The wild world of prescription prices
Prescription prices can vary like nobody’s business depending on a whole host of factors. Sometimes they don’t even seem to make sense.
For example, a prescription that I get is cheaper on my insurance plan if I get the brand name instead of the generic. It’s $30-something a month for the brand name, and $50 or $60 a month for generic. If I didn’t have prescription coverage, I’d have to spend about $180.
Yet the same prescription for another person is $2 or $3 for the generic because of their insurance plan, and pricier for the brand name.
Stranger still, every now and then it’s cheaper not to use insurance at all when filling a prescription. This can happen if you have a pretty hefty copay for prescriptions, but the drug itself is inexpensive.
Finally, did you know that the cost of a prescription can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy? I discovered this while alternating where I got a prescription filled because I was using coupons.
The moral of the story? Ask what the least expensive option is when getting a prescription filled, and give price-checking a try if it’s an ongoing prescription.
I came across a link to a site called Destination RX on a forum that might be helpful in finding typical price ranges for various drugs. I gave it a try with the drug I take, and it looks like it provides the range a person might pay without insurance. (I just used their search option. I didn’t join, so I’m not sure what else the site may do.)
October 16th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
It’s hard to talk about this because we just get raped in America by pharm companies. I have friends who live overseas and pay a fraction for the same meds we do. It’s sad and they don’t even have insurance! Let’s hope this healthcare plan actually leads to some meaningful change.
Jerry
October 16th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I’m right there with you on the hoping.