Sticker shock at the pharmacy? How to Pay Less for Your Prescriptions
- AdvancedMind HealthWellness
- Sep 7, 2022
- 2 min read
Prescription costs can vary a lot—even for the same medication!
Use this guide to help you get the best price possible.
✅ 1. Check Your Insurance Coverage First
Your health insurance may cover part or all of your medication, but it’s important to understand how.
Steps:
Log into your health insurer’s website or app.
Look for your plan’s formulary (drug list).
Search for your medication:
Is it covered?
What tier is it? (Lower tiers usually mean lower copays)
Are there generic options?
Find in-network pharmacies where you’ll pay less.
📝 Tip: Call your insurer’s pharmacy support line if you need help.
💰 2. Consider Self-Pay (No Insurance) for Some Meds
Surprisingly, paying out-of-pocket can be cheaper than using your insurance—especially for common generics.
Walmart offers many generics for $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for 90 days.
🛒 Walmart $4 Prescription List https://www.walmart.com/cp/4-prescriptions/1078664
There may be other major retail pharmacies that have a list too. Shop around.
🌐 3. Use Online Discount Pharmacies
These companies cut out the middlemen to offer lower prices—especially on generic medications. Here is one example....
💊 Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs
Transparent pricing (no insurance needed)
Often cheaper than copays
Fast shipping to your door
Again, shop around. There are other online pharmacies and Cost Plus is one example. Know that with online pharmacies you will not be able to have your medications immediately. The prescriptions have to be processes and shipped and this can take a week to 10 days or so. But, planning ahead, you can often save even more using an online pharmacy. You can even combine this option with others so that you get a smaller or your first supply locally and get the next one ordered in plenty of time before you run out.
🎟️ 4. Use Prescription Discount Services
These tools help you compare prices at local pharmacies and use digital coupons—even without insurance.
Popular services:
📱 Tip: Download the apps for instant price checks while at the pharmacy.
💡 5. Ask Your Pharmacist or Prescriber
If the amount your pharmacy asks you to pay is high, there is almost always a lower cost way to get treatment.
Some ways they can help:
Know of lower-cost alternatives
Give you free samples
Help you enroll in a patient assistance program (PAP) for brand-name drugs
🧑⚕️ Always ask: "Is there a cheaper option for this medication?"
🔁 Quick Summary: Best Price Checklist
✅ Check insurance formulary & pharmacy list
✅ Compare insurance copay vs self-pay
✅ Try Walmart, Cost Plus Drugs, or online options
✅ Use discount coupons (GoodRx, etc.)
✅ Ask your provider for alternatives or help
