The Best Prescription Discount Cards for Seniors in 2024

In the past two decades, prescription discount cards have become a popular way for seniors to cut their out-of-pocket spending on healthcare. Many Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and independent companies offer these cards for free, helping patients get up to 80% off of the cash prices of life-saving drugs in some cases. These programs can fill in gaps for those who are underinsured when you compare their health plan coverage to their practical needs. 

The popularity of these discount programs is rising during a time when prescription drug affordability has dominated the news due to “orphan drug” pricing scandals, concerns over Medicare Part D coverage gaps, and the all-too-common stories of patients who must choose between buying medications and other necessities. About 1 in 5 seniors do not take their medications as prescribed in order to cut costs, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report from 2019. American lawmakers have been tackling prescription drug reform with renewed vigor due to increased media attention on the topic, but reform takes time. Prescription discount cards can be part of the immediate solution. 

The number of free and paid prescription discount cards available is stunning, and each company naturally claims to be the best. Seniors need to evaluate the credibility of different options, but they often lack a frame of reference to do so. Many seniors have questions about how these discount programs interact with insurance or how they differ from other assistance programs offered by government agencies and drug manufacturers. 

This guide will help you understand how discount cards work and how to compare the costs associated with using different programs. Below you can read about the nine most trusted options on the market. Be sure to review the Basics section first for a breakdown of important restrictions. 

The Basics of Prescription Discount Cards  

Prescription discount cards are not entirely intuitive. The section below will give you a good introduction to both their potential benefits and their limits.

Payment Rules

Insurance vs. Discount Cards

You can enroll in as many discount programs as you like, and you can also be enrolled in insurance at the same time. However, you cannot “stack” multiple discount cards to get even deeper discounts. You also aren’t permitted to use a discount card to reduce your insurance copay.* You must always choose either to use insurance or to use a discount. Discounts on cash prices can give you a better deal than your insurance copay would in many cases, but purchases made with a discount card won’t automatically count toward your insurance deductible. It’s important to compare your options for each prescription. 

For most discount programs, the patient is the only “payor.” You show the pharmacist the discount card/coupon, they apply the discount to the transaction, and then you pay in full at the counter. The discount company merely provides access to discounts, unlike insurance companies that provide funds on your behalf. Note that there are many situations in which you can pay the pharmacy over the phone or online when using a discount card.  

*Note: In some cases, patients can use “copay cards” from manufacturers to reduce an insurance copay. However, these cards are not the same thing as the broadly-applicable discount cards that we are discussing here. 

Discount Cards, Coupons, and Search Tools

Cards vs. Coupons

Most companies we have looked at offer a general discount card and individual coupons for medications. We often use the term discount programs to indicate that both cards and coupons are offered. Generally speaking, the coupons offered can expire, but the discount cards cannot. Deals change in response to changes in the market. Presenting a discount card will often give you access to the company’s latest deals, so it’s like having all the coupons on one card. Sometimes coupons and the card are not perfectly synced, however. Each company will tell you whether the card or the coupon is considered the better option overall. 

Search Tools

Different pharmacy locations can have dramatically different discount prices. Whether you use a card or a specific coupon, you’ll always get the best price if you go online and use the provided pricing search tool. Of course, to get the lowest price shown, you may need to transfer to a new pharmacy. Transferring is usually easy, but you may need to make some calls and wait for doctors to send over scripts. Programs that don’t have price-checking tools also exist, offering just a simple discount card. These lower-tech programs often suit those who don’t want to use multiple pharmacies.

A Word on Consumer Privacy

Virtually everything consumers do on the internet is recorded and is often automatically shared between websites to improve their digital advertising tools’ effectiveness. The effect of such large-scale consumer data collection can be benign in many cases. It just results in us seeing more “targeted” advertisements. However, consumer advocates are concerned about how apps and websites handle patient data. In many cases, online companies are more or less exempt from HIPAA rules. This allows them to feed healthcare data into their automated marketing tools, a fact that makes some people uncomfortable.  

Such data privacy, particularly as it relates to health information, is an evolving issue with many gray areas. With this in mind, we have provided some brief material on each company’s privacy policies. Consumers currently don’t have a lot of control over their own data, but they do have the power to decide which companies have the best policies. 

