Save Money by Price Checking RX Costs

[Pinksink]

If you are in Florida, they have a website to check some of the most "popular" RXs called the RX Drug Price Finder.Here
While it doesn't have all medications, and pharmacies it may be helpful in cutting down some phone calls. It breaks it down by county, city (you can select all) and then medication & dosage.

[irishsaver]

Thanks for the great info.
Now that we are on DH insurance and some stuff not covered plus I have to reach my deduction it cost me $248 for one of his non prescription last week... I will definitely be checking out Costco and BJ where I am a member...
Question anyone:
How do I manage the prescription I filled last week which I most definitely will not be refilling there. I have never transferred a prescription before... Do I need a new script from the Dr for it??

[coupondad101]

Thanks for the great info.
Now that we are on DH insurance and some stuff not covered plus I have to reach my deduction it cost me $248 for one of his non prescription last week... I will definitely be checking out Costco and BJ where I am a member...
Question anyone:
How do I manage the prescription I filled last week which I most definitely will not be refilling there. I have never transferred a prescription before... Do I need a new script from the Dr for it??

you can take your scripts to any place you like. If you still have a refill on your scrip you will not need a new script to bring it some place else

[Abbybob]

Irish Saver- Just take the bottle to the new pharmacy, they'll call the doctors office and make the arrangements.

You might also want to try Target or Walmart for your rX.

[rbunnymom]

[rbunnymom]

[Pinksink]

Actually was surprised. Was calling around for RX prices out of state for a sick family member who has no insurance. Found a couple of pretty good resources.

1.As everyone said...check the Target and Walmart pharmacies sites to see if medication is on their $4/$10 lists.

2.I wanted to check Walgreens and they usually just say call when you look up medications. But with their RX savings program, they will do a cost analysis of what you would save if you had their program. So it gives you a general idea of what the price is in your area for brand name meds & those without generics.

3. And what I found more useful than #2 was from the PPA Savings card site: Savings Cards | Prescription Assistance Program
First, I was amazed at the information about clinics, RXs etc that they had, but also the list of State RX discount drug cards. If you click on the name of the state it will bring you to the state's discount drug card site.
It has all kinds of info on state program. But if you scroll down on the page it will give you a price medication button, find pharmacy etc. When you get to the page, on the left side it drug price lookup. Enter medication, dosage zip code and select up to 5 pharmacy to price compare.
I had called to various pharmacies and they were pretty much the same price on the brand name/unavailable generic med, within two dollars. On these sites the search engine appear to be good and you could at least get an idea of the prices. One problem with site is that with Target, it does not show when a medication is on $4 list. Although the disclaimer in the beginning does say the following:This program has LOWEST PRICE LOGIC to guarantee that you get the best deal on your prescriptions (you pay the lower of a discount off Average Wholesale Price-AWP, discount off MAC Pricing, or Pharmacy Promotional/Retail price)
It's a tool.
Anyway...sorry so long winded and disjointed, many interruptions here, and working with an ole time keyboard and mouse again.
Hope this is helpful to someone.

[madcatter]

I just wanted to jump in and reiterate that shopping around is VITAL.
Also, (at least here in PA) warehouse clubs MUST, by law, fill prescription for non-members without requiring membership.
When my partner was w/o insurance and needed chronic meds, sometimes the price differences were as much as 40/50 dollars.

Also, check for difference dosages - for example, when Zoloft didn't have a generic, a single 50mg pill cost a dollar and a single 100mg pill cost a dollar. The pill was designed to be split (this is important -you can't split all pills) so we had the doctor write the script for 1/2 a 100 mg pill per day instead of 1 50mg pill.

BTW, shopping around also applies to tests - she needed and MRI and I found a $2000 price difference between different labs.

[Rene S]

Thanks for mentioning the over-the-counter drugs. I agree you can save lots buying those there. Oftentimes it does beat even with coupons.

Our state recently got a Costco, and I am still learning about their pricing. Costco has GREAT prices on OTC meds and supplements. An example: I bought 350 capsules of Nature Made fish oil for $15.xx. Walgreens price is about $10.99 for 60. Even with using 2 coupons and a BOGO sale, I can't beat Costco's price. Buying just a few OTC items will soon pay for my membership.