Do Free Samples Reduce My Costs?
September 8, 2011 in Health Tips, Money Tips, Prescription Drugs
Everyone likes getting something for free, but it is rare for it not to cost you anything. It may cost you 3 easy payments of $19.99 or an unidentified amount of money at a later date. Drug samples are no different. Although they are “free” when your doctor gives them to you, they will end up costing you in the long-run. A new study found that people who receive free drug samples from their doctor ended up having higher out-of-pocket cost (your cost) than people who did not receive samples.
How can “free” drug samples cost you more in the long-run? Drugs that are given away for free are typically the high-cost, high copayment, brand-name medications that are taken long-term. Therefore, it may be free for the first month or two, but you will eventually receive a prescription for the drug and end up paying for it. Samples are nothing more than a marketing device. In 2004, manufacturers spent more than $16 billion on free drug samples. This is more than 3 times as much as they spent on advertising and 2 times as much as they spent on drug sales representatives. Pharmaceutical companies often claim that drug samples allow people with low-incomes to get drugs for free. In fact, more than 80% of samples in this study went to people with insurance, not the uninsured or people with a low income.
Dr. David Katz, from the Yale University School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, said free samples are not designed to help lower drug costs, but rather to sell newer and more expensive drugs. The authors of the study suggested that doctors consider other ways to reduce cost to patients. These include using generic medications, allowing 90 day drug supplies, and discontinuing unnecessary medicines.