How We Chose the Best Prescription Discount Cards

• Numerous Medications: We focused on finding discount programs that offer discounts on not hundreds, but thousands of drugs. While many other small programs exist and can be great for some people, we wanted to find programs that would be broadly beneficial. All companies that we have covered have at least one large-scale discount program.
• Prominent Retail Partners: We specifically looked for programs that partner with national pharmacy chains. Having partnerships with chains means that consumers have access to anywhere from several hundred to tens of thousands of individual pharmacies across the nation. Most companies also partner with independent pharmacies. 
• Free Options: Often, those seeking out discount programs are on a tight budget. Keeping this in mind, we only included prescription discount companies that had at least one discount program that was free to use. Some free programs are free to anyone, and others are free to those who already have a paid membership in a particular group like AAA, AARP, or Costco.

The 9 Best Prescription Discount Card Companies of 2022

In the above table, the lists of notable participating pharmacy chains are based both on what the website prominently advertises and what we observed while using each company’s pricing tools. For all companies above, other, smaller chains and many independent pharmacies also participate. 

WellRx

Best App Features

WellRx, also called Scriptsave WellRx, is one of the oldest prescription discount companies that we have seen. Its parent company, Medical Security Card LLC, was founded in 1994. This company and many of its sister companies have ties to MedImpact, a large PBM. This company is proud to be a leader in providing high-tech yet user-friendly solutions for a healthy lifestyle. Its totally free app provides not only great tools for accessing prescription discounts, but also has medication management tools like pill reminder alarms and a special grocery guidance section for help with healthy eating. 

Overview of WellRx Prescription Discount Cards

Pros and Cons of WellRx

WellRx Drug Pricing 

WellRx has one main program for saving on prescription drug costs, and it is free to anyone. However, “invite codes” that are passed out by partnering brands can unlock extra features in the program. These special invite codes are likely to be offered as part of loyalty programs from other health and wellness companies. 

WellRx says that its cards/coupons provide 45%-80% discounts on cash prices. Its average savings are about 60%. WellRx does not offer mail order programs at this time.

WellRx Drug Pricing Spot Check on Common Prescriptions

*Among companies reviewed. Includes the high and low costs of each company’s most basic program offered.

How to Use WellRx

Getting Started

• Obtain the discount card by email, text, or digital download, or print the card from the WellRx website.
• The website allows you to search for individual coupons for specific prescriptions.
• Create a free online account to access more helpful features.

Search Tool Features

• Search for your prescription to see local pharmacies that offer it and the most recent cost.
• Search results also provide pharmacies that label themselves as multilingual.
• The “price basket” feature provides a recommended pharmacy for the overall best price when you have multiple prescriptions. 

WellRx’s Privacy Policy

• WellRx collects and uses personal information to improve its service.
• The company also shares data with third-party companies for marketing.
• WellRx makes its full privacy policy easy to read.

Optum Perks

Best for AARP Members

Optum Perks is offered by the PBM OptumRx, a subsidiary of the insurer United Healthcare. Some customers may be familiar with this service’s former name, SearchRx. Optum Perks’ basic discount program is free to anyone, regardless of their insurance company or other factors. However, the brand also has a special partnership with AARP, the popular senior lifestyle and advocacy organization. AARP members enjoy a premium version of Optum Perks that they can access conveniently at no extra cost. The AARP version includes steeper discounts and a mail-order pharmacy option. 

Overview of Optum Perks Prescription Discount Cards

*Note: App not offered for the AARP plan.  

Pros and Cons of Optum Perks

Optum Perks Drug Pricing

Technically, Optum Perks’ basic program and its AARP Prescription Discounts program are both free, but maintaining an AARP membership costs about $16 yearly. The websites and search tools for the basic service and the AARP one are completely different, and we checked prices for some common medications on both tools. Discounts can be as high as 80%, but users are likely to find discounts falling in the 40%-50% discount range most often. 

We observed that prices on the AARP search tool tended to be much better than those on the regular Optum Perks search tool. However, the search tools on both websites had some very limiting design features, so the prices below may not be as representative as the prices we have listed for other brands. Furthermore, note that delivery is an option for AARP members, but delivery costs are not available through the search tool. 

Optum Perks Drug Pricing Spot Check on Common Prescriptions*

*Among companies reviewed. Includes the high and low costs of each company’s most basic program offered.

How to Use Optum Perks 

Getting Started

• Anyone can obtain the Optum Perks card from the website, or AARP members can obtain the card through their AARP account.
• Users can search through the Optum Perks discount tool or the tool on the AARP website.
• Results may vary between the two search tools.

Search Tool Features

• The AARP tool can generate over 20 pharmacies in a zip code, but it requires you to choose up to 5 before displaying prescription pricing.
• The AARP tool doesn’t show its mail order options in the search results.

Optum Perks Privacy Policy

• The company doesn’t require any personal information to be provided in order to use its tools.
• Optum Perks will, however, collect usage data for its business use.
• Users should consider reading the Privacy Policy and/or the AARP Privacy Policy depending on which tool they use.

