10 Apps That Help You Save Money On Prescriptions - Page 6

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Bloomberg reports that, on average, Americans spend $1,200 on prescription medication, per year, per person. We also spend more on prescription medication than any other country, with most Americans paying for 14 percent of their prescription costs out of pocket. Well over a quarter of Americans have reported not taking a prescribed course of drugs because it was too expensive, and spending a substantial amount of time arguing with their insurance companies about the cost of their medicines. The world and Americans themselves feel a lot of ways about this country right now, but something many can agree on is this: there has to be a better way when it comes to healthcare.

Those who only rarely need drugs, like antibiotics for the infrequent infection, or once-a-month generally cheap items like birth control may not think too much about the cost of drugs. But those who need a drug daily – or several prescriptions daily – just to survive and do so without pain know the real cost of medication. They know the toll it takes on one’s bank account.

Some companies decided to provide that better way and created apps and other tools to help you save money on the drugs you need. We cover some of the top ones here.

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GoodRx

GoodRx comes particularly in handy for those who don’t have insurance, or whose insurance isn’t covering a certain prescription. Simply go to their website or go on their app and type in the drug you are looking for. GoodRx will list the cash prices (i.e. without insurance) and applicable coupons at hundreds of participating pharmacies. In some cases, the GoodRx price is better than the prescription price, so it’s still worth checking what the app has to say before paying your co-pay. In fact, GoodRx traditionally gets customers better prices than insurance on major drugs like Omeprazole, Sertraline, and Lorazepam. They recently began a membership program for which members pay a monthly fee and get guaranteed better prices on hundreds of medications.

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The Easy Drug Card

The Easy Drug Card is similar to the GoodRx card in that it’s most beneficial to those who don’t have insurance or whose insurance won’t cover the cost of their prescription. The company operates similar to your insurance company in that they pre-negotiate a price on drugs with pharmacies for their cardmembers. One thing many customers like about the card is that it can often be used for pet medications too, so if your fluffy friend doesn’t have insurance (or good insurance), you can still cover Fido’s important drugs without breaking the bank. According to The Easy Drug Card’s website, they’re accepted at over 65,000 participating pharmacies and can save you up to 80 percent off some prescriptions.

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ScriptSave WellRx

ScriptSave WellRx is a discount card that finds you the best prices for medications in your area, but it’s also a one-stop wellness management resource. Its “Medicine Chest” resource allows access to many helpful tools, and in it, you can upload important information about your drugs, set reminders for refills and administration, and even chat with a pharmacist when you have questions about your drugs. In addition to allowing you to search for medications by name, it also allows you to type in your health condition, and find appropriate prescriptions and pharmacies offering them at a discount that way. It too has a nutritional section that makes grocery recommendations based on the information you provide about your health conditions.

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Family Wize

The Family Wize card can be downloaded through their website or app, or emailed or texted to you directly, and can lead to major savings on prescription drugs. Family Wize states that they’ve partnered with almost every pharmacy across the country, so finding a provider who takes it should be easy. I looked up participating pharmacies in my area and found that all the major ones, including CVS, RiteAid, and Walgreens came up. If you are utilizing home delivery for your prescriptions, most pharmacies will still give you the Family Wize discount when using this service. However, it is not accepted on drugs delivered through the mail.

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Blink Pharmacy Plus

When you have the Blink Pharmacy Plus app, your doctor can send the prescription directly to the platform. From there, the app will analyze your insurance plan, co-pay, and prescription, run it through its database, and tell you where you can get the best price. It will notify you if the lowest price is either simply your insurance co-pay, or going without insurance and using a Blink Pharmacy Plus discount. Free prescription delivery is also available through the app, and through their site, you can chat with doctors online. Blink Health Pharmacy Plus offers a price match guarantee, so if you do find a lower price than they do, they’ll match it.

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SingleCare

SingleCare will search nearby pharmacies for participating providers and determine if your prescription will be the cheapest using one of their coupons, or your insurance co-pay. In that way, it operates like many other cards on this list. What sets it apart is that it also has a rewards program. You get a $5 bonus just for signing up, and beyond that, every time you fill a prescription, you rack up more rewards that you can apply to future purchases, on top of your coupons. So the more you use your card, the more you save, making it a good choice for those who take a lot of medications on a regular basis, such as individuals managing chronic conditions.

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CVS ExtraCare

The CVS ExtraCare card doesn’t necessarily find you coupons or come in handy when you don’t have insurance like the other cards on this list, but if you do fill your prescriptions at your local CVS, its pharmacy rewards program can earn you big savings over time. Every 10 credits earn you a $5 coupon to use towards anything in the store, and if you fill many prescriptions, you’ll hit that number quickly, since you get one credit for every prescription filled, three credits for every 90-day prescription filled, one credit for every vaccine received at CVS, and three credits for every prescription you add to your online account.

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Walgreens app

The Walgreens app is another app that doesn’t necessarily help those without insurance but does give you rewards for using their pharmacy. You can use those rewards to shop other items in the store. You’ll receive points for filling prescriptions and getting vaccines that you can apply at the register for other Walgreens purchases. Through the app you can also chat with a pharmacist, should you have any questions about your medications. Every 1,000 points result in one dollar rewards, and you earn 100 points for every 30-day prescription you fill or 300 points for every 90-day refill.

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More tips to save money on prescriptions

If you’re still struggling to get prescriptions at an affordable price after using one of these cards, or you simply want to save more, there are some other things you can try. Consider Prescription Assistance Programs (you can start +-searching here) to see if you qualify for help paying for your medication. Most of these programs are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, though some are state-funded, and some are through non-profit organizations. Always ask your doctor if there are other options for you. In some cases, a different medication can treat your condition and may cost much less than the original one prescribed. If your health needs are changing and you see frequent prescription drugs in your future, consider changing insurance plans to include more comprehensive coverage for your medications.