Drug prices can vary greatly from pharmacy to pharmacy, even within the same zip code. So you can save money on your medications by shopping around for the best price.
“Prescription and over-the-counter drug prices vary, depending on where you go,” says Kyle Manera, chief operating officer of Co-Immunity, an organization in Wichita, KS, for people with chronic illnesses.
Even if you use insurance, your out-of-pocket costs may vary, depending on where and how you buy your drugs.
Are all pharmaceuticals the same?
Every pharmacy, whether it’s local, a chain, or a mail-order or online operation, has its own markup on drugs. Prices vary, based on their markup, brand of drug, and how much you order.
Your insurance plan may require you to use its “preferred” pharmacy. This is a pharmacy with which your insurance company has a contract. If you use this pharmacy, you may have fewer copays for medications.
But if you have insurance that covers the drug, you may be able to find a lower price by shopping around.
How to get the best prices
Try these strategies to find the best price on your over-the-counter and prescription drugs:
Call around. You can save time and money by calling different pharmacies ahead of time to find out the cost of your out-of-pocket prescription.
“Call a few independent pharmacies and check their prices versus the prices of a big-box store like Walgreens or CVS,” says Rajesh Chautalia, a pharmacist in Illinois. “You can find a bargain at an independent pharmacy.”
“Some, like GoodRx and WebMDRx, also offer coupon cards that you can use for additional discounts.”
Use price comparison tools. “There are a lot of good apps that can help you find the best prices,” Munira says.
Apps and websites like GoodRx, RxSaver, WebMDRx, and SingleCare help you compare drug prices at different pharmacies. When you type in the name of a drug, it shows you a list of prices at various pharmacies in your area.
Some, like GoodRx, also offer coupon cards that you can use for additional discounts.
Try an online pharmacy. Some online pharmacies have pre-negotiated prices that can save you money. They may deliver your medication by mail or offer local pickup.
For example, at Blink Health, you order online, then choose delivery or pickup at a local pharmacy. At HealthWarehouse.com and Marley Drug, you find and order a drug online, then it’s delivered by mail.
Check mail order prices before ordering. Some insurance plans recommend using a designated mail-order pharmacy to fill long-term prescriptions. But they are not always the best prices. Using a mail order pharmacy will sometimes save you money, but not always.
Compare prices with and without insurance. Your insurance plan can save you money on prescriptions. You may be able to get more than one drug at a lower cost using your insurance. But insurance doesn’t always get you the best price. Because of deductibles and copays, you may get a better deal by purchasing your meds directly.
But be careful when leaving the insurance. The amount you pay may not count toward your insurance deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, unless you can manually submit the expenses to prove you paid them. Contact your insurance company’s customer service department to find out how to submit your receipts. Do the same when you use coupons or discount programs instead of insurance.
“Depending on what you’re buying, ditching your insurance and looking at discount cards or sales may save you more than your own plan,” says Andrey Vasilescu, co-founder of DontPayFull, a A company that provides free coupons and discount offers online. shopkeeper
Find coupons. Some drug manufacturers offer discounts on expensive drugs. Try to find manufacturer coupons on their websites. You can also ask your doctor if there are coupons you can use.
Try a drug discount card. You may even save money with a free drug savings card. Cards like GoodRx, WebMDRx, and NeedyMeds can reduce your prescription costs by up to 85%.
You sign up for the card online, print it at home, then use it at pharmacies like Walmart and Walgreens to get discounts on your prescriptions.
Buy in bulk. “If you’ve been taking the drug for a long time, it seems reasonable to take the drug for 3-6 months,” says Chautalia.
For prescriptions, check with your insurance provider about the maximum supply of the drug they’ll cover at one time (it’s usually a 90-day supply), then ask your doctor if they can cover that amount. . This may cost more up front, but can save you money over time. For over-the-counter drugs, you can find discounts on bulk drugs at wholesale clubs like Sam’s and Costco.
Talk to your doctor. Ask your doctor to review your prescription needs. Ask if you can do without a prescription. Maybe there is a similar, but less expensive, drug you can take instead. Or maybe a generic prescription of a brand-name drug is prescribed by your doctor.
“If a generic drug is available, go for the generic version,” Chotia says. “You will save a lot of money.” – And it is the same medicine.
Talk to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist may be able to save you money by recommending a less expensive drug or telling you about different price options.
Ask them how much your prescription will cost with and without insurance. See if they can call your doctor to request a less expensive drug. And ask if they know of any prescription discount cards or patient assistance programs that can help you afford your medication.
Consider a patient assistance program. If you need help paying for medications, you may be able to get free or low-cost medications through the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) offered by the pharmacist. Some government agencies and non-profit groups have them. You can find information on various PAPs at RXAssist.org.