### Taking your medicine as prescribed is important

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol and don't take medication as prescribed, your chance of complications can be serious.

 ![m00559_1140.png](/sites/default/files/images/2019-09/m00559_1140_3-min.png "Risk factors illustration")



 

 

 

 ### Here's what you can do if you need help

### Can’t afford it?

- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lower-cost or generic medicines.
- See if your health plan has programs to save you money. See your plan materials or call customer service to see if you’re eligible.
- Try mail order. If your benefits include [mail-order prescriptions](/understanding-health-insurance/prescription-drugs/prescription-delivery-service "Prescription delivery service") you can get prescriptions in the mail. It’s convenient and may save money.
- Switch from monthly refills. You may save with [90-day prescriptions](/understanding-health-insurance/prescription-drugs/90-day-prescription-supply "90-day prescription supply").
- Stay in your pharmacy network. [Search pharmacy networks](/find-care/find-pharmacy-or-search-drug-list "Find a pharmacy or search drug list").
- Shop around. Not all pharmacies charge the same price for the same medicine. [Search prescription drugs and see costs](/find-care/find-pharmacy-or-search-drug-list "Find a pharmacy or search drug list").
- Learn about your plan. [Understand your prescription drug benefits](/understanding-health-insurance/prescription-drugs/understanding-prescription-drug-benefits "Understanding prescription drug benefits").

### Forget or don’t have time?

We’ve all been there. Sometimes a reminder can help.

- Use a reminder app on your phone. Search the [Apple](https://www.apple.com/app-store/) or [Android](https://play.google.com/store/search?q=prescription%20reminder&c=apps&hl=en) app stores for a prescription reminder or pill tracker app.
- Write it down.
- Ask your pharmacist about automatic refills if you forget to refill your prescription.
- Refill prescriptions less often with [90-day prescriptions](/understanding-health-insurance/prescription-drugs/90-day-prescription-supply "90-day prescription supply") (by mail or retail).
- Get drugs by mail. Use [mail order](/understanding-health-insurance/prescription-drugs/prescription-delivery-service "Prescription delivery service") to save time. It might save money, too.

### Don’t understand or bothered by side effects?

Sometimes it’s not clear how you should be taking your medicines. Your doctor and friends or family can help.

- Ask your doctor to write down detailed instructions and make sure they're clear to you.
- Take a friend or family member with you to your doctor's visit to listen and ask questions.
- Talk with your doctor about help for any side effects. Other options may be available.



 

 

 

 

 

1 Improving prescription medicine adherence is key to better healthcare; PhRMA, January 2011  
2 Cholesterol information; CDC, September 2020, [cdc.gov/cholesterol](https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/)