How to Ask Your Pharmacy About the Cost of a Medication

Prescription drug prices in the United States are confusing on purpose. The same pill can cost $5 at one pharmacy, $50 at another, and $500 at a third. The price your insurance company is willing to pay can be different from the cash price, and sometimes the cash price is actually lower. A few simple questions asked at the pharmacy counter can save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year. Pharmacists are trained to help and want to help. But they often cannot share the lowest price unless you ask. A federal law passed in 2018 made it illegal for pharmacies to hide cheaper options from customers. But you still have to ask out loud.

The first question to ask is about the generic version. Many brand-name drugs have a generic with the same active ingredient but a different name. The generic usually costs a fraction of the brand-name price. Doctors sometimes write prescriptions for the brand name out of habit, even when the generic would work fine. The pharmacist can call the doctor and ask for the prescription to be changed, often while you wait. The second question is whether the cash price might be lower than your copay. With some insurance plans, the copay for a $10 pill can be $25. The pharmacist can run both prices and tell you which is lower.

The third question is about discount cards and coupons. GoodRx, SingleCare, and the manufacturer's own coupon programs can drop the price by 50 to 80 percent. Most pharmacies accept these cards but will not apply them unless you hand one to the cashier. You can sign up for a free GoodRx account online or use the app on your phone to see the lowest local price for any medication. The fourth question is about the 90-day supply. Many pharmacies charge less per pill if you fill a 90-day supply at once instead of three separate 30-day refills. Mail-order pharmacies that come with most Medicare Part D plans almost always offer the 90-day supply at a lower total cost.

The fifth question, and perhaps the most important, is whether your doctor knows the price. Doctors often have no idea what their patients pay at the counter. If a medication is too expensive, your doctor may have a different drug in the same family that costs much less and works just as well. Bring the price sheet from the pharmacy to your next appointment, or call the doctor's office and ask the nurse to relay the cost question. With these five questions, you give yourself the best chance of getting the right medications at the lowest possible price.