I have to use a nasal spray for allergies. I usually just get the Clariton, but this year my doctor wrote me a prescription and called it in to Walgreens.
Now, my clariton nasal spray is usually about $20.... so I go to pick up this prescription (and we have pretty good insurance), and the bill is like $80...
So, I ask the pharmacist if there was a mistake, as this is a generic, and I got a prescription for it, isn’t that supposed to be cheaper? He double checked and explained that is my out of pocket cost for the generic.
I asked if this was like a super powerful version of Clariton that I prescribed.... he said “no”. I asked if the Clariton was the same? He said “yes”. I asked why would I pay $20 for the brand name and $80 for the generic that goes through my insurance. He flat out said “I certainly wouldn’t, neither should you.... and pointed to the Clariton on the shelf, which was ON SALE 2 bottles for $16....
Total scam they are running.
I have had prescriptions for a few things that were expensive through my insurance. I go home and first pull out the medication booklet from my insurance company to see what else they pay for and the cost. Sometimes it’s something like the milligrams. One example....doc prescribed Prilosec. Pharmacy said something like $40. The medication booklet said the lesser milligram capsule is $3. So the doc prescribes the lesser milligram capsule and doubles the dosage. You really have to watch that stuff.
Then there’s stuff that if I have a coupon from GoodRX is cheaper than my insurance. You have to watch that though because the pharmacy computer will ring up the wrong price for your next scrip because it ‘holds’ that you pay cash and they have to switch it back to your insurance.
Be prepared to do a little research is all I’m saying. Lol