Drug prices can vary greatly from pharmacy to pharmacy, even within the same zip code. So you may be able to save money on your medications by shopping around for the best price.
“The prices of prescription and over-the-counter drugs vary, depending on where you go,” says Kyle Manera, chief operating officer of Co-Immunity, an organization in Wichita, Kansas, for people with chronic diseases.
Even if you use insurance, your out-of-pocket cost may vary, depending on where and how you purchase your medications.
Are all pharmacies the same?
Every pharmacy, whether it’s a local, chain, mail-order or online operation, has its own coding on medications. Prices vary based on their coding, drug brand, and order amount.
Your insurance plan may require you to use your “preferred” pharmacy. This is a pharmacy with which your insurance company has an agreement. If you use this pharmacy, you may have less money for medications.
But even if you have insurance that covers the drugs, you may be able to find a lower price by shopping around.
How to get the best rates
Try these strategies to find the best price for your prescription or over-the-counter drug:
call about. You can save time and money by calling different pharmacies to find out the cost of your prescriptions in advance.
“Call some independent pharmacies and check their prices against prices from a big box store like Walgreens or CVS,” says Rajesh Chautalia, a pharmacist in Illinois. “You may find a bargain at an independent pharmacy.”
Use price comparison tools. “There are a lot of good apps out there that can help you find the best rates,” says Manera.
Apps and websites such as GoodRx, RxSaver, WebMDRx and SingleCare help you compare the price of a drug in different pharmacies. When you type in the name of a drug, it shows you a list of prices at the various pharmacies in your area.
Some, like GoodRx, offer coupon cards that you can use to get additional discounts.
Try an online pharmacy. Some online pharmacies have pre-negotiated rates that can save you money. They may deliver your medications by mail or offer a local delivery service.
For example, at Blink Health, you order online, then choose delivery or pickup at your local pharmacy. At HealthWarehouse.com and Marley Drug, you research and order a drug online, and then have it delivered by mail.
Check mail order prices before ordering. Some insurance plans recommend using a specific mail-order pharmacy to fill long-term prescriptions. But they don’t always have 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 may save you money on prescriptions. You may also be able to get some over-the-counter medications for less using your insurance. But insurance doesn’t always get you the best rates. Because of discounts and co-costs, you may get a better deal by buying your medications outright.
But be careful when skipping insurance. The amount you pay may not count toward your insurance account or cap your expenses, unless you can manually submit those expenses to prove that you paid them. Contact the insurance company’s customer service department to find out how to send receipts. Do the same when using coupons or rebate programs in place of insurance.
“Depending on what you buy, foregoing your insurance and looking at debit cards or sales may save you more than your own plan,” Andrei Vasilescu, co-founder of DontPayFull, a company that offers free coupons and discount offers online, tells shoppers.
Look for coupons. Some drug makers offer discounts on expensive drugs. Try looking for manufacturer coupons on their websites. You can also ask your doctor if they have any coupons you can use.
Try a drug discount card. You may be able to save money with a free drug savings card. Cards like GoodRx, WebMDRx, and NeedyMeds can cut your prescription costs up to 80%.
You can sign up for the card online, print it out at home, and then use it at pharmacies like Walmart and Walgreens to get discounts on your prescriptions.
Buy in bulk. “If you’re going to be on the medication for a long time, it makes sense to get 3-6 months’ worth of medication,” Chautalia says.
For prescriptions, check with your insurance provider about the maximum supply of the drug they will cover at one time (often a 90-day supply), and then ask your doctor if they can prescribe that amount. This may cost more up front but can save you money over time. For over-the-counter medications, you may find discounts on bulk medications at wholesale clubs like Sam’s and Costco.
Talk to your doctor. Ask your doctor to review your prescription needs. Ask if you can dispense with any of your prescriptions. Perhaps there is a similar, but low-cost drug that you can take instead. Or maybe there is a generic version of a brand-name medication that your doctor has prescribed for you.
“If there is a generic drug available, look for the generic version,” Chautalia says. “You’ll save a lot of money – It’s the same medicine.”
Talk to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist may be able to save you money by recommending a less expensive medication or by telling you about different pricing options.
Ask them how much your prescription will cost with and without insurance. See if they will contact your doctor to order a less expensive medication. Ask if they know of any prescription discount cards or patient assistance programs that can help you afford your medications.
Consider a patient assistance program. If you need help paying for medicines, you can get free or low-cost medicine through a patient assistance program (PAP) offered by the drug company. Some government agencies and nonprofit groups also have them. You can find information about PAPs at RXAssist.org.
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