Blink Health

Best for Reliable Pricing

Blink Health, also often just called Blink, is a mid-size company in the prescription discount market, and it fills a unique role. In partnership with the Blue Eagle Health PBM, this startup requires all pharmacies it partners with to accept the same discounted price. Unlike virtually all other discount companies, with this brand, you make your transaction online through Blink Health, and then you present your proof of purchase at one of the many local pharmacies that participate. Whereas other brands’ search tools often show “estimated” costs that can change suddenly, this brand has prices that are both low and stable, with fewer unpleasant surprises for the customer. 

Overview of Blink Health’s Prescription Discount Program

Pros and Cons of Blink Health

Blink Health’s Drug Pricing 

In line with other brands, Blink advertises that its drug prices can have discounts as high as 80%. In addition to the main Blink Health program, which is free, there are other free options and one paid option, which you can learn about below:

• Quick Save: This free program is an enhancement of Blink Health’s regular discount search tool. You can register for it if you’re a good candidate based on location. This program has a guaranteed same-day pickup and may have even lower prices in some cases.
• Blink Pharmacy Plus: This option allows you to use Blink’s own online pharmacy rather than just using Blink at other pharmacies. It offers free delivery for many medications. Blink Plus accepts some insurance, so its pharmacists can check your copay options against Blink discounts.
• Telehealth Subscriptions (paid): If you don’t have a prescription yet, Blink may be able to help through its telehealth subscription option. A third-party doctor will write the prescription if they judge it to be advisable. Treatments for hair loss, high cholesterol, cold sores, and more are available. Automatically shipped refills, low costs, and multiple appointments are included in the subscription which costs between about $7-$20 monthly.

The table below does not include separate prices for Blink Pharmacy Plus or the Quick Save program, but prices for either program might differ in some cases. 

Blink Health Drug Pricing Spot Check on Common Prescriptions

*Among companies reviewed. Includes the high and low costs of each company’s most basic program offered.

How to Use Blink Health

Getting Started

• Users must sign up for a free account online and can explore paid add-on services.
• Users will pay Blink Health for their prescriptions and take a proof of purchase to their local pharmacy for pick-up.

Search Tool Features

• The search tool shows the cost for pickup, delivery, and telehealth subscription.
• Additional pricing appears for users who subscribe to Pharmacy Plus or QuickSave.
• Typically, up to 20 or more pharmacies will appear in the search results.

Blink Health’s Privacy Policy

• Blink Health collects personal data to share with trusted partners for marketing purposes.
• The Blink Health Privacy Policy offers more detailed information about the usage of the data.

Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP)

Best for Costco Members

Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP) makes purchasing at Costo and select independent pharmacies extra affordable for Costco members. This program is operated by Costco’s own PBM, Costco Health Solutions (CHS). CMPP focuses on bulk pricing, generics, and “approved generics” (generics made in the exact same facility/equipment as the name-brand version). Costco members will appreciate how the same thrifty pricing philosophy that they love in Costco Warehouses transfers so well to the way the CMPP functions. 

Overview of CMPP Prescription Discount Cards

Note: CMPP says it has “thousands” of participating pharmacies, but it doesn’t offer more specific numbers. The CMPP drug price search tool will provide you with the most up-to-date information on pharmacies in your zip code. 

Pros and Cons of CMPP

CMPP Drug Pricing 

CMPP says that the savings it provides range from 2% to 40% or more. This program is free for Costco members, but keep in mind that Costco memberships cost $60+ per person annually. It’s worth noting that people without Costco memberships can also use Costco’s pharmacies, but at higher costs. Furthermore, Costco pharmacies do participate in other discount card programs, so you will see different Costco prices on different discount search tools. Again, those prices tend to be higher. CMPP includes access to discounts on many different generic medications, including Approved Generics and certain pet medications. 

In the table below, we have not listed a separate line for delivery costs since the “Costco Wholesale Prescription Home Delivery” option typically has the exact same price as the Costco Pharmacy pickup option. Readers should note that for the dosages we looked at, Costco only offered 90-day supplies. We had to calculate the 30-pill prices based on Costco’s per pill cost in a 90-day (bulk) supply. 

CMPP Drug Pricing Spot Check on Common Prescriptions

*Among companies reviewed. Includes the high and low costs of each company’s most basic program offered.

How to Use CMPP Discounts

Getting Started

• Costco members can simply use their membership card to obtain prescription discounts.
• All Costco pharmacies provide discounts as well as other partner pharmacies.
• Members can access more services like home delivery by logging into Costco.com and ordering prescriptions online.

