No one knows better than you do that prescription drugs are costly. If you or your elder hit the "donut hole" last year, you know it in spades.

You've already heard the typical recommendations - ask for samples, ask for lower cost alternatives, and comparison shop.

If you're like us, comparison shopping is something you just have all the time in the world to do - your time just happens to be available in two-minute increments, at 6 a.m., or on Sunday afternoon, when you'd really so much rather be doing something else.

The Internet to the rescue again. Destination RX. Sign up for a free membership (they will undoubtedly send you "offers," although I haven't gotten any yet), type in your ZIP code and the prescription(s) you're looking for, and badda-bing, baddaboom, you get a list of prices from the pharmacies closest to your home.

This can save you a ton of phone time if you're comparing prices.

Just remember, if you or your elder have your prescriptions filled at multiple pharmacies, it's harder for the pharmacist to keep track of potential interactions or other risks. If the price difference is minor, it might be more work than it's worth to shop in several places. But even if you ultimately don't make any changes, it's good to know whether what you're paying is high, low, or average for your area.

Destination RX. com   http://www.destinationrx.com