Nearly 50 percent of consumers have walked out of a pharmacy without the medicine prescribed by their physician because it was too expensive, according to a new survey by DrFirst.
For its online survey, DrFirst fielded responses from 200 consumers, 87 percent of whom had health insurance.
Here are four key survey findings:
1. Seventy-three percent of consumers said they would change pharmacies if it would save them money on a prescription.
2. For $10 in savings, 38 percent of respondents would switch pharmacies, whereas 70 percent of respondents would choose a different pharmacy if they could save between $11 and $25.
3. Forty-four percent of consumers reported that their physician advised them about the cost of the medication before prescribing it and offered lower-cost options. Fewer than half, 42 percent of consumers reported they received advice from their physician or pharmacist about possible cost-saving coupons or lower-cost pharmacy options.
4. "Results from DrFirst survey indicate that consumers would like notification about drug pricing options before picking up prescriptions," the survey concludes.
Access the full survey here.