Horne, who in 2012 sued pharmaceuticals distributor McKesson Corp. for markups on Allegra, Celebrex, Coumadin, Flonase, Lipitor and Valium. But pharmaceutical companies were quickly at it again, with poster child Martin Shkreli’s turn at Turing possibly the most famous instance.
To save on prescriptions, ask your doctor for free samples and about generic substitutes. Comparison shopping is also a great idea. Walmart, Target and warehouse stores like Costco are good places to start. And take advantage of mail-order suppliers like Express Scripts if your prescription drug plan offers it.