The cost of prescription medications and the limited health insurance coverage for these drugs may deter a patient from taking the medications he needs.

• Find out if a generic version of a specific medication is available, as this can significantly lower costs.
• Sometimes it's cheaper to buy a medication in a larger dosage and then split the pill in half to get the appropriate amount. But check with a doctor or pharmacist to make sure pill splitting is OK, since it's very difficult to split a pill exactly.
• Also, the person's primary care provider may be able to offer free drug samples or direct you to local programs that can help with costs.
• Call a few pharmacies in your area and comparison shop; you may find that if you ask, the pharmacy closest to you will match prices with nearby competitors.
• In addition, Medicare, the government program providing healthcare services for people 65 and older, offers prescription drug coverage through several plans.
• Companies that make insulin or diabetes drugs often have patient assistance programs that provide free medications or discounts to seniors or individuals with reduced incomes; ask the doctor for information on such programs.
• The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and its member companies, offers an online tool for determining eligibility for drug assistance.