topic Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy in Wellness

2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

Ainhisg — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 12:55:40 GMT

What is the process to use a GoodRx coupon? We have to use CVS as my husband's employer contracted with them. A generic script of mine is now over $800! What in the world? GoodRx's cheapest coupon is for Walgreens, and the script is $118 there. What do I need to do to get the script transferred to Walgreens, and is the Walgreens GoodRx coupon price guaranteed? Do I need to go to Walgreen's to ask them about it?

Question #2: Have any of you used Amazon pharmacy? What is your experience with it? Is it easy to get prescriptions transferred OUT of Amazon and into a B&M pharmacy if needed?

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

haddon9 — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 13:19:33 GMT

@Ainhisg I have not used Amazon pharmacy but have used GoodRx for more than a year.

I was using CVS pharmacy and discovered that CVS was much more expensive than other local pharmacies using GoodRX coupons.

What you do (you can experiment just to check it out now even if you might not need a refill yet) is get the information on your prescription....the exact name, dosage and the number of pills, etc. Put that information into the GoodRX site along with your zip code and the price for the pills will come up....the cost will vary depending on the pharmacy.

Usually there will be several pharmacies listed in your area with their prices. You can pick one, and the coupon will come up. If you want to make the purchase, you can either print out the coupon or send it to your phone (you can also take a photo of the image).

You then bring the coupon to your pharmacy when you want to make the purchase. They need to check the codes before they approve the price.

The last time I did this was early in the month. I decided to stop using CVS and go to Rite Aid since they were significantly cheaper.

My BP meds for 90 days would have cost me over $400.00 without insurance or a GoodRX coupon. If I had used CVS it would have cost over $150.00. By going to Rite Aid the cost was $33.00 but I had a one time deal coupon for $13.00! ...big difference!

I would check to see if prices are much less than CVS in your area even with your DH's company's deal with them. It's worth checking and by using a GoodRx coupon you are basically buying the medication without insurance.

How do they do it? I have no idea but I am curious how it is done.

ETA: To transfer a script I'm not sure if one pharmacy will do that for you....they don't want to lose business but you never know. What I do is call my doctor and tell them to send the Rx to a new pharmacy because of cost.

I want to add that I think it's all a very annoying game we have to play to get the best price for one's medication!

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

Ainhisg — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 13:31:06 GMT

@haddon9 , thank you for the detailed response!

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

haddon9 — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 13:32:12 GMT

@Ainhisg You're welcome! It's really very easy to do once you start using the coupons.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

on the bay — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:05:48 GMT

@haddon9,

That is such a good explanation.

I recently read about Single Care which goes on the same concept as GoodRx, but often has even less costs. Someone recommended here.

But you know, I always thought these 2 sites were just letting you know about different and best costs at local pharmacys for an rx. I didn't know you had to get the coupon on your phone or that there was a coupon to show. I thought the store just gave you that price.

I have never used these I just always told my kids and friends about them.

So thank you. I keep learning here!

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

MissJillie — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:10:46 GMT

Try pricing at a local pharmacy, not a brand name one. I use HeathSmart pharmacy and it is cheaper than Walmart without Insurance.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

On It — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:17:38 GMT

@Ainhisg I hope you find good prices with GoodRX. I actually received a card from them last week. It was mailed to me. Not to cloud the issue but Cost Plus Drugs has incredible bargains. You can go to their website to see a list of medications and their prices. Mark Cuban founded the site 3 or so years ago. A call to the doctor's office can get prescriptions sent anywhere you need them. Don't hesitate to ask.

CVS is way too expensive. It is part of CVS Healthcare that owns Aetna, CVS Pharmacies, and Caremark, a company that manages health benefits. We stopped using them two years ago and haven't regretted that decision.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

willomenia — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:31:20 GMT

It's quite easy really, go to Google plug in goodrx, goodrx will ask for zip code, your drug name then all the pharmacies in your area will be listed with the amount . It lists several, goodrx amount is different at different pharmacies. Select one and print or copy code, then bring that to store. To switch pharmacies, just go to new pharmacy and select drug to switch the pharmacy does all the work. You could always call the pharmacy and do over the phone. I'm not sure how goodrx works, but I think it's the drug company picking up the balance of the drug.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

on the bay — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:35:30 GMT

Yes! @On It,

thanks for that reminder too!

