How Pharmacy Prices Vary For the Same Medicine?

If you’re one of those who drive to your most convenient pharmacy (near your home) when a doctor gives you a new prescription, this article is for you. Most of us assume that all pharmacies charge about the same amount for prescription medications. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Medicines Price Vary From Pharmacy To Pharmacy

According to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine, “ The 30-day cash purchase price for three low-dose generic heart medications ranged from $20.19 to $256.77. For the high-dose of the same prescription, the cost ranged from $12 to $397.58. More than 300% more for the same prescription! The cost ranged from $12 and $397.58.”

They also found that drug prices vary even at different stores owned by the same pharmacy chain. Unfortunately, people in the poorest ZIP codes get medicines at higher prices from independent pharmacies. Because most of the patients in these ZIP codes are uninsured, these price discrepancies can genuinely become a barrier to treatment.

How to Find the Best Price for Your Prescription?

If you’ve got a chronic health condition and requires you to take multiple medications, it’s better to take out some time and compare drug prices of local pharmacies (such as near your home, office, or on the way from the office to home). And make your purchase from the pharmacy that offers lower prices. The other way to buy medicines at lower prices is to use free prescription discount cards. These cards help you buy your medication at a discounted price of up to 85%. The best thing about the free Rx card is that the discount is available at all FDA-approved medicines — branded and generic. You can also use this card to buy drugs for your pets too.

If you still have any doubts about the prescription discount cards, do let us know in the comment section!