Free Prescription Medicines

Wednesday, May 9th 2007, 6:00 pm

By: News On 6

The number of Oklahomans without health insurance continues to be a problem. But increasing competition in the pharmacy industry is bringing new options to get needed medicine without health care coverage. The News On 6â€™s Heather Lewin reports on a new way to help Oklahomans struggling to pay for prescription drugs.

Pharmacists say some very common antibiotics, now available generically, are now more affordable than in years past. Tulsa Pharmacist Mark Wright says that's what enables him to give them away for free.

"Personally, I've seen some situations where people bring in several prescriptions and don't have very much money sometimes to pay for them. Occasionally they will actually select an antihistamine or a pain medicine instead of the antibiotic," he said.

Wright runs GenScripts, a self pay pharmacy that doesn't bill insurance or government aid programs. The free antibiotics program covers six generic drugs including Amoxicillin and Erythromycin. Wright says more than 50% of his customers have no insurance and must pay out of their own pockets.

"I just don't ever want to see anybody walk out of here without their antibiotic," said Wright.

Even if you do have insurance, pharmacists say it may not always be in your best interest to use it. Some medications, like certain antibiotics in their generic form, may be cheaper than your insurance co-pay. So you may want to ask your pharmacist which would be more affordable before paying.

Watch the video: Pharmacist Offers Free Prescriptions