Author Topic: GoodRX - do you use this?  (Read 6514 times)

better late

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GoodRX - do you use this?
« on: November 05, 2019, 10:08:06 PM »
I’ve had two doctors hand me GoodRX cards recently to use when I get my prescription filled. I like a deal as much as the next person but am unsure of linking my prescription information to an outside company. They say they don’t keep your personal information...
Have you used this? Any concerns about privacy?

reeshau

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2019, 04:57:00 AM »
We used this to help pay for some IVF drugs which weren't covered by insurance.  There is no direct recordkeeping, like your insurance company would have.  It's more like claiming a AAA discount at a hotel.

We did have to watch for other prescriptions; sometimes the drugstore would run those under GoodRx, instead of our insurance.  It was a pain, but worth it for the savings on high-cost IVF meds.

rosarugosa

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2019, 04:59:06 AM »
We've used it for modest savings on medications for our cats.

TeresaB

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2019, 09:59:54 AM »
We do. We do not have prescription coverage with our health insurance and it can help a lot. Nice pharmacists will sometimes have their own coupons that are cheaper.

ontheway2

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2019, 10:08:46 AM »
I plan to use it next year once I am on a HDHP. It's just a coupon, so goodrx is not storing your info

Paul der Krake

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2019, 10:14:47 AM »
I’ve had two doctors hand me GoodRX cards recently to use when I get my prescription filled. I like a deal as much as the next person but am unsure of linking my prescription information to an outside company. They say they don’t keep your personal information...
Have you used this? Any concerns about privacy?
Have you vetted the outside company that you get insurance from? What about the PBM they contract with? Or the pharmacy? Or the pharmacy's software company?


hops

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2019, 01:39:35 PM »
My wife went from recommending GoodRx to cash-strapped patients to using it herself after our insurance decided to stop paying for one of her medications. They didn't offer a suitable alternative, so we shopped around until we were able to get a 90-day supply of an almost $900 medication for less than $50.

We had no reservations about using it while waiting for our insurer to process her appeal. We read their privacy policy first:

https://support.goodrx.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005228506-Privacy-Policy

EarthSurfer

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2019, 04:53:47 PM »
I have used GoodRX for several scripts when the pricing through my CIGNA high deductible plan was high.

When there was a shortage of my thyroid med last year, I had to go off formulary. The CIGNA price was about $80/m, and the GoodRX (and OptumRX thru AARP) was about $16/m.

I had a similar issue with an antibiotic last year when the CIGNA mandated generic was $60, and the GoodRX equivalent was $15.

This last situation brings up a question for someone who knows more about the pharmacy business: CIGNA apparently had an exclusive agreement with a specific manufacturer of doxycycline, and by default the pharmacy filled with that manufacturer. I was not informed there were less expensive options.

Did I misunderstand what was happening? Is this common practice?

Cpa Cat

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2019, 05:02:41 PM »
I keep the app on my phone.

My migraine medication goes from $200 to $40 with it.

FrenchToast

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2019, 08:36:06 AM »
I use it, it's great. I stopped enrolling in my $700/year employer(great, cheap Health Insurance, horrible prescription!!) prescription plan in favor of this. Not sure what you mean about storing your information. It's just a coupon code.
I don't use the paid version, GoodRx Gold, does that offer something more?

bacchi

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #10 on: November 08, 2019, 11:22:04 AM »
GoodRx definitely stores information about you and your prescriptions. Read the privacy policy above.

Quote from: goodrx
Most prescriptions purchased in the United States, including prescriptions filled through the use of discount coupons, loyalty cards or insurance co-pays, result in the pharmacy reporting patient data back to the company that provides the benefit. When you use a coupon provided by GoodRx, we receive information about the transaction from the corresponding Pharmacy Benefit Manager.

However, it is stripped of personal data when sharing.

Quote from: goodrx
The data GoodRx uses for our ordinary business operations is de-identified. In other words, information such as your name, address, and date of birth are not viewable in these files.