Search Tool Features

• The CMPP search tool is available on the Costco website as well as the Costco app.
• Users must spell the prescription correctly as the tool may not catch a misspelling.
• Users can expect up to 30 or more local pharmacies and Costco locations in search results.

CMPP’s Privacy Policy

• Costco may share your health information with third parties.
• Costco shares data mostly for marketing purposes.
• Details on the company’s data collection and sharing are available in its General Privacy Policy.

RxSavings Plan 

Simplest Discount Program

The RxSavings Plan Prescription Drug Discount Card is a free service offered by CVS Caremark, one of the largest PBMs in the nation. This PBM has impressive negotiating power due to its size, and the RxSavings Plan can get you discounts at over 65,000 chain and independent pharmacies. RxSavings Plan is simple to use, offering just the essentials. Account creation and printing a card are very easy, and the card can be used immediately. Those who like a low-tech option backed by a powerful brand like CVS will find this the perfect fit. 

Overview of RxSavings Plan Prescription Discount Cards

Pros and Cons of RxSavings Plan

RxSavings Plan Drug Pricing 

This savings plan is 100% free to use- no upgrades, no membership fees. While its stripped-down design is appealing for its simplicity, the brand does lack a price search tool. According to its FAQs, “only the actual pharmacy can tell you the exact price of the prescription.” You can expect an average savings of 24% off brand-name and generic prescriptions with this program.  

CVS Caremark assures customers that if its own discount is in conflict with another free, in-house discount being offered at the location where you’re picking up, then the better of the two discounts will always be applied to your purchase. If you need to, calling your pharmacy ahead of time may be helpful if you’re worried about the discount not being big enough to meet your financial needs. Since this plan is offered by a company from the CVS family of businesses, its discounts are likely to be highest at CVS locations.

How to Use the RxSavings Plan

Getting Started

• Users will provide their name, email, and phone number (optional) to obtain a printable discount card.
• The card can be used by virtually anyone in the US at any CVS pharmacy and other partner pharmacies mentioned on the RxSavings Plan website.

Search Tool Features

• No prescription search tool is available, but users can visit the CVS Caremark website to search for a participating pharmacy in their area.
• The website and Caremark app feature educational resources about prescription drugs, proper use, and more.

RxSavings Plan Privacy Policy

• The plan’s privacy policy falls under the umbrella of the CVS Caremark Privacy Policy.
• RxSavings Plan collects user data and online activity information for marketing purposes.

GoodRx

Most Program Options

GoodRx has been offering prescription discount programs since 2012 and is currently one of the best-known prescription discount brands. Its main free program has an extremely well-designed price search tool with more features than is common elsewhere. In addition to its great basic program, this brand has several other free and paid programs. Under the GoodRx umbrella, you can use InsideRx (free), GoodRx Gold (paid), AAA with GoodRx (free with AAA membership), and the Kroger Rx Savings Club (paid), a program for pet medications (free), and programs for finding affordable third-party telehealthcare (paid). No other competitor has such a great range of programs to benefit different sets of needs and budgets.

Overview of GoodRx Prescription Discount Cards

Pros and Cons of GoodRx

GoodRx Drug Pricing 

This company advertises discounts of up to 80% for its regular program, and some of its special programs have even better savings. You can see the basic cost profiles of some of its programs below. 

• GoodRx Gold: This option has about 1,000 different medications that cost less than $10. Savings are advertised as up to 90% off of the cash prices. GoodRx Gold has a free trial period, after which you will be charged monthly at the rate of $5.99 per person or $9.99 per family. 
• Kroger Rx Savings Club: Costing $36 annually for one person or $72 annually for a family, GoodRx offers this special program for use at all Kroger family stores except for those in the state of Washington. This program covers 100 generics for common prescriptions, offering 30- or 90-day supplies for $3-$18 per month. A few medications, including Zoloft, are offered totally free. It also offers free low-cost diabetes blood glucose monitoring supplies. For most medications, multiple dosage levels are available.  If the list has most or all of your prescriptions, then this could be a great deal for you. 

In addition to the above programs, keep in mind that GoodRx advertises for multiple telehealth partners that offer low-cost online visits. You can also keep other costs low by using GoodRx for Pets and by using the free InsideRx Partnership to specifically find discounts on about 209 name-brand medications. 

GoodRx Drug Pricing Spot Check on Common Prescriptions

*Among companies reviewed. Includes the high and low costs of each company’s most basic program offered.

