Prescription drug prices in the United States are among the highest in the world: a 2024 RAND Corporation study found that U.S. prices averaged 2.78 times those in 33 other countries. If you are skipping doses or leaving a prescription at the counter, you are not alone. In a 2026 KFF poll, about half of adults in households earning under $40,000 said they had not taken a medication as prescribed in the past year because of cost.
There are programs that can help, and most are free to apply for. Here is where to start.
1. Ask About a Generic
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name version and must meet the same FDA standards for safety, strength, and quality. The FDA estimates that generics cost 80–85% less than their brand-name equivalents on average.
What to do: Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether a generic version of your medication exists. If your prescription says "Dispense as Written" (DAW), ask your doctor whether the brand-name version is needed in your situation or whether a generic would be appropriate. That is a decision for you and your doctor.
2. Check for a Manufacturer Patient Assistance Program
Most major drug manufacturers run Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) that provide medication free or at reduced cost to people who qualify. Each program sets its own rules, usually based on income, insurance status, residency, and the specific medication, so qualifying for one program does not mean you qualify for another.
What to do: Use Lysco's free drug-assistance tool to look up the manufacturer's program for your medication and prepare the application. Your doctor's office often needs to sign or submit part of the form, so ask them early.
3. See Whether You Qualify for Medicare Extra Help or Medicaid
If you are on Medicare and have limited income and resources, the Extra Help program (also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy) lowers your prescription costs. In 2026, people who qualify pay no more than $5.10 for a covered generic and $12.65 for a covered brand-name drug; from January 2027 the limits are $5.80 and $14.40. Apply through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
If you are not on Medicare, Medicaid may cover prescriptions at little or no cost, and some states run their own pharmaceutical assistance programs. Medicaid enrollment is year-round.
What to do: Lysco's free benefits finder checks which government programs your household may qualify for.
4. Use Your Plan's Own Cost-Saving Rules
Many insurance plans charge less per pill for a 90-day supply than for three 30-day fills, especially through the plan's mail-order pharmacy. Plans also publish a formulary — a list of covered drugs by tier — and a lower-tier drug in the same class may cost far less.
What to do: Call the number on your insurance card and ask (1) whether a 90-day supply lowers your copay, (2) which tier your drug is on, and (3) whether a lower-tier drug in the same class is covered. Then ask your doctor whether a switch makes sense for you.
5. Ask About 340B Pricing at Community Health Centers
Federally Qualified Health Centers and some hospitals take part in the federal 340B program, which lets them offer discounted medications to their own patients. If you get care at a community health center, ask whether its pharmacy can fill your prescription.
6. When Your Insurer Says No
Sometimes the problem is not the price but a denial: the plan requires prior authorization, wants you to try a cheaper drug first (step therapy), or says the drug is not on its formulary. Those denials can be appealed, and with your doctor's support you can ask for a formulary exception.
What to do: Upload the denial notice for a free review. Lysco explains the stated reason and deadline and helps you prepare the appeal or exception request.
How Lysco Can Help
Lysco doesn't sell discount cards. What it does: look up price estimates, coupons and generic options for one medicine, find and pre-fill manufacturer assistance applications, check which government programs may apply to you, and, if your insurer denies a prescription, help you prepare the appeal. The drug price check, drug-assistance tool and benefits finder are free to use, and the free plan includes one review each month, which can be a denial review.