Cost Plus Drugs started by Shark guy Mark Cuban has incredibly low costs for many popular brand name drugs. It's worth a look if the med/rx you use is included on there.

And I agree, CVS, (and also Walgreens), have always been more and too expensive.

I also got a Goodrx card but I think no one needs that to use the site and discounts. I think it is just a reminder or even just as an ad to use GoodRx. You don't even need to sign up on this and Single Care sites.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

Love my grandkids — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 16:23:18 GMT

@Ainhisg About 4 years ago I joined GoodRx and they sent me a little plastic member card which I gave to my fabulous Safeway pharmacy. It's my permanent account info and my Rx's are automatically put through GoodRx, even tho I have Medicare and UHC.

In all these years only ONE time has my Medicare/UHC copay been a better price than GoodRx.

I have saved literally 100s of dollars as I kept track for the first 3 years.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

CrazyDaisy — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 16:26:57 GMT

Many Pharmacies have there own discount plans that could even be better than GoodRX. Check out prices there also, grocery stores even Walmart. The techs have always been helpful to give me the best price. Just take your bottle to the Pharmacy and they can get it transferred for you.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

BibLady — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:08:29 GMT

I've used Amazon Pharmacy for about a year, and it's so easy! If your drug is a generic on their list - it's $5.00 a month no matter how many prescriptions you receive from them.

You are charged $5.00 a month even if you have no rx that month. Your doctor can send the rx to them (instructions on their site) - a pharmacist will probably contact you to go over info, and then they will process. It's very quick, and you can do an automatic refill. If you need a new refill, your doctor can send it, or I think Amazon will also contact them.

Worth looking into if you are paying for medications!

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 19:01:18 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
@haddon9 , thank you for the detailed response!

@Ainhisg

I also had to let the pharmacy know I was using a GoodRx coupon before I filled my script. Walgreen's filled it without the coupon than wanted me to pay that price until next refill just because they already had it ready to go. I told them No I'm not paying that price so redo it.

So to save time let them know.

I had my script transferred to Wal-Mart. I called & asked them to have it transferred. If I remember correct Walgreen's told me I couldn't just tell them to send it over.

Wal-mart has my script now. It should have expired long ago but some how an additonal year was added. Now they have added an additional 6 months?

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

CelticCrafter — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:03:17 GMT

I don't know if anyone mentioned it but you cannot use GoodRX and your insurance. It's one or the other.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

Shelbelle — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 21:05:13 GMT

GoodRX just sent me a plastic card since i signed up. No mention of needing a coupon to print out. I assumed you just present the card to the pharmacy.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

ciao_bella — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 22:30:45 GMT

Just yesterday, my daughter went to her doctor who prescribed two medications and sent them to our local Walgreens. When she got there one prescription was $3 and change (using her own prescription coverage through work) and the other was $86 and change through the same prescription work coverage. She paid for the $3 prescription and looked up on her phone the other prescription on GoodRX. Walgreens did NOT have a coupon for the $86 prescription but several other pharmacies did. She had RiteAid call Walgreens for the prescription and they filled it for $12.86 using the GoodRX code. So, quite a difference from $86 to $12.86 for the exact prescription.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

catmama — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 22:29:03 GMT

I have the GoodRX app on my phone and show it to my pharmacy when I pickup my prescription. Saves me about $200 because my insurance co doesn't cover the prescription (an inhaler) and it's almost $500 out of pocket. One thing I did discover is that the uncovered prescription shows up on my profile on the pharmacy website, but the one covered by GoodRX doesn't, so I have to remember to keep the box with the prescription# for when I call in for a refill.

Re: 2 Questions: GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy

Still Raining — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 01:19:52 GMT

One very sad day, I was out of the usual and way too soon to refill 😢 I went begging, and the pharmacist whipped out HIS coupon and I got a great price. It did count against my refills.