CVS’s Shift In Drug Markups Could Stop Big Pharma’s Price Gouging

The Federalist ^ | 12/15/23 | Christopher Jacobs

[eyeamok]

Several years ago, I realized I could save hundreds of dollars on prescription drugs by not using my health insurance. Instead, I pay using cash and a drug discount program like GoodRx. I realized this savings because my insurer/PBM had an incentive to keep list prices high. In plain English, my insurer overcharged me for my prescriptions so it could collect big rebates from drug companies.

[eyeamok]

I have never had health insurance that covered prescriptions. Whenever I would go get a prescription,Vicodin for example, they would ask me for $20 deductible, when I told them I didn't have insurance I only paid $20 for the prescription. Big Frikkin Racket. I recently was put on Blood Thinners for a clot, Eliquis, at CVS a 2 month scrip was $1441, I ordered online from Canada and got a 2 month scrip for $122, they showed up yesterday. I would encourage everyone that needs meds to do the same, it takes a few weeks so it isn't for something you need today.

[llevrok]

My wife had a co-pay of 25 bucks for her cholesterol meds. The insurance paid the "rest".

Then she found out a straight cash, no insurance, purchase was 20 dollars

What do do??

Easy choice.

Good RX works great!

[Carriage Hill]

May be of interest...

[Wuli]

My pharmacy is a local independent pharmacy not a national chain.

They give me the best prive between what my insurance plan would wind up costing me and what they can give me off my insurance plan.

My insurer is Aetna and they keep pushing me to switch to CVS (wich also owns Aetna).

If CSVS makes the change talked about in the Article, I might give them a chance with my meds.

[wildcard_redneck]

I worked for CVS just two years ago and I had Aetna as my employee insurance. I highly recommend that you don’t use the same pharmacy provider that owns your health insurance . It is too much of a moral hazard for the pukes at CVS not to take advantage of.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Who pays the cost of drugs in a hospital, hospice, etc?
That would be very costly.

[funwithfood]

“I could save hundreds of dollars on prescription drugs by not using my health insurance.”

Not for me. $700 out of pocket. 0$ thru insurance.

[citizen]

My big buy is Ozempic, at the Kroger pharmacy.
I had them check GoodRx, it was virtually the same for the top tier drugs.

[FreedomPoster]

Mark Cuban’s new mail order Rx company is looking to upset that market.

https://costplusdrugs.com

[blackdog]

Amazon Pharmacy Services.
I won’t ever go back to nonsense, gatekeepers, bureaucracy nonsense, again. Amazon fixed all that.

[Mr_Peter]

Costplusdrugs works really well. I cancelled drug coverage. I spend less for drugs now than I did with insurance and copays

[gattaca]

ping

[FrogMom]

I ran into this crap at Walgreens. We were going on vacation, my thyroid drug would run out before we got back.

I went to renew it early, Walgreens said my insurance wouldn’t cover it, it was too soon. So I asked what would it be out-of-pocket.

The idiot told me a figure, and I was astonished. I guess because I looked surprised he told me it ends up less for 3 months at a time, and told me what that would cost. I started yelling. The 3 month out-of-pocket was actually $2 less than one months co-pay.

We left Walgreens. Transferred our scrips elsewhere.

[FreedomPoster]

I’m taking a hard look at them when we have an insurance change mid situation next year.

[ViLaLuz]

What Canadian pharmacy do you use?

[eyeamok]

The price at CVS WITH the GoodRX card was $200 MORE than without??

[eyeamok]

onlinepharmaciescanada.com

I just checked Amazon Pharmacy, $276 for 30 days of eliquis, I got 60 days for $122 from canada

[ViLaLuz]

Thanks!

[Jeff Chandler]

The Good RX Gold level can often save a lot more money.

[catnipman]

walgreens is THE worst! i quit using them decades ago ... my motto for walgreens is "If there's any way we can F it up, we will!"