Same Drug, Different Price? How Pharmacy Prices Vary
Prices for the Same Drug Vary from Pharmacy to Pharmacy
“Just send it to the nearest pharmacy.” How many times have we all said this at the doctor’s office? It makes sense at the time: we’re sick, we’re busy, we’re worried, and we just want to pick up our prescription at the nearest drugstore. Of course, there is nothing wrong with convenience! Where you buy your prescription can matter – quite a bit!
Most people think there are standard prices for drugs. But that is not always true!
Prices for drugs can be different at different pharmacies – in some cases by more than 300%. For the exact same prescription. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association1, the 30-day cash purchase price for three low-dose generic heart medications ranged from $20.19 to $256.77. For the high-dose of the same prescription, the cost ranged from $12 to $397.58. More than 300% more for the same prescription! The cost ranged from $12 and $397.58.
Which Pharmacies Have the Best Prices?
So, what are the least expensive drugstores when you are using free Rx coupons? They are typically local grocery stores. Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, Stop and Shop, Harris Teeter, Giant, Publix, Giant Eagle, Price Chopper, Wegmans – the same stores where you find your groceries. If your grocery store has a pharmacy counter, it will generally have better coupon prices.
What you don’t know CAN hurt you.
If you decide to have your prescription sent to a high-priced pharmacy, it is likely you will just keep going to the pharmacy and never check prices at other stores. But you really should. It could save you a lot of money.
How do you save money on prescriptions?
First, you can use medication coupons like the one you get for free from America’s Pharmacy. They can save you up to 80% on your prescriptions. And there’s no registration required. But even with coupons the prices are still very different from one drugstore to another.
How Do I Transfer a Prescription?
It is easy to transfer a prescription. Just tell the drugstore where you’d prefer to buy your drugs that you’d like them to transfer your prescription for you. They will call your old drug store and transfer the prescription for you. They will be happy to do it, and it usually can be done with a single call in about 30 minutes. Chances are you will be happier paying less for exactly the same medicine.
Is there is an easy way to check pharmacy prices?
At America’s Pharmacy, you can check prices before you go to a store. That way you are never surprised Just type in your prescription and zip code (no registration required) and you will see prices in your area, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You should never pay more than your need to at your drugstore!
SOURCES:
1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2582937