Consumer Reports: Drug Coupons - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

  Health insurance companies are charging higher and higher co-pays for prescription medications. Some co-pays now top 90 dollars a month. That makes coupons from drug manufacturers enticing. But Consumer Reports has some cautions.

  Before heading to the pharmacy, more and more people are heading online to snag a coupon.

  Many big-name drugs are offering coupons and other discounts. "Save up to $15 on each prescription for the antidepressant Pristiq." "30-day free trial for the statin, Crestor." Almost 19 million people who regularly take medication used a drug coupon last year, according to a Consumer Reports survey. But that's not necessarily a good deal.

  Dr. John Santa/Consumer Reports: "Just because a brand-name drug is available with a coupon doesn't mean it's your least expensive option. Less expensive generics may be available that are equally effective."

  And insurance co-pays for generics are often much lower - sometimes one- tenth the cost. Then there's Lipitor, whose money-saving offer is being heavily advertised.

 "Lipitor may be available for as little as $4 a month with a Lipitor co-pay card."

For people already taking Lipitor, Consumer Reports says the co-pay card can be a real money-saver, at least for now.

  Dr. John Santa: "There is a generic for Lipitor, but at this point it's just about as expensive. So if you qualify for the $4 Lipitor program, it's a good deal."

  But as with many drug coupons, you don't qualify if you are covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or other federal or state health care programs.

   Dr. John Santa: "For people without insurance, it is possible to use many of these coupons. But you're still going to pay a lot of money out of pocket."

  The best way to save on prescriptions is to see if your doctor can prescribe a less expensive medicine.

  Consumer Reports says you can get discounts on many generic prescription drugs at Target, Walmart, Walgreen's, CVS, RiteAid, and other big retailers and supermarkets.