Prescription drug prices weigh on Americans.
Per capita drug spending in the United States is Over $1,400 per person It will be higher than any other country in 2022, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. For some Americans, that cost is simply out of reach. According to a poll conducted in 2023, approximately 30% of Americans have stopped taking a prescription drug at some point in the past year due to cost, instead opting for an over-the-counter drug or reducing their dose. Some answered that they did not take it at all.1,000 adults From the nonprofit medical policy organization KFF.
But experts say patients can reduce prescription drug costs by shopping around, especially if they're taking generic drugs.
“Unfortunately, these days you have to be a pretty smart consumer and have a lot of patience to navigate this system.” Jeffrey JoyceAssociate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Health Economics at the University of Southern California.
Here's where to find cheaper drugs and other ways to save money on prescriptions.
Need cheaper prescription drugs? Try a different pharmacy
Consumer Reports 2018 Report A bundle of five generic drugs (pioglitazone, celecoxib, duloxetine, atorvastatin, and clopidogrel) costs $66 at online pharmacy HealthWarehouse.com and $66 at Costco, according to a survey conducted with secret shopper calls to more than 150 pharmacies. It turned out to be just over $100 at CVS and over $900 at CVS. (The final cost does not include in-store programs offered by pharmacies such as CVS, which help lower prices for those without insurance.)
Experts say the lower costs are due to a simpler distribution system. Brick-and-mortar pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS may have to pay additional fees to insurance companies and intermediaries, potentially increasing the overall price of prescriptions. Meanwhile, online services like Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs can streamline distribution by negotiating prices directly with manufacturers and passing those savings directly to consumers.
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“You're cutting out all these middlemen, so that in itself could lead to lower prices,” he said. Mariana SokalAssociate Scientist in the Department of Health Policy, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.
This savings is especially important for those without insurance, but research shows that even patients with health insurance can save by shopping around. This is especially true if your deductible is high.
a 2023 survey Published in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Internal Medicine, it is based on 20 commonly prescribed generic drugs. at least 20% Compared to paying out-of-pocket within a traditional insurance plan, it was cheaper to use discount card programs from online pharmacies like Amazon and GoodRx.
“Patients with insurance don't have to shop around to get the best price on their prescriptions, especially low-cost generic drugs,” Pranav Patel, one of the study authors, said in an emailed statement. mentioned in.
Where brick-and-mortar pharmacies come out on top
However, there are some drawbacks to ordering from alternative pharmacies.
Some require membership fees. (Costco annual memberships start at $60; Scriptco annual memberships start at $60. Annual membership fee is $140.And Amazon Pharmacy is open to everyoneyou can save on generic prescriptions through delivery services with a $139 annual Prime membership. Rx path (Additional fee is $5 per month). Particularly for customers who don't yet have an Amazon Prime or Costco membership, membership fees can offset savings on prescription drugs.
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Picking up a prescription at an online pharmacy may also take longer than at a brick-and-mortar pharmacy. Joyce noted that it may make more sense to stop by your local pharmacy to pick up certain medications you need right away, such as antibiotics. Additionally, online pharmacies may charge shipping fees, especially for expedited deliveries.
Additionally, patients with insurance should keep in mind that purchases from online pharmacies generally do not count against their deductible. Joyce said some insurance companies allow patients to file a claim if they submit one, but many people skip it because “it's a hassle.”
Additionally, online pharmacies tend to carry fewer prescriptions, most of which are cheap generic drugs. Patients who need to take patented brand-name drugs may have difficulty finding cheaper alternatives.
Some brand-name drugs “really don't have cheaper versions,” Sokal said. She said these drugs will usually be cheaper with insurance.
Other ways to reduce costs
Here are some other tips for patients looking to reduce prescription drug costs.
- Talk to your doctor about alternative treatments and use generic drugs whenever possible. “If you talk to your doctor, there may be other options that can be easily substituted with a less expensive product,” says Joyce. “Perhaps, instead of one pill per day, he may need to take two or three.” But the cost savings could be significant.
- Socal suggests looking for coupons from pharmacies, drug companies, and sites like GoodRx.
- Make sure the pharmacy you're working with is in-network. “In some cases,[the prescription cost]has nothing to do with the cost of the drug, but it has to do with the specific pharmacy the person chooses to go to.” tosaid Sokal.
