• Always forgetting to get your chronic medication? You are not alone.
• It is essential that you take your chronic medication regularly, as prescribed. You cannot afford to miss even a day with most chronic prescriptions but making sure you always have your medication on time can be a challenge.
• Fortunately, many of the medical aid schemes have made this a lot easier as have a number of the large pharmacy chains.

In order to take advantage of these benefits, you need to understand the process and follow the guidelines.

If you have a prescription for chronic medication, look at your medical aid to see what their policy is. Normally, you would have to register for chronic medication benefit. The conditions of this benefit will vary from one medical aid to the next and the plan you chose will also be a significant factor. You need to get your medical aid to authorize your chronic medication.

Some medical aids offer a free scheduled delivery service for your chronic medication. This is a great convenience for most people and will ensure that you never run out. It also helps you to stay within your benefit limits and reduces co-payments.

If your medical aid does not offer such a service, you can take advantage of the free repeat prescription service that is offered by some pharmacies. Once you have registered for the service and given them the necessary information and the script, they will prepare your medication in advance, send the necessary information to your medical aid and SMS you to advise that it is ready for collection. This saves a lot of time and hassle and will also help to ensure that you do not run out of chronic medication.

Competition is good in the healthcare profession and everyone is trying to give better service and greater benefits. With the fast pace of life, it is all too easy to forget to collect your chronic medications so look out for benefits that will make your life easier and take advantage of them.