A trip to the doctor can make your head spin – not because you’re sick, but because of the high cost of medical care and prescription medications. Things look especially grim if you’re one of the estimated 43 million Americans without health insurance. You can skip purchasing that nice shirt that’s caught your eye, but you really can't skip the medicines you’re prescribed when you’re sick. But you can cut your costs as much as possible. Here are a few tips to help lessen the burden of paying for prescription medicine.

First of all, do your best to stay healthy! It’s amazing how often we forget to take care of ourselves, but sometimes an ounce of prevention can be worth several hundred dollars worth of cure. Try to eat your fruits and vegetables, get enough sleep at night and wash your hands after using the restroom and before eating. These simple acts alone should help you fend off some illnesses that require doctor’s visits and costly medications.

The best way to get health insurance is through your employer. Because the policies are purchased in bulk, your employer can get a better rate than you’ll be able to on your own. Really consider whether or not you can afford your employer’s health plan. It may be a stretch for your tight budget, but if anything major happens to you, you’ll be glad to have the coverage. Check with your employer to see if they offer any plans that have a high deductible coupled with a health savings plan or voluntary medical deduction. That way you’ll be covered for any major medical expenses, but still be able to save up money for doctor’s visits and prescription medications on a pre-tax basis.

If you aren’t able to get health insurance through your employer, look into your other options. Depending on your income level, you may be eligible for federal, state, or local insurance programs that may have lower premiums than private policies or may be free altogether. If you don’t meet the income requirements, search the internet for prescription discount programs. These programs won’t give you full medical coverage, but they will help lower the costs of your prescriptions for a modest yearly fee. You can also check with the manufacturer of the medication you’ve been prescribed – some companies offer discounts based on your income.

When you do need a prescription, go for the generic if at all possible. Ask your doctor if the specific brand of medicine prescribed to you has any generic alternatives. Generic medicines are often just as effective as branded ones, and in some cases, may perform even better. Most doctors have a list of alternative brands for you to try and are sensitive to financial needs of their patients. However, if your doctor requires you to take the branded form of a medication, there’s probably a reason for that. Trying to go behind the doctor to get the generic medication could result in serious personal harm!

Follow your prescription schedule to a tee. Some people try to save money by skipping a dosage of their prescription medicine. Aside from not fully curing your illness, you may wind up spending more in the long run. If you don't follow your doctor's orders properly, you might wind up getting sick again and having to pay for more medication. So the bottom line is that taking, and paying for, prescription medications isn’t fun, but it will likely be necessary at some point in your life. Do your best to stay healthy and get some sort of medical coverage, but follow your doctor’s orders in the end!