Pricing a prescription?

[caravarela]

Hoping someone can help me out. My family rarely uses prescriptions so I am somewhat ignorant about them. Do different pharmacies offer different prices for the same thing?

My birth control has recently shot up in price at Rite Aid, so my doctor suggested I try somewhere else. Do I just call up pharmacies and ask their prices for it? I hate to be bugging pharmacy techs and taking up their time.

Thanks for any advice!

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[Rowdymom81]

Yes, just call up and ask for the price...

 

[ready123go]

Hoping someone can help me out. My family rarely uses prescriptions so I am somewhat ignorant about them. Do different pharmacies offer different prices for the same thing?

My birth control has recently shot up in price at Rite Aid, so my doctor suggested I try somewhere else. Do I just call up pharmacies and ask their prices for it? I hate to be bugging pharmacy techs and taking up their time.

Thanks for any advice!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Yes - just call and get prices. My DH was on a strong (expensive) antibiotic for a severe staph infection a few weeks ago. I called Meijer, Walgreens, Sam's Club and Costco. Every place was $75 or more, except Costco - $35!

That prescription nearly paid for our membership this year!

 

[mrsklamc]

You don't have to be a costco member to use their pharmacy, FYI.

I thought birth control was free under the ACA? Maybe it's not started yet.

 

[dsneprincess]

This is true, IF you are paying for it out of pocket. If your insurance is paying any part or it is going towards deductibles or out of pocket expenses, then your insurance is dictating the price and it will be the same wherever you go. If you presented any sort of card for prescription billing, even a discount card, the pharmacy is NOT setting the price, the insurance company is, even if they ay little or none of the cost.

 

[caravarela]

You don't have to be a costco member to use their pharmacy, FYI.

I thought birth control was free under the ACA? Maybe it's not started yet.

Funny you say that.. My prescription was $10-11 a month, then a few months ago I went in and mine was free. I was surprised and questioned it, and the tech said "it's because of "Obamacare" that birth control is now free." And the next month I went in and it was $50. I don't get it.

 

[caravarela]

This is true, IF you are paying for it out of pocket. If your insurance is paying any part or it is going towards deductibles or out of pocket expenses, then your insurance is dictating the price and it will be the same wherever you go. If you presented any sort of card for prescription billing, even a discount card, the pharmacy is NOT setting the price, the insurance company is, even if they ay little or none of the cost.

Oh okay, I guess I'm stuck with it then because I do have insurance. My birth control was usually $10-11 a month, and now it's over $50.

 

[mrsklamc]

Oh okay, I guess I'm stuck with it then because I do have insurance. My birth control was usually $10-11 a month, and now it's over $50.

Check what the cash price would be. I've actually seen a prescription cost MORE with insurance than the cash price.

 

[LilyWDW]

Also, what BC is it?

 

[caravarela]

Also, what BC is it?

. Nuvaring

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[Ephany]

This is true, IF you are paying for it out of pocket. If your insurance is paying any part or it is going towards deductibles or out of pocket expenses, then your insurance is dictating the price and it will be the same wherever you go. If you presented any sort of card for prescription billing, even a discount card, the pharmacy is NOT setting the price, the insurance company is, even if they ay little or none of the cost.

This!

Google your rx if it's brand. There may be a discount card from the manufacturer available on their website. My b/c is $80+ a month with insurance but there's a discount card that brings it down to $50ish. Also, check your prescription formulary online at your insurance company's website. You'll be able to see which medications are covered at each price point. Perhaps there's a medication that's more affordable that is similar enough to your current prescription that your PCP would consider changing it for you.

Edit: just saw that it's nuvaring... my advice pertains more to oral meds unfortunately. This may be helpful though http://www.nuvaring.com/consumer/savings-coupon/index.asp

 

[scrapquitler]

Check what the cash price would be. I've actually seen a prescription cost MORE with insurance than the cash price.

This. Ask the cash price, for sure.

 

[LilyWDW]

. Nuvaring

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Ah, was just wondering because I had something similar happen. The stuff I was on was pulled from the market which meant it had gotten "switched" to a higher priced item.

 

[luvmy3]

You don't have to be a costco member to use their pharmacy, FYI.

I thought birth control was free under the ACA? Maybe it's not started yet.

It must only be certain ones. The pill I am currently taking is free but my OB/GYN just switched me to something different and the price jumped to $225 (for 3 months supply). Lucky me.

So, if I have insurance can I just ask my pharmacy what the cash price is and I can pay that?

 

[LaurLaur04]

I use a locally owned pharmacy and what they do is they give you your rx for whichever way is cheaper, the copay or the cash price. Case in point my generic copay is 10 but one of my meds is so cheap I get 90 days worth for 6 bucks! It pays to shop local!

 

[mrsklamc]

It must only be certain ones. The pill I am currently taking is free but my OB/GYN just switched me to something different and the price jumped to $225 (for 3 months supply). Lucky me.

So, if I have insurance can I just ask my pharmacy what the cash price is and I can pay that?

Yes. I was a pharmacy tech at a major chain in college, and we would have been more than willing to remove your insurance if this were the case, it just happened very rarely, and honestly, most times we didn't notice.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I think that generic are free but not name brand. I was trying to go on the Seasonale pill but it would have been like $225 for the 3-month supply so Dr switched me over to a generic that works well for continuous cycling and I get 4 packs for 3 months all free.


Unfortunately I don't think there is a generic Nuvaring

 

[luvmy3]

I think that generic are free but not name brand. I was trying to go on the Seasonale pill but it would have been like $225 for the 3-month supply so Dr switched me over to a generic that works well for continuous cycling and I get 4 packs for 3 months all free.

Unfortunately I don't think there is a generic Nuvaring

That is what I was switched too. I wonder if I switch to the generic my $225 copay will end up being free.

 

[goofyfigment]

Its only a select few that are free. My new one (generic for ortho tri cyclen,) is free but my prior one wasn't

 

[pintamino]

That is what I was switched too. I wonder if I switch to the generic my $225 copay will end up being free.

I have taken the generic 3 month cycle (I believe it is for seasonique but may be for seasonale) for years now. Jolessa and Quasense are both 3 month generics. Getting a period, ever, on the pill with steady hormone levels sn't medically necessary. I save a ton on tampons now!! My generic was free starting in January of this year.