The short answer
You can often lower medicine costs by asking your doctor about generics, the form of the drug, mail-order pharmacies, and discount programs. Never change your own doses. If cost is a burden, tell your care team — help is available.
Ask your doctor if a generic version of your medicine is available.
Mail-order pharmacies are sometimes cheaper than local ones.
Discount drug programs and assistance can lower prescription costs.
Never split or change your doses on your own.
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The full explanation.
The simple version
Cancer medicines can be expensive, but the price is not always fixed. Often you can lower the cost by asking a few questions and using programs designed to help. The safest savings come from working with your doctor — never from changing your doses on your own.
Ask about generic versions
The National Cancer Institute suggests asking your doctor whether a generic version of your medicine is available. Generics usually cost less than brand-name medicines. You can also ask about the form of the drug, since pills may cost less than other forms.
A generic or a different form can lower the price while still treating you.
Try before you buy the whole prescription
You can ask your doctor to write only part of a prescription, so you can make sure the medicine works for you before buying the rest. This helps only if you pay by the amount you buy — with some insurance plans, you pay the same whether you buy part or all. One important exception: you cannot get samples of opioids, and you cannot order them in bulk or through the mail.
Consider a mail-order pharmacy
Many insurance companies let you get prescriptions through mail-order pharmacies, which are sometimes cheaper than a local pharmacy. Make sure the medicine works for you first. As above, opioids cannot be ordered in bulk or by mail.
Use discount and assistance programs
Some organizations and drug companies have programs that help pay for prescription drugs or find them at a lower cost. Your nurse or social worker can point you to these. Options include tools that compare prices and provide coupons, search engines that connect you with drug-manufacturer assistance programs, and nonprofit mail-order pharmacies that serve people in need.
A key caution
Saving money should never mean changing how you take your medicine on your own. The NCI warns never to split doses yourself, as it could be harmful. If a dose could be split safely, only your doctor should set that up.
Ask your care team before making any change to your medicine.
Ask about adjusting a dose safely
Sometimes a doctor can increase a prescription so that a dose can be split in half to save money. This only happens under your doctor's guidance — the National Cancer Institute warns never to split doses on your own, as it could be harmful.
Discount programs that may help
Several organizations and drug companies run programs that help pay for prescriptions or find them at a lower cost. Ask your nurse or social worker, or look at a program's website. Examples the NCI lists include tools that compare prices and provide coupons, a search engine that connects you with drug-manufacturer assistance programs, organizations that list programs to help pay for medicines and supplies, and a nonprofit mail-order pharmacy that serves people in need. With some of these, the price may be lower than with your insurance, so it is worth comparing.
A note before we begin
This information is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. For your own care, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about your medicines and their costs.
Reviewed sources
This article is based on public information from the National Cancer Institute:
Words to know
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Common questions
▸How can I save money on cancer medicines?
The National Cancer Institute suggests asking your doctor about generic versions, which usually cost less, and about the form of the drug, since pills may cost less than other forms. Mail-order pharmacies are sometimes cheaper, and discount drug programs can help you find medicines at a lower cost.
▸Are generic medicines a good option?
Generics usually cost less than brand-name medicines. Your doctor can tell you whether a generic is available for your medicine and whether it is right for you.
▸Can I try a medicine before buying the whole prescription?
You can ask your doctor to write only part of a prescription so you can make sure the medicine works for you before buying the rest. This only helps if you pay by the amount you buy. Note that you cannot get samples of opioids or order them in bulk or by mail.
▸What are discount drug programs?
Some organizations and drug companies have programs that help pay for prescriptions or find them at a lower cost. Your nurse or social worker can point you to options; examples include tools that compare prices or connect you with manufacturer assistance.
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