1. Use generic medicines
Where available, generics are a perfectly acceptable substitute for brand-name medicines, unless they’re specifically ruled out by your doctor. “Many generics are clones – they can be made by the original brand on the same assembly line. It’s merely the packaging that’s different,” explains Merle Rakusin, a qualified pharmacist at the Clicks store in Claremont.
A generic must be “bioidentical” to the original brand name medicine, states the Discovery website, which means it must have exactly the same:
- Active ingredient
- Strength
- Use and effect
- Dosage form (for example a pill, inhalant or liquid)
- Ability to reach the required level in the bloodstream within the right amount of time and to the same extent
- Testing standards.
2. Budget
Figure out your total medical savings amount for the year. Then draw up a budget before the year starts and include the medications you regularly purchase. Assess what the balance is and allocate an amount to each month.
Of course there may well be unforeseen expenses, but at least this way you have a plan in mind and can work out when in the year you might run out of savings, and prepare accordingly. Rakusin recommends you set aside savings for expensive medication – and pay cash for everyday items, like Panado headache tablets or syrup.
3. Consult your pharmacist
Why use multiple medications when one will do? For instance, if you have cold and flu symptoms, like congestion, itchy eyes and headache, you could buy one medicine containing an antihistamine, decongestant and paracetamol combination which will address all your symptoms, rather than three separate medicines.
Speak to your Clicks pharmacist about the most cost-effective treatment for your ailments.
4. Chronic medications
If you’re require chronic medication, check with your medical aid provider whether there is a provision for this medication in your plan. Chronic conditions, from depression to diabetes for example, have specific allocation to medications, and this means the money will not come from your medical savings account.
5. Make use of reward programmes
If you are a Clicks ClubCard member and also a Discovery Vitality member, you can activate the Vitality HealthyCare benefit and get up to 25% cash back when you buy HealthyCare products at Clicks.
IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com