Even within the same zip code, drug prices can vary widely from pharmacy to pharmacy. Therefore, you can save money on your medications by shopping around to find the best price.
“The price of prescription and over-the-counter drugs will vary depending on where you go,” said Kyle Manera, chief operating officer of Co-Immunity, an organization in Wichita, Kan., that serves people with chronic diseases. explain.
Even if you use insurance, your out-of-pocket costs may vary depending on where and how you purchase your medications.
Every pharmacy, whether local, chain, mail-order or online, has its own markup on medicines. Prices vary based on its markup, the brand of drug, and the quantity you order.
Your insurance plan may require you to use their “preferred” pharmacy. This is the pharmacy that has an agreement with your insurance company. If you use this pharmacy, your drug deductible may be lower.
But even if you have insurance that covers your medications, you can find lower prices by shopping around.
Try these strategies to find the best prices on over-the-counter and prescription drugs:
Calling around. You can save time and money by calling different pharmacies ahead of time to find out what your out-of-pocket prescription costs will be.
“Call a few independent pharmacies and see what their prices are compared to big box stores like Walgreens or CVS,” says Illinois pharmacist Rajesh Chotalia. ” You can find bargains at independent pharmacies.”
“Some sites like GoodRx and WebMDRx also offer coupon cards that you can use to get extra discounts.”
Use price comparison tools. “There are a lot of great apps out there that can help you find the best deals,” Manela said.
Apps and websites like GoodRx, RxSaver, WebMDRx, and SingleCare can help you compare drug prices at different pharmacies. When you enter the name of the drug, it will display a price list from various pharmacies in your area.
Some (like GoodRx) also offer coupon cards that you can use to get extra discounts.
Try an online pharmacy. Some online pharmacies have pre-negotiated prices that can save you money. They may ship your medications through the mail or offer local pickup.
For example, at Blink Health, you can order online and choose delivery or pickup at your local pharmacy. At HealthWarehouse.com and Marley Drug, you can search for and order your medications online and have them delivered by mail.
Please check mail order prices before ordering. Some insurance plans recommend using specific mail-order pharmacies to fill long-term prescription medications. But they don’t always have the best prices. Using a mail order pharmacy can sometimes save money, but not always.
Compare prices with and without insurance. Your insurance plan may save you money on prescription costs. You can also buy certain over-the-counter drugs at lower prices by using insurance. But insurance doesn’t always get you the best deal. Because of deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, it may be more cost-effective for you to purchase the drug outright.
But be careful when skipping insurance. The amount you pay may not count toward your insurance deductible or out-of-pocket maximum unless you can manually submit those charges to prove you paid them. Please contact your insurance company’s customer service department to learn how to submit a receipt. Do the same thing when you use a coupon or discount program instead of insurance.
“Depending on what you’re buying, drop the insurance and check out discount cards or Sales may result in greater savings than your own plans.
Find coupons. Some drug manufacturers offer discounts on expensive medications. Try searching for manufacturer coupons on the manufacturer’s website. You can also ask your doctor if there are 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 reduce your prescription costs by up to 85%.
You can register for the card online, print it at home, and use it at pharmacies like Walmart and Walgreens to get prescription discounts.
Buy in bulk. “If you’re going to take the medication long-term, it makes sense to take it for 3 to 6 months,” Chotalia said.
For prescription drugs, check with your insurance company to find out the maximum supply of the drug they will cover at one time (usually a 90-day supply), and then ask your doctor if you can prescribe that amount. This may cost more upfront 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 take it without any prescription. Perhaps you could take a similar but less costly medication instead. Or maybe there’s a generic version of the brand-name drug your doctor prescribed.
“If there’s a generic drug, go for the generic drug,” Chautalia said. “You’ll save more money – And it’s the same drug.
Talk to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist may be able to save you money by recommending less expensive medications or telling you about different pricing options.
Ask them how much your prescription drugs cost with and without insurance. See if they call your doctor to ask for a cheaper drug. And ask if they know of any prescription discount cards or patient assistance programs that can help you afford your medications.
Consider implementing a patient assistance program. If you need help paying for your medications, you can get free or low-cost medications through Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) offered by drug manufacturers. Some government agencies and nonprofit organizations also have them. You can find information about the different PAPs at RXAssist.org.
