Prescription Medication Discount Programs: Where to Find Medication Discounts at National Pharmacies

Do you feel like the cost of your prescriptions keeps going up every time you go for a refill?  It’s not an illusion. According to National Health Expenditure data, in the United States, we spent 40% more on prescriptions in 2017 than we did in 2007. Prescription drug prices have risen so high that some are having to make the difficult choice of buying their prescriptions or buying food, especially if they are not under health coverage insurance.  According to research, almost half of consumers surveyed have walked away from the pharmacy counter without their prescriptions due to cost.

Most national pharmacies offer discount prescription drug prices, through a variety of programs.  Here’s what you should know about saving the most at the pharmacy counter.

National Pharmacy Discount Prescription Programs:

Even with the rise in prescriptions, there are ways to save on your prescriptions.  Most national pharmacies offer discounted prescription plans, which fall into two categories:  flat-fee pricing, and prescription discount membership clubs. Remember prescription drug prices change frequently.  The costs listed below are samples only; always check with your pharmacy to confirm pricing.

Flat-Fee Pricing:

National retailers, like Walmart and Sam’s Club, offer flat-fee pricing on a wide range of drugs.  Walmart’s program includes generic drugs in the most commonly prescribed doses. Prices for drugs under this program range from $4 up to $10 for  30-day and 90-day supplies. Drugs covered include those for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, mental health, thyroid, and digestion.

We outlined a list of pricing on some of the more common prescriptions available at Walmart:

National retailer Target offers a similar program, which covers more drugs than Walmart’s $4 generic list, including coverage on prescriptions for allergies, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and steroids, along with general health categories.

Flat-fee pricing works well, even if you have prescription coverage under your health plan.  If you have a deductible on medications within your health plan, flat-fee prices may be less than the deductible, so you’ll save by choosing to pay the pharmacy discount price instead of using your insurance.

It’s important to keep in mind as drug prices change, so will the list of drugs eligible under flat-fee pricing. Always check back with your pharmacy to make sure you’re receiving their best price based on the medication.

Prescription Discount Membership Clubs:

In previous years, most of the national pharmacy chains had programs similar to Walmart and Target, but with the increase in drug prices, most of these programs have morphed into prescription discount membership clubs.

CVS Pharmacy used to offer a $4 flat-fee on a 30-day supply of certain generic drugs, CVS now offers its free ExtraCare program, which provides cash-back and discounts based on how much you spend over time by using CVS as a prime pharmacy option  If you enroll in the ExtraCare Program, you would likely pay the following for the same set of medications:

Walgreens offers a Prescription Savings Club for an annual fee of $20 for individual coverage or $35 for family coverage.  The Prescription Savings Club offers discounts based on a tiered system of drugs, most costing either $9.99 or $12.99.

Other Prescription Discount Programs:

RxSaver is a free website and app that allows you to search for discounted coupons on prescription medications at nearby pharmacies. RxSaver works by pairing available coupons with pharmacies in your zip code.  RxSaver also offers a free prescription savings card that you can request online and use at each pharmacy pick up.  You can even ask your pharmacist to keep the card on file so RxSaver is used each time you fill a prescription.

Simply enter your prescription drug and RxSaver will find the lowest price with prescription coupons available at pharmacies closest to you. Using the same list of drugs, here are the lowest prices using RxSaver:

Questions to Ask About Prescription Discount Programs:

Now that you’re well-versed in the prescription discount world, below are some questions to ask to make sure you’re getting the best value for your dollar:

• What drugs are included in the program?
• Is there a limit to the number of pills per refill?
• Do I have to use my insurance first before the discount is applied?
• Is the discount only available at certain pharmacies?
• Do discounts apply to only generic drugs or are brand-name drugs covered?

Finding the right prescription discount program is important so you’re getting the best value for your health care needs. If you’re part of an insurance program, always check first to see if there is a prescription discount available outside of your insurance.  If a discount coupon, like one from RxSaver, saves you more, simply use the coupon instead of your insurance at the pharmacy counter.