Save Money with Over-the-Counter (OTC) Heartburn Medications
OTC Heartburn Medications
Prilosec OTC®, Omeprazole OTC, Prevacid® 24HR and Zegerid OTC™
An easy way for State Health Plan members to save money is to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications instead of more costly prescriptions. Heartburn medications are used by many members and present an excellent opportunity for cost savings. Members can take advantage of additional cost savings available from coverage of Prilosec OTC® or its generic equivalent omeprazole OTC, Prevacid® 24HR, and Zegerid OTC™. These products are called proton pump inhibitors and act in the body by stopping acid production in the stomach. This helps control heartburn and other symptoms associated with acid production. The OTC heartburn products contain the same active ingredients and are as strong, safe, and effective as the prescription products.Prilosec OTC®, Omeprazole OTC, Prevacid® 24HR, and Zegerid OTC™ are priced considerably lower than the prescription versions of the drugs because they are available over-the-counter. They do not have the same prior authorization requirements and quantity limits as the prescription heartburn medications. Members are able to save money when purchasing the OTC products because the copayment is only $5 for a 42-day supply of therapy.
If you are taking a prescription heartburn medication and want to try an OTC option to save money, here are the steps to follow:
Step |
Action |
1 |
Talk to your provider to see if an OTC heartburn medication would be right for you. |
2 |
Obtain a prescription from your provider for Prilosec OTC®, omeprazole OTC, Prevacid® 24HR, or Zegerid OTC™ (42-count package). |
3 |
Talk to your provider about appropriate dosing. Higher doses of the OTC product may be needed to be as effective as your prescription product, such as Nexium® or Aciphex®. If you need a higher dosage, your provider must write you a prescription for Prilosec OTC®, omeprazole OTC, or Prevacid®24HR, 84-count (2 packages of 42). |
4 |
Take your prescription to your pharmacist so it can be filled using your State Health Plan pharmacy benefit for the $5 copay. |
Be sure to check with your provider or pharmacist if you have questions about the OTC products, or to see if an OTC heartburn medication may be right for you. For a chart comparing the costs of alternative heartburn medications click here.
For additional cost saving opportunities for your medications, please visit My RX Choices.