CAREGIVER COMPANION
Prescription costs are one of those expenses most caregivers assume they can’t control.
But many families are paying 2–5× more than they need to simply because they don’t know where to check.
This week we’re looking at a quick way to compare medication prices, plus a few updates and resources making the caregiving journey a little less overwhelming.
Let’s dive in.
TODAY’S GAME PLAN
💆♀️ Small moves that make caregiving easier
Problem:
Prescription costs quietly add up, especially when your loved one is taking multiple medications. You assume the pharmacy price is the price. You assume insurance gives you the best rate.
Often, neither is true.
Many caregivers overpay simply because they don’t know there are alternatives.
Solution:
Before you refill, compare prices.
Online pharmacies and prescription discount tools often offer the same generic medications at significantly lower prices — sometimes cheaper than your insurance copay.
A 2-minute search can cut a $200+ prescription down to $30–$50.
Action Steps:
Look up the exact drug name + dosage (ex: “Metformin 500mg”).
Check at least one price comparison site.
Compare the cash price vs. your insurance copay.
Ask your doctor if a generic version is available (if not already prescribed).
Ask your pharmacist: “Is there a cheaper way to fill this?”
Resources:
Cost Plus Drugs - Online pharmacy offering transparent pricing on many generic medications (cost + small markup model)
GoodRx - Free tool that compares local pharmacy prices and provides discount coupons.
SingleCare - Prescription discount programs that sometimes beat insurance pricing.
(None of the resources listed above are paid partnerships)
Before your next refill, take two minutes to check. It might save more than you think.
WHAT’S GOOD
💛 Join our Caregiver Community!
If these emails help, you’ll love what’s inside The Caregiver Companion community.
Inside you’ll get:
The full 30‑Day “Get Paid To Care” Plan so you’re not guessing what to do next
Copy‑paste scripts and templates for calling Medicaid, VA, HR, and family
Printable checklists and worksheets to keep everything organized
Access to a private community with other family caregivers walking the same road
It’s built to take what you read here and turn it into actual money and support for your family.
RECS
🧠 What’s good
In case you missed it: A new Pew survey finds that most Americans would back policies like paid family leave and tax credits to support people caring for aging relatives, though support varies sharply by political party and age group.
Less alone: Celebrities like Seth Rogen, Teri Hatcher, and David Hyde Pierce are publicly sharing their family caregiving stories.
Tools we like: Trust&Will offers a guided online process to set up wills, trusts, and healthcare directives built by attorneys, then customized by you.
FROM THE FRONT LINES
💬 From real caregivers this week
“Grandma asked me if I was the new hire… I’ve been her granddaughter for 32 years.”
“Dad hid the TV remote because he said the news was spying on him.”
“My mom asked if the dog could drive us home since he seemed ‘more alert than the rest of us.’”
“Grandpa told the nurse he couldn’t take his pills because he was ‘saving room for dessert.’”
“My mom accused the microwave of stealing her soup.”
PLAY
🧩 Trivia
Q: What percentage of Americans will become a caregiver for an aging or disabled family member at some point in their life?
A) 1 in 10
B) 1 in 5
C) 1 in 3
D) Nearly 1 in 2
(see answer below)
ANSWER
D) Nearly 1 in 2
About 45% of Americans will serve as a family caregiver at some point in their lives.
Yet most people say they felt completely unprepared when it actually happened.
That’s one reason we built this newsletter.