Save on the cost of medicines

Here are some ways you could save on medications:

1. Claim on prescriptions with Health Partners Extras cover

Health Partners provides generous benefits on eligible prescriptions at 55 pharmacy locations across Adelaide including some regional areas in South Australia. The best bit is that the pharmacy will claim any eligible medication costs from Health Partners for you and you will only pay the gap.

Speak with your pharmacist to see if your medicine is eligible and call us on 1300 113 113 to ensure you have the appropriate cover and limits to access benefits.

2. Ask for the generic version

Switching to a generic medicine will cost you less than the well-known brand equivalent and contains the same active ingredient and dose. Some brands generally cost more as they have invested in advertising and research to be the known brand of that medicine which is added to the cost of the medicine. Generic medicine will give you the same result at a cheaper price. Check with your pharmacist if a generic is available for your prescription and suitable for you to use, or over-the-counter medication.

3. Are you getting the Pharmacy Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payment discount?

The government allows a $1.00 co-payment discount to be applied to each PBS medicine when dispensed but it is not mandatory for pharmacies to do this. Ask your pharmacy if they apply this discount to your medication.

4. Are you eligible for a concession card?

Services Australia provide some families with concession and health care cards. These cards can provide cheaper PBS medicines and reduce costs if your doctor offers bulk billing. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if your card lowers your co-payments for medicines.

5. Register for the PBS Safety Net

If you or your family need to get multiple prescriptions filled at the pharmacy throughout the year, the PBS Safety Net could help you pay less for medicines after you’ve reached a certain limit in a calendar year. Once you reach the limit, you pay less for the remainder of the year. You can also register your family to track your combined prescription costs and reach the limit sooner. Visiting the same pharmacist for your scripts will mean they can keep track of your eligibility for you.

Check your eligibility and how to apply for the PBS Safety Net at Services Australia website.

6. Talk to your doctor about your current medicines

You may be eligible for a 60-day supply for some of your medicines, instead of the standard 30 day. Have a chat with your doctor to see if it makes sense to do this from both a health and hip pocket perspective.

7. Take the time to shop around

For your under-co-payment PBS medicines, compare pricing online or call a few pharmacies before heading in store to find a more competitive price. Then ask your pharmacist if they will price match to that lower price.

8. Visit a Health Partners participating pharmacy to save 20% on the full price of non-prescription medicines*

Health Partners Extras members save 20% on the full price of most non-prescription medicines in areas such as pain relief, allergies, cold and flu preparations, stomach medicines, vitamins and first aid creams that can help members reduce their family medicine expenses.

Prescriptions

PBS Medicines

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) makes a range of prescription medicines more affordable to Australian residents due to the Government subsidising the cost. These medicines also require a PBS co-payment to be paid towards each item by the patient. PBS Medicines that are ineligible for a government subsidy may be eligible for claiming with Health Partners. Conditions apply^

If you are on eligible extras cover and shop at at Health Partners participating pharmacies, all you have to do is pay up to $20 per non-government subsidised prescription, we will cover any gap over $20, up to your cover’s limit.

Private & Compounding Medicines

Private medicines are medicines that the Government does not include on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). These medicines are not subsidised and can be quite expensive. Health Partners can help with lifestyle and tailored compounded medicines, IVF drugs, and non-government subsidised vaccinations, with some exclusions, which can be found at https://www.healthpartners.com.au/pharmacy-benefits.

If you are on eligible extras cover, we will pay a maximum benefit of $50 per prescription^. This benefit will only apply after your co-payment of $40. Additional Member Contribution amounts may apply if the private prescription price is above the combined Member co-payment and maximum benefit.

20% Pharmacy Discount

Members can enjoy 20% discount on the full price of most non-prescription pharmacy products, only available at Health Partners participating pharmacies.* This means that members can save every day on the good stuff like cosmetics, vitamins, hair care and skincare. Save on:

• Vitamins and supplements
• Pain relief and minor ailment products
• Perfume and beauty products (excluding franchise brands (i.e. Chanel)
• Skincare and haircare
• Sports medicine and wound care items

Terms and Conditions

*20% Discount applies on the pharmacies full item price of most non-prescription products on presentation of Health Partners membership card for members with extras products, but excludes agency items (i.e. X-Lotto), selected franchise brands (i.e. Chanel) and schedule 3 recordable medicines. Pharmacies may choose, at their discretion, to apply the discount to items already discounted. A pharmacy is not required to honour their loyalty club program discount & the Health Partners discount in the same transaction. Unlimited use. Waiting periods may apply. Conditions are in accordance with agreements held with our preferred pharmacies, which may change from time to time.

^PBS prescriptions that are not already subsidised by the Government and Private and compounding prescriptions. No benefits apply to Government subsidised scripts. Speak to your pharmacist to understand if your script is subsidised. Including vaccinations, hormone implants, allergen implants and IVF-associated drugs.

References

^#Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022, Medicines in the health system. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/medicines/medicines-in-the-health-system

Department of Health and Aged Care, 2022, Cost of Medicines. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/medicines/cost

PS Medicinewise, 2022, Keeping your medicine costs down. Retrieved from https://www.nps.org.au/consumers/keeping-your-medicines-costs-down#making-prescription-medicines-affordable

Services Australia, 2021, When you spend a lot on PBS medicines. Retrieved from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/when-you-spend-lot-pbs-medicines?context=22016

The Conversation, 2022, Last year, half a million Australians couldn’t afford to fill a script. Here’s how to rein in rising health costs. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/last-year-half-a-million-australians-couldnt-afford-to-fill-a-script-heres-how-to-rein-in-rising-health-costs-178301

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021, Patient Experiences in Australia: Summary of Findings. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-services/patient-experiences-australia-summary-findings/latest-release

Department of Health and Aged Care, 2022, About the PBS. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/about-the-pbs