What to Do When ADHD Medication Costs Too Much

ADHD medication can be expensive.  What can you do when you turn your prescription in at the pharmacy and the person at the register tells you that your medicine is more than you can afford?

While standing at the register:

1)  Make sure your insurance was charged, and that any coupons you presented were used.

2)  Get an understanding of how much of the cost of the medication was covered by the insurance.

3)  Be willing to accept a generic.  Generics are usually fine, but avoid frequent switches between different generics or between generic and brand, if possible.  
4)  Know that it is ok to walk away without medication (ask for your prescription back), in order to give yourself some time to think and do some research if,

a) you have never taken medication before OR

b) you have a few days left of your old prescription OR

c) you are currently taking a stimulant.

If you are not taking a stimulant, it may not be safe for you to stop taking medication abruptly.  Call your doctor from the pharmacy if you really need to walk away from the pharmacy without your medication.

At home:

1)  Many drug companies issue coupons or have programs set up for lower income patients.  Search the internet for (name of medication or manufacturer) and "patient assistance program".
2)  If your insurance does not cover medication, or covers by percentage off, you may want to visit several pharmacies to ask them what they will charge you for your prescription.  Usually pharmacies will not tell you if they have stimulants in stock over the phone, as they do not want to encourage criminals to visit their pharmacy to steal drugs.  However, prescription prices can vary by 50% from pharmacy to pharmacy, so it is worth checking if your insurance does not cover your medication costs.   

3)  If you are on a stable dose of medication, investigate whether your insurance has a mail order provider that will send you your medications 3 months at a time.  Often insurance companies will give you 3 months of medication for 2 months' copay if you agree to receive your medications this way.
4)  Call your doctor and tell them you were unable to fill the prescription due to cost.  Ask them if there is something less expensive you could take.  Be sure to tell them what steps you have taken and the name of your prescription plan.  You may ask them to suggest several alternatives so that you can research them and contact your insurance plan about exact costs.  A useful piece of information:  generic Tenex (guanfacine immediate release) is $4 at many discount pharmacies.

5)  Make sure you are doing all you can to minimize your need for medication.  Get enough sleep.  Avoid sugar.  Exercise.  Consider supplements and other natural methods.

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