I have found a way to build a backup supply of prescription meds. My insurance will allow refills up to 7 days in advance before the last prescription runs out. I don't know if all insurance plans allow this.

You have to be meticulous about refilling all your meds right on the 7th day previous (i.e. refills every 3 weeks). After doing this four times, you will have a one month backup supply which seems like a reasonable amount.

This can be very tedious if you have a number of meds all due for refills on different dates. And after you build up your backup supply, you cannot get lax about when you get new refills or you will end up eating into your backup supply. So, it is a constant effort, however, I think it is worth it even if you only end up with a week or two's backup when a disaster hits.

I keep my 5 bottle backup supply in a Ziplock ready to go. Do remember to rotate out bottles from your backup with any new prescriptions you get.

Also check to see if it's on your pharmacies generic plan. Sam's Clubs have a serious price break for some generics even without insurance. 30 day/90 day refills are $4/$10 IIRC. If your medicine is on the list, pay it yourself for one refill then you can refill it much earlier. I refilled my last one 30 days ahead of time to start the cycle.

My backup people meds are in bottles,mylar vacuum packed with O2 absorbers in a cool place.

The dog and fish meds,some are stored that way,have more I need to package next time doing mylar packing.IN unopened bottles.

Only reasonable price for zithromax was an Indian pharmacy,they seemed to work but who knows? Anyone have a good source for zithromax,maybe vet source like the antibiotics?

Dont want a political argument on vaccines but Im adding pneumonia and shingles vaccs to next MD visit.

I was able to buy my meds,generics, a time back using my AAA card with their discount at Walgrens and it was cheaper than using our insurance with a co pay on those generics.

re: shingles vaccine... as spuds mentioned, if you had chickenpox as a kid, get the shingles vaccine as early as you can... a friend (older gentleman)had a severe case of multi year duration...he had to have a drain implanted to reduce the swelling of his brain....vaccine was $200 at my MD, but was later reimbursed by my insurance...on the pneumonia vaccine...down here the death sequence for us old guys...break hip, enter nursing home, six weeks later contract pneumonia from someone's snotty nosed grandkid, die....

Bud of mine in his 60's got shingles,I mentioned vacc,he said DO IT DO IT DO IT.

200 sounds pricey to me,and money well spent too. Thanks for pricing info.

I turn 60 next year, just got my shingles vaccine yesterday. Checked with Insurance and they covered it. Have had family and acquaintances get shingles. Nasty, horrible and painful. You don't want to get shingles!!!!! Get the vaccine. Many insurance carriers will cover one you get to 55 or within 6 months of 60.

Get the Shingles vaccine! No kidding. My grandfather was living with us when I was a kid. I think I was 9 or 10 when he got it. It made such a lasting impression that when the Doc said it was time for me to consider it, I said YES! Right away!

How bad is it when it made such an impression on me that I clearly remembered it 50+ years later?

Like the TV says, if you had chicken pox, the shingles virus is alteady inside you and just waiting. . .

Even if insurance does not cover it, it is worth the out of pocket expense.

With my insurance, I have a three-day advance. Moreover, one of my medications is a narcotic. I can’t get it earlier by paying out-of-pocket. In a best-case scenario, I can build up a thirty-one-day supply in one year. Fortunately all my medications are due the same day, making it easy.

Other issues:

Sometimes one medication is changed and I go to square-one to build a reserve supply.

After stocking medications for a year, I have a two-month supply at best if there is a sudden supply chain disruption.

Jeanette Isabelle

Thanks for bumping this thread JeanetteIsabelle. One of the great preps that I've learned here was to refill prescriptions as early as my insurance company will allow so that I can have backups in my kits.

New readers this thread is great advice to ensure you and your loved ones always have prescription meds on hand in an emergency.