How to get lower prices on prescription drugs

In this episode of NPR's Life Kit, Marielle Segarra interviews Dan Weissmann, host of the podcast "An Arm and a Leg," about navigating the high costs of prescription drugs. Dan provides a checklist of actions to take when faced with unexpectedly high medication costs, including checking for errors with insurance, searching for online coupons (like GoodRx), asking the doctor about alternative, cheaper medications, requesting a prior authorization from the insurance company, seeking free samples from the doctor, and exploring patient assistance programs. Dan also emphasizes the importance of reviewing a health insurance plan's formulary to understand medication costs before selecting a plan and proactively addressing coverage issues with providers.