BOISE - The recession has some people choosing between their health and the cost of living.

Elena Palmer is a good example. The Boise mother of two often takes risks with her life.

"No," Elena says. "I don't have insurance."

Elena has diabetes. Sometimes she goes without buying her much needed insulin medication.

"You basically scrounge," she says. "I've had to go times when I don't have it."

It's not that she doesn't want her medication. It's because Elena was recently laid-off from her job. Her family is forced to move into a cheaper place... and she simply cannot afford the high cost of her medications.

"Hopefully, you know, I can get a good job that has benefits - good benefits - and I can get on that," says Elena.

"People that have been on lifelong medications, they're unable to afford them for some reason or another," says pharmacist Seth Thomas.

Pharmacist Seth Thomas, from Ladd Family Pharmacy, says it's far from just the unemployed struggling to afford their needed prescriptions. He says insurance companies that make millions of dollars in profits are covering fewer drugs, and are raising premiums.

"We're seeing people who have insurances that they can no longer afford premiums on," Thomas says. "They can no longer afford deductibles on. and they're having to drop their coverage."

So, where can a patient go to find the cheapest prescriptions? That's where CBS 2 went to work for you. I discovered with a little bit of research, you can save a lot of money on your medication.

I telephoned eight different local pharmacies (Walgreens, Rite Aid, Sav-On, Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, Target & Ladd Family Pharmacy). And I discovered some big differences from one pharmacy to another.

And I took checked prescription prices on three commonly prescribed medicines. Lipitor is used for high cholesterol. Advair is an asthma inhaler. And Novolog is used by diabetics.

Here is how the prices break down:

Lipitor/30, 10mg pills:
Rite Aid - $105
Ladd - $100
Walgreens - $100
Target - $98
Sav-On - $92
Walmart - $92
Costco - $88
Sam's Club - $86

Advair:
Rite Aid - $218
Walgreens - $205
Ladd - $200
Sav-On - $192
Target - $186
Walmart - $186
Sam's Club - $171
Coscto - $169

Novolog:
Walgreens - $123
Rite Aid - $117
Walmart - $116
Sav-On - $110
Sam's Club - $105
Costco - $100
Ladd - $100

All together, we saved 93 dollars on three commonly prescribed drugs.

"It's very difficult. you know, you want to give out free medications to everybody, but unfortunately you can't run a business that way," says Thomas.

But, with a few quick calls, you can at least find the best prices in town.

Besides calling around, there are a few other steps you can take to save money. what else can you do to get the best deal.

Target's pharmacy says it matches any prices lower than its own. And Ladd Family Pharmacy says it also will work with customers on trying to find the lowest prices. Check if your pharmacy can do the same.

And drug makers sometimes offer vouchers, basically coupons that'll give you your meds for free. See if your pharmacy can do the same.

Plus, both Canyon and Ada counties both have prescription drug card programs that help save patients money on prescriptions.

The annual premium employers are charged for a health plan covering a family of four averaged $12,700 in 2008. Workers contribute $3,400 annually - up 12% from 2007.

Since 1999, health insurance premiums have jumped 120% according to a survey by the Henry J. Kaiser Foundations.