Posted on 01/05/2014 9:39:36 AM PST by RKBA Democrat
Generic drugs now account for well over 80% of all prescriptions. Just 10 years ago, less than half of drugs sold were generics.
Much of the growth is because employers make generics extra-affordable through mail order programs (pharmacy benefits managers). Then you also have the grocery stores and big box retailers who do $4 generics. Meanwhile, a lot of breakthrough drugs that were patent protected are no longer so and are now selling as generics.
But what you don't know about the pricing of generics can hurt your wallet.
The big pharmacy chains discount generics 30% from the brand name price. So let's say the brand name is $100 dollars. The generic at CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens will be $70.
On the other hand, if you go to Walmart or Target, you can likely get that generic prescription filled for $4. And if you go to Costco, prescriptions are marked up 14% over cost. So if they buy that drug for $1, you will fill it for $1.14 while it could be $70 elsewhere!
Be sure when you go to your doctor to bring a list of the cheap $4 prescriptions. One regional grocer, Publix, even offers free antibiotics!
Meanwhile, a new report from The Florida Sun Sentinel finds the price of a prescription can vary by as much as $170 for a 30-day supply.
A reporter named Doreen Christensen called around to price a Lexapro prescription at a variety of retailers. Here's what she found: "Costco $6.99; CVS $114.99; Publix $118; Sam’s Club $83; Target $147.99;Walgreens $116.99; Walmart $115.88 and Winn-Dixie $179.99."
The beauty of Costco is you don't need to be a member to use their pharmacy. Simply show up and explain you want a prescription filled. Many Costcos have a separate entrance for their pharmacies to accommodate walk-in non-members.
You might want to call and see if they’ll allow you to get your scrip filled by mail if you’re not a member. If you are a member you can do it. The number is posted above.
Out of state I’m not sure about that, but I should call, because I am a long standing member.
Good catch...my bad...:o)
Thanks !
BUT we had to take over the entire medical care and health insurance industries because Sandra “SLUT” Fluck wouldn’t afford her birth control pills.
So....they’re saying they can’t afford $10/ mo for generic birth control pills?
Stupid and immoral is no way to go through life.
Once again, they are defining the argument as being about birth control, when the reality is quite different. The media goes along with it.
“Once again, they are defining the argument as being about birth control, when the reality is quite different. The media goes along with it.”
Oh. You mean kind of like how they talk about financial stability as a way to transfer taxpayer funds to banksters? Or how they talk about health insurance as a way to bankrupt the middle class and institute socialism?
Surely. You can tell by the names-they are usually just the opposite. For example: Affordable Care Act - Affordable it is not.
There are a ton of free drug savings cards around now, easy to print out and bring in with you for a price check.
If you have a super friendly, unbitter pharmacist, they probably even have a stash they keep on them to be used for their fav customers. Not all discount cards give the same price, and some will randomly save a lot more on one drug than another.
I’ve had customers who I use one card for one drug, and another card for another drug. Its easy enough to look at the last refill and see which one you used.
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