Did you know that Americans pay twice as much for their prescriptions as people in other developed countries, where pharmaceuticals are more tightly regulated? That’s because here, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), by law, cannot consider the price of any drugs it may approve for sale — even when their development was financed with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. It’s common for you to pay $50 for the very same drugs that go for $5 in Germany or England. Those high prices lead one out of every five people to cut back on medications, often with serious consequences. Luckily, asking these questions can save your health — and your bank account. Just ask, and you could save hundreds of dollars on your prescriptions!

6 Questions for your doctor …

Why are you prescribing this specific drug?

Your doctor should be able to describe the drug’s benefits clearly and, importantly, tell you when you should expect to experience them, and how long you should continue taking the drug after you feel relief. For instance, a woman with a common urinary tract infection should feel better in two days on the antibiotic nitrofurantoin. But studies show that it takes a full seven days for this antibiotic to wipe out the bad bugs that need wiping out. That’s important information, because it can save you money while ensuring you get the best result in two ways. First, you won’t pay for what you don’t need. In this case, you’ll simply buy a seven-day supply, as opposed to a 30-day supply, which is some doctors’ automatic default. Second, if it’s working, you’ll be sure to take the entire course of your prescription for maximum effect; and, if it’s not working as expected, you’ll know to check back to learn what your next best option is.

Why are you suggesting this specific dosage?

Nearly always, you want to take the least amount of medicine that’s effective. Also, though drug prices are generally flat dose to dose, there are cases of drugs costing $800 or $4, depending on the dosage. And insurers routinely cover one dose of a drug and put it in their formulary (the list of exact drugs they cover), but they won’t give you a dime for another dosage not on that approved list.

Can I split this pill in half and save 50 percent?

Thanks to the drug-industry practice of flat pricing, many pills cost roughly the same regardless of potency. For example, you can pay $35 for a 30-day supply of 40 mg. Lipitor for your heart, or $36 for an 80 mg. supply. If your doctor wants you to take 40 mg. a day, why not buy the 80 mg. tablet and split it in half, or take the capsule form every other day? Warning: Never split pills without an explicit okay from your doctor.

Can I save money by ordering through your mail-order program?

You might be able to get three-month supplies of prescriptions for chronic conditions like diabetes and high-blood pressure at zero copay and with free shipping, through your plan. But, as with all mail order, you run the risk of delays and damage. So, also ask if you can get your 90-day supplies locally. Many insurers offer that option at mail-order prices through chains like CVS and Walgreens.

This article originally appeared in our print magazine, Save on Healthcare (Buy on Amazon, $12.99).