Save money on prescription drugs!(chain price-matching hints)(Industry Overview)

The high cost of prescription drugs affects almost all Americans--and their rate of inflation is roughly triple that of overall health-care costs. But here's a little-known fact: Many drugstore chains--including Kmart, Rite Aid, and Wal-Mart--and some independent drugstores will match the lowest price available in your area for prescription drugs. Kmart will even match prices from the Internet and mail-order drug sellers. That means it pays to comparison shop, then ask your favorite pharmacy if it will match the lowest price you find.

How much can you save? Consumer Reports on Health, a sister publication, recently sampled retail prices at six independent, chain, and mass-merchandiser pharmacies in the Washington, D.C., area for two top-selling medications: atorvastatin (Lipitor) and quinapril (Accupril), used to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, respectively. The potential saving for atorvastatin was $105 per year; for quinapril, $120.

Not all companies will match the best price you find. CVS stores wouldn't even match cheaper drug prices we found on the company's own web site.

When you shop for renewable prescriptions and nonrush orders, get prices from a variety of retailers, including independent pharmacies and pharmacies at supermarkets and mass-merchandise stores such as Costco Wholesale.When you call, be prepared with the name of the medication, the pill count, and the strength in milligrams (mg.).

But that's not the only way to save.

* Once a year, ...