Which pharmacy has the best price for Rx ??? (coupons, insurance)

[Ed_RDNC]

The Jan16 issue of Consumer Reports magazine has an article saying the pricing for prescription drugs is all over the place, but mostly way less competitive that most folk anticipate.
- The article: Tips for Finding the Best Prescription Drug Prices - Consumer Reports

It says many pharmacies, big-box sellers, membership warehouse stores, drugstore chains, etc., sell drugs priced at the maximum they can get insurance companies to reimburse.
Especially if you are paying cash, you're wrong to think discount sellers are actually giving you a discount.

The article recommended shopping around from place to place, and even haggling (asking each, "Is this the best price you can give me?"), very similar to pricing a desired used car.

The Question:
Who has 'shopped around' the Triangle for Rx cash prices (for common drugs)? Any conclusions on who has the best price?



[This question presumes the buyer has a proper Rx, for a common drug, but must pay cash. I'm sure there are other circumstances, please have those conversations on a different thread.]

[don6170]

Originally Posted by Ed_RDNC

The Question:
Who has 'shopped around' the Triangle for Rx cash prices (for common drugs)? Any conclusions on who has the best price?

My insurance company has competitive prices, but there is one thing I get at Wal-Mart ($10/3 months). I plan to shop around again after the first of the year.

One reason that Costco is so competitive is that they usually mark things up from their cost. Other pharmacys will often mark down from a retail price, or in the case of a generic, price it at a discount to the brand name.

[Carolina Knight]

Walmart revolutionized generic drug pricing around 2006 with its generic drug list with prices for 30 and 90 day supplies. Many drugstore chains (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreen's), supermarkets (Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger) and wholesale clubs (Costco) have adapted with their own lists or pharmacy savings clubs.

Publix, to my knowledge, is the first to have free prescriptions for antibiotic and diabetic drug categories.

[K4GPB]

If not on Medicare, this company has saved me thousands of dollars, especially after realizing so many drugs are NOT made in USA any more. I actually dropped the prescription plan offered by my current employer, which really jacked up my out of pocket savings. I actually paid cash for a Chev Cruze with what I saved in 3 years.


www.planetdrugsdirect.com

I have no affiliation with them, just a super happy Customer. I recall call center is in USA.


| also, you do NOT have to be a member of a warehouse club to use their pharmacy!

[sezzam]

Originally Posted by don6170

...
One reason that Costco is so competitive is that they usually mark things up from their cost. Other pharmacys will often mark down from a retail price, or in the case of a generic, price it at a discount to the brand name.

[Jkgourmet]

We have shopped our prescriptions just 2 months ago. Most were less expensive thru the insurers preferred mail order system. However, 2 drugs were cheaper on Walmart's generic $4/$10 plan, and one 2as slightky cheaper at Costco.

[jaiho]

use Prices, Coupons and Information - GoodRx. That is what I use. I typically call in my pharmacy (CVS) and ask for price with my insurance. I then look at the goodrx.com price which is the price without insurance. There have been cases where buying using the goodrx group rates is significantly cheaper than using my insurance coverage. Case in point, a face ointment I needed was $180 with insurance at CVS but was $100 without insurance but with GoodRx group discount.

[Sherifftruman]

Was going to say check Goodrx.com also. We had a dog with cancer and now have one with kidney disease and I started using GoodRx to check prices on their prescriptions and I've been shocked at the price difference.

Some drugs can literally be $8 at one place and for the exact same dose, amount, etc be $250 at another pharmacy. The next drug could be nearly reversed.

So, this will help you the most if there are lots of pharmacies around (think of that the next time you complain that CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid all pick the same general areas.) and you have to be willing to go to different places for different drugs, but it can be well worth it especially if you have to pay for the drug.

In fact, here is the Good Rx results page for something I picked up earlier today.



And on other one for another dog of ours with severe separation anxiety.

[bluecomet]

Originally Posted by jaiho

use Prices, Coupons and Information - GoodRx. That is what I use. I typically call in my pharmacy (CVS) and ask for price with my insurance. I then look at the goodrx.com price which is the price without insurance. There have been cases where buying using the goodrx group rates is significantly cheaper than using my insurance coverage. Case in point, a face ointment I needed was $180 with insurance at CVS but was $100 without insurance but with GoodRx group discount.

It does pay to shop around. GoodRx indicates cheapest price for Zolpidem (Ambien generic) 10 MG is $6.92 per 30 tablets. Realo Discount Drugs (919-359-9164) in Riverwood will sell you 90 for $15.00. One major pharmacy quoted $100+.

[Momof2KidsinNC]

Back when we paid cash for prescriptions, we would often call every big box and ask their best cash price. We would then call our local pharmacy and ask if they could beat the lowest price we found. Most often, they would after we did the work and they could verify the pricing.