Buying Prescription Meds

[Ron Scott]

Right now, the strategy is to tell the Dr’s office to send it to the “preferred” pharmacy since I can’t get their price until they’ve got the script. Then I call them and ask for the price. Then I compare their price to the GoodRx price. Then I choose the cheapest assuming that’s cost effective with travel, etc.

Buddy tells me to check out Amazon Pharmacy. They’re better on some meds than others when I check the drugs for my family, mother, etc.

F’ing crazy way to do things.

What do you do??

[NotJen]

I only go to my insurance's preferred pharmacy.  Every med I've been prescribed over the last few years has been covered at $0 or $1 on my ACA plan, so no price comparison is necessary.

Right now, the strategy is to tell the Dr’s office to send it to the “preferred” pharmacy since I can’t get their price until they’ve got the script.

My insurance provider lets me search the price of drugs at local pharmacies.

[ChickenStash]

I just have the script sent to the most convenient pharmacy that's in-network and let the chips fall where they may. If it's a long term med then my insurer wants it to go through Costco's mail order pharmacy for refills - their system is not very friendly but it works eventually. I think the most expensive med I've been on is like $20 for 90 days so there's not much to shop around for in my case.

[Luke Warm]

It seems kinda stoopid to have Rx insurance but still get a better deal with GoodRx

[MMMarbleheader]

I have a HSA, $6k deductible and if I have a one off expensive prescription, and know i wont come close to the deductible, I will just pay for it without running it through insurance. It always cheaper.

[LifestyleDeflation]

We have Kaiser and usually things are priced reasonably at their pharmacy, but for more expensive cases/if uninsured, I'd look at goodrx, amazon, and cost plus drugs. Good luck!

[Loren Ver]

When I was still working and had a medication that my insurance would not cover and it was $$ I went through health warehouse (.com) for the few years I took it.  Good price, they dont' take insurance.  Now I recommend it when people get in a pinch.

Now I have ACA coverage and we get to pick what are general meds are going to cost and which pharmacy will be our pharmacy.  The insurance companies all have a calculator that lets us check the costs at the pharmacies so I can check the costs before I pick that insurance company and/or level.  We use the pharmacy in a grocery store we go to and have for 15+ years.


Loren

[rosarugosa]

Check out Costplusdrugs.com.  I have saved so much money using them.

[GilesMM]

Costco is cheap. I mostly use ExpressRx because it is easy.

[Dicey]

Another Kaiser member here, so not much to add, except to batsignal one of our resident experts, @couponvan.

[hooplady]

It was a lot easier when scrips were on paper, I could shop around once I had them in hand. My last paper-based doc switched to online-only and they insist on sending them all to one pharmacy. I think I just need to be more organized and price out my usual meds right before each visit. If I get a new med, or a new variation of one, I'll just have to suck it up and price it out after the fact.

[Ron Scott]

It seems kinda stoopid to have Rx insurance but still get a better deal with GoodRx

Welcome to the United States.

It used to be worse. Years ago there wan’t even a choice. Now we’ve got GoodRx, Costco, the local grocery stores, Amazon, Mark Cuban/Cost Plus, etc. But when you need a med that isn’t on the $1 list, the standard “system”—your insurer and the drug store chains—are out to get you.

I’d be nice if either of our political parties who hate each other so much would help out here, but they’re both taking money from the insurers and drug chains so.

Deep breath.

[Torkapopo]

Totally agree - it’s a frustrating and time-consuming process. I’ve been doing the same shuffle between pharmacies and GoodRx, but it’s still hit or miss. Lately, I’ve been trying online doctor consultation at NextClinic - they not only handle the consult but can sometimes suggest the most cost-effective pharmacy options too. It streamlines the whole mess a bit, especially for refills or non-urgent meds.

[dcheesi]

I’ve had luck asking my doctor for a 90-day prescription instead of 30—it’s cheaper per pill and saves me trips. Also found some savings just by paying cash instead of using insurance.

However, some Rx insurance doesn't allow 90-day scripts except through their own online/mail-order pharmacy. Which I don't like to use since some of my meds are temperature-sensitive (and our front storm door acts as a perfect little greenhouse to heat up small deliveries left between it and the main door)

[RedmondStash]

I stare at my 4-figure prescription bill, and pine for European socialized medicine.

Yes, I have insurance. Without it, it would be a 5-figure prescription bill. Luckily (?) only twice a year.

[stoaX]

I've used our ACA plan for almost all scripts since we started on it 5 years ago. If there are any money saving alternatives I could have used, the savings would have been miniscule.

There have been 3 prescriptions that were not covered and also happened to be quite expensive.  In each case the doctor referred us to a pharmacy that is quite skilled in navigating manufacturer coupons/ affordability programs.  I never paid more than $50 per script through them.  I don't know how long that will last.

[By the River]

At my annual physical, the doctor told me to check into costplus for one of my medications.  He even looked up how much it was for a ninety day supply.  And this is a doc in a medical practice with an attached pharmacy. 

[freerangetwinkies]

Check out Costplusdrugs.com.  I have saved so much money using them.

Plus one to this.

Cost Plus was so inexpensive, my doctor almost didn’t believe it.

Speaking as a recovering benefits broker who’s spent a lot of time digging into the pharmacy world — it’s easily one of the most opaque and frustrating parts of health consumerism and healthcare. Between manufacturers and distribution networks, there are layers of hidden profit baked into prescription costs that 99.99% of people aren't aware of.

I really respect that Cost Plus makes their 15% margin transparent — it’s a refreshing change compared to the usual lack of clarity.

On top of that - I have to say it... I appreciate Cuban's anti-Trump stance.

All of that said, one thing to be aware of: not all doctors or facilities are familiar with filling prescriptions through them, so there can be a little extra coordination needed.

[rosarugosa]

When I first started using Cost Plus, I definitely had to do some back and forth with my MD's office to coordinate.  Now, Cost Plus is in my electronic record, and MDs can just send over prescription requests like with any other pharmacy.  I just need to ensure that the medication is available through Cost Plus since they don't carry everything.