According to an article by Fidelity, asking for your doctor’s help to find cheap prescriptions without insurance can be a very effective strategy. “When doctors prescribe a drug, they may choose from several options, but they don’t necessarily know which ones are covered in your plan or how much each option will cost,” explains Dr. Michael Rea, a pharmacist and CEO of Rx Savings Solutions, which helps employees of member companies reduce their drug costs. “Sometimes one drug is clearly best for you. Other times, there may be less expensive alternatives that work equally well.” Bring up cost with your doctor and check your company’s formulary together to determine the lowest-cost solution for you.According to the article, generic drugs typically cost 80% to 85% less than brand-name drugs. Even among generics, drugs designed to treat the same condition may vary greatly in price. “The fastest-growing component of savings is from generic to generic,” says Rea. You may save money by moving from one generic to another, just as you would by moving from a brand-name drug to a generic.In some instances you can save money and treat your condition equally well through the use of something called a pharmaceutical alternative. Unlike a generic, which has the same active ingredients as its brand-name counterpart, alternative medications use different active ingredients to treat the same condition.Did you know DiscountDrugNetwork’s Rx Search Tool works great on mobile, so you can compare prices for different medications right in your doctor’s office? This is a great way to find the cheapest prescription before you leave the doctor’s office. Not only can you and your doctor look at prices for various possible medically-equivalent medications, but you can also tell the doctor which local pharmacy to send the script to – the one with the lowest price! Try it now if you haven’t yet!