Your personal data is likely still stored with GoodRx. They may not share it or use it for data analysis but that doesn't mean it can't be hacked. It's in a database.

Quote from: goodrx
We may disclose information, including information that may identify you, if required to do so by law....
[...]
GoodRx may transfer its user database, including personal information contained therein, to a third party who acquires [us.]

Your doctor knows it, your pharmacy knows it, and now GoodRx knows it. Given the cost savings, it's well worth it.

Blonde Lawyer

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #11 on: November 08, 2019, 12:42:41 PM »
Crazy RX Man has done a lot of posts on it - all negative.

http://crazyrxman.blogspot.com/

hops

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2019, 04:11:06 PM »
Crazy RX Man has done a lot of posts on it - all negative.

http://crazyrxman.blogspot.com/

I can see why he's annoyed if it's "extremely tedious and time-consuming" to process the coupon, but that's inside baseball that's irrelevant to patients. For most of us with expensive chronic illnesses (I know you're familiar with those!) there will always be tedious, time-consuming administrative work involved in obtaining our meds. For my Crohn's and arthritis treatments there are copay assistance programs, shady benefits coordinators, and other middlemen that get dragged into these transactions every time my coverage or meds change, consuming hours of my time and theirs. Like the fragmentation concerns he mentions (which patients can take steps to minimize), it will keep getting worse until there's meaningful change to our healthcare system.

Privacy concerns also exist regardless of whether one uses GoodRx. He writes "Do you want your employer, or your insurance company, or anyone else to know you’re on anti-depressants, HIV medication, Viagra, or that you regularly get medication for genital warts?" Unless you've always paid for your prescriptions outside of insurance, your insurer already knows what you take and why you take it. GoodRx's privacy policy outlines what is and isn't shared so you can make your own decision on the value of your privacy. We used it for something perfectly boring and have divulged far more information about our lifestyle over the years by submitting grocery receipts to Ibotta and claiming Target Cartwheel discounts.

I forgot to mention earlier that when we picked up our prescription the pharmacist said to call them directly next time because they might be able to match an online discount without us having to sign up for anything. They didn't bother us telling that when we first called and they thought we might be willing to pay full freight. And that's how the market for a service like GoodRx is born. It shouldn't have to exist in the first place.

Dollar Slice

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #13 on: November 08, 2019, 04:35:33 PM »
I plan to use it next year once I am on a HDHP. It's just a coupon, so goodrx is not storing your info

I haven't used goodrx, but "just a coupon" unfortunately doesn't mean they're not storing your info.

I've been using a manufacturer's coupon (a printed paper coupon my doctor gave me in her office) for a preventative medicine for chronic migraines, and I was having a ton of trouble getting my pharmacy to process the coupon correctly. Many phone calls and hours wasted. I finally called the manufacturer's consumer help line for advice on using their coupon, and they had all my info on file and could call up in their computer each time the pharmacy had used a coupon for me, and had the specific coupon numbers on file that I'd used. Just because I'd handed a paper coupon to my pharmacist.

(I don't regret it in this case as I've saved ~$10,000 and it's the only medicine that's ever really worked to cut down on my migraines with horrific side effects.)

kpd905

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #14 on: November 08, 2019, 06:26:41 PM »
We used it for antibiotic ear drops for my daughter, and it dropped the price from ~$150 to $30.  Really glad the nurse recommended trying GoodRX.

rosarugosa

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #15 on: November 09, 2019, 05:46:50 AM »
Does anyone know if this would potentially help cover my mother's meds when she is in the coverage gap period of medicare?

Buffaloski Boris

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Re: GoodRX - do you use this?
« Reply #16 on: November 09, 2019, 09:05:58 AM »
I’ve used for meds not covered by insurance. It’s a coupon. One nice thing is they have a price comparison app on their website that shows where to get the prescription at the lowest price. Often times not what you would expect.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!