Make the most of your prescription drug benefits and save

JHU, like most employers across the country, has been experiencing a dramatic rise in prescription drug costs. In fact, a recent survey conducted by federal health officials estimates that prescription drug spending rose 12.2 percent in 2015 alone, and continues to increase.

It is the shared responsibility of the university and its faculty and staff to manage health care costs. One way to do this is to think about how you can save money on prescription medications. For example:

Ask about generics. Why pay more than you have to? Ask your doctor if your prescriptions can be filled with generic drugs, which are generally less expensive than their brand-name counterparts but are the same in terms of chemical composition, strength, and dosage. On average, generics cost 30 to 70 percent less than brand-name drugs yet are just as effective.

Think mail order. You can save money on drugs you take on a regular basis—for chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure—by ordering them through your medical plan's mail order program, which lets you buy up to a 90-day supply of a drug for less than you would pay for three 30-day supplies at a retail pharmacy. Better yet, because your order is delivered to your home, you save time, don't need to renew your prescription every month, and don't need to make a trip to the pharmacy.

Download the Express Scripts app to your smartphone or tablet and quickly and easily refill or renew your home delivery prescriptions; view lower-cost prescriptions under the JHU medical plans; see all your current medications, set reminders, and get personalized safety alerts; and track the status of your home-delivery prescription orders.

You can learn more about your prescription drug benefits, including how to enroll in mail order, on the myChoices website.