Crossing the border for Rx? Watch your step

With the high cost of medications, you may be tempted to fill prescriptions through an online pharmacy across the border. But doing so might cost you more and risk your health.

Foreign drugs may cost more in the long run

Oh, Canada! It’s the land of beautiful vistas, natural wonders, and cheap prescription drugs. But buying medications from Canada – or any foreign country, for that matter – could cost more than you think. First, you may give up insurance benefits you’re entitled to. And even worse, you may buy unsafe products.

Why drugs are cheaper in Canada

If you’ve been to Canada lately, you know the exchange rate doesn’t work in Americans’ favor the way it used to. So why do drugs seem to be cheaper north of the border? Here are the two main reasons:

The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board – In 1987, the Canadian government created this agency to police prices for brand-name drugs. The rules are pretty loose – prices must be “not excessive” by three measures – and the agency rarely forces a drug maker to lower the price. But the potential for regulation is enough to keep manufacturers on their toes.
Government formularies – Canadians age 65 and older get drug coverage through the government. Each province has a “formulary” of preferred drugs – kind of like the drug list for your prescription coverage. If the government thinks a drug is too expensive, they keep it off the formulary and the drug maker might lose market share.

But here’s a point to remember: The Canadian rules apply to brand-name drugs only. According to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study, most generic drugs are actually cheaper in the United States. So if you’re filling a generic prescription, you might be able to get it in the United States for less than the Canadian pharmacy’s shipping cost alone.

Why “Canadian” pharmacies can be dangerous

Here’s some scary news: many Internet pharmacies that say they’re “Canadian” really aren’t. In 2005, the FDA examined packages coming into the United States at three airports. Of the 1,700 parcels ordered from “Canadian” pharmacies:

15 percent originated in Canada
85 percent came from other countries, including India, Israel, Costa Rica, and Vanuatu

Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, the acting FDA commissioner, commented: “These results make clear there are Internet sites that claim to be ‘Canadian’ that, in fact, are peddling drugs of dubious origin, safety, and efficacy.” How can you protect yourself? If you choose to buy drugs from Canadian pharmacies, look for a seal of approval from one or both of these organizations:

Why bypassing insurance is a bad deal

If you use an online pharmacy outside the United States, chances are you’re not using your insurance. And when you bypass insurance, you miss out in four ways:

You risk drug interactions – Humana’s claim systems alert pharmacists about potential interactions on the spot – even if you use more than one pharmacy. If you don’t use your pharmacy benefits, you miss out on this safety check.
You don’t get the in-network discount – When you use in-network pharmacies, you get a discount off the retail price. This discount is in addition to any benefits your plan pays.
The costs don’t apply to your out-of-pocket limit – Many pharmacy plans have a “cap” on how much you pay in a year. If you don’t run a prescription through your pharmacy benefits, your costs don’t apply to your limit. Same with the deductible if you have one.
You may miss out on health guidance – The prescriptions members fill sometimes alert Humana about medical needs. For example, if you fill a first-time prescription for diabetes-related medication, Humana may contact you to offer assistance in dealing with your condition.

Better ways to save money on prescriptions

Here are two safer, easier ways to lower your prescription drug costs:

Talk to your doctor about generics – In many cases, you can get the same results for less money by choosing generic drugs or other medications from the same family of drugs that may have lower costs. Before your doctor finishes writing your prescription, ask about generic equivalents – lower-cost, brand-name drugs that treat the same condition, and even over-the-counter options. If you take an alternative drug and don’t think it works as well, you can always go back to the brand-name drug you used before.
Order your prescription(s) by mail – If your Humana plan covers prescription drugs and includes mail-order prescription service, you can have your prescription(s) delivered to your home. RightSource^SM, Humana’s preferred prescription home-delivery service, gives you convenience, potential cost savings, safety, and accuracy. It’s convenient because you can get up to a three-month supply of your medication(s) four times a year by mail with direct-to-your-door service. RightSource also may reduce your costs through 90-day pricing incentives or discounts, generic alternatives, and free home delivery. And you get extra security because RightSource uses foil-sealed containers, and two pharmacists review each new prescription.

References and resources

For details about your drug coverage and generic alternatives, log in to MyHumana using the log-in box at the top of this page. For more information about RightSource, visit RightSourceRx.com.

Mail-order providers may vary. Please refer to your benefit materials on MyHumana for more information.

The bottom line

Saving a buck isn’t worth risking your health. To save money on prescriptions, take advantage of in-network discounts, generic alternatives, and mail order. If you do order drugs from outside the United States, make sure the pharmacy is on the up-and-up.

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