It’s no secret that the economy is in crisis. As someone who lost a job in a round of layoffs, I am all too familiar with suddenly losing a source of income. In addition to searching for a new job, I struggled to pay bills, often having to skip necessities like doctor visits and prescription medication. Being out of work was enough. Being uninsured and sick only added insult to injury.

While it’s terrible to think about anyone’s health suffering because of a lack of money, the fact is that people who cannot afford their prescriptions are likely to skip doses of necessary medication or cease taking the medication entirely. Though it’s not a good idea, those who are struggling financially may feel they have no other choice. During my unemployed years, I was prescribed allergy medicine by a doctor I had already scrimped to see due to my lack of health insurance. At the pharmacist’s counter, I found out the medicine would have cost me $85 I didn’t have. I left the drugstore upset, my hands full of over-the-counter allergy medicine and tissues. I was resigned to dealing with my symptoms as best as I could, not realizing alternatives were available to help me get better.

As a patient, it’s important to be proactive:

• Take care of your health and wellness. Carrying excess weight can exacerbate health conditions. Eating a healthy diet and getting daily exercise are both important. Consider asking Santa for an exercise bike this year and pedaling your way to a healthier lifestyle. Reducing your overall weight by as little as five percent can positively affect your health, perhaps even resulting in the ability to cut back on or cease taking a medication.
• Comparison shop for prescriptions. Check with retail outlets that might sell your medication for a fraction of the pharmacy’s cost. Likewise, some states offer pharmaceutical assistance programs for low-income individuals.
• Ask questions of your doctor, such as finding out if you will realize a medication discount by ordering in bulk. Patients can often order a 90-day supply of medication at less cost than monthly refills.
• Look for prescription coupons.
• Request that your doctor prescribe generics, which are the same drug formula as their brand-name counterparts, just cheaper.
• Ask for medication samples, which is especially wise for new meds that might not affect you the way you want.

I was lucky in only having to skip allergy medicine. Prescriptions for more serious health issues, like heart conditions or thyroid problems, cannot be ignored. Patients who are worried about their ability to afford a medication must be honest with their doctor. My doctor assumed I was benefitting from the allergy medicine she had prescribed, which explains why she was surprised when I ended up back in her office with the same aggravating symptoms. Though it can be embarrassing to admit not having much money, it’s better than dealing with an inflated health issue down the line. Doctors are tasked with treating their patients, not judging the size of their wallets.

Stepping up your efforts as a patient will benefit your health and likely your pocketbook as well. Don’t skip your medication, assuming you are invincible. The medicine you take was prescribed for a reason. Give your body a break and take the necessary steps to put that prescription back in your hand.

Danielle, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, enjoys running and plans to compete in her first marathon next year. Read more at eatbreatheblog.com.