**Available free in 25, 50, and 100 mg for 30- or 90-day supplies.

How to Use GoodRx

Getting Started

• The free GoodRx program can be obtained via online sign up, app sign up, or request for a physical card in the mail.
• AAA and Kroger also offer the card by signing up through their websites or apps.
• Users present the card or app when making a purchase to receive the discount.

Search Tool Features

• Users can expect to see about 25 pricing options when they search for a medication.
• The app and website provide info on free, paid, and delivery discount programs.
• Users can also see which medications are likely already covered by other insurance programs.

GoodRx’s Privacy Policy

• The company recently revamped its privacy policies to better protect the consumer.
• GoodRx and Data Privacy discusses how recent controversies led to better privacy for the program’s users.
• The full privacy policy shows all the details of how data is used and shared.

SingleCare

Best for Loyalty Features

Offered by the PBM RxSense, SingleCare is a mid-size prescription discount company that particularly markets itself to seniors. It’s perhaps most well-known thanks to its Martin Sheen television commercials. This brand has been offering free prescription discounts since 2015 and has developed a robust rewards program to thank its loyal customers. This program gives everyone the chance to earn a $5 sign up bonus and to continuously earn $1 rewards on certain eligible prescriptions. 

Overview of SingleCare’s Prescription Discount Cards

Pros and Cons of SingleCare

SingleCare’s Drug Pricing 

There’s never a fee for signing up for this SingleCare, and some drugs are offered for as much as 80% off. This brand also offers free shipping on 4,000 different drugs that are eligible for its delivery program. Our pricing spot check did reveal that SingleCare discounts tend to be somewhat low when compared to the best discounts offered by competitors.

SingleCare’s Drug Pricing Spot Check on Common Prescriptions

*Among companies reviewed. Includes the high and low costs of each company’s most basic program offered.

How to Use SingleCare 

Getting Started

• No sign up is required to obtain a digital discount card that can be displayed on a phone or printed.
• Those who wish to join the rewards program must provide their name, date of birth, and email address.

Search Tool Features

• Most results will show 6 or so pharmacy options in a local area.
• Users can search online or with the SingleCare app
• Search results include medication FAQs, pricing history, and relevant article links.
• Users can opt-in to receive price alerts when the cost of a prescription changes.

SingleCare’s Privacy Policy

• SingleCare offers an easy-to-understand Privacy Policy.
• The policy explains how its targeted advertising works.
• SingleCare allows users to opt-out of certain data-sharing programs.

RxSaver

Best for Patient Advocacy

Formerly called LowestMed.com, RXSaver has been providing consumers a simple, free discount program since 2009. Seniors may be interested to know that RxSaver’s parent company is RetailMeNot, another popular website that offers coupons for a more general audience. RxSaver is a great choice for those who are struggling with excessive prescription costs because it runs the Prescription Assistance Program, a paid advocacy service that works with patients one-on-one. For those with severe cost concerns, this personalized advocacy service can negotiate with manufacturers and other price-setting players in the market. For some patients, it can lower costs by thousands of dollars per month.

Overview of RxSaver Prescription Discount Cards

Pros and Cons of RxSaver

RxSaver Drug Pricing 

RxSaver’s regular discount program has no fee. The brand states that about 14% of all its users can get discounts of 85% or more on their purchases. Many consumers will see smaller but still significant discounts. 

For those who need more serious help with out-of-control prescription costs, the Rx Advocacy Prescription Assistance Program costs $60 monthly. People with certain prescriptions related to diabetes, asthma, depression/anxiety, high cholesterol, ulcer/acid reflux, thyroid disorders, and nerve pain may be particularly good candidates for advocacy. Prescription cost examples for the advocacy program are not available since each case is unique, but pricing for the free program is easy to find. 

RxSaver Drug Pricing Spot Check on Common Prescriptions

*Among companies reviewed. Includes the high and low costs of each company’s most basic program offered.

**RxSaver appears to only offer the generic for ADRENALIN, a slightly different epinephrine auto-injector than the EpiPen brand. Its cost may not be directly comparable to that of the EpiPen generic that most brands offer. 

How to Use RxSaver

Getting Started

• No sign up is required to obtain an RxSaver card or coupons.
• The discount card and coupons provide the same discount unless a coupon expires.
• Signing up for the advocacy program requires a phone screening to determine if the program would be helpful for a user.

Search Tool Features

• Search results tend to feature 20-25 pharmacy and home delivery options.
• Users can find brand-name products and generics in search results.
• Users can also select the number of pills for their prescription. 

RxSaver’s Privacy Policy

• RxSaver shares user data with third-party companies for targeted advertising.
• Users can learn all the details of how their data will be used by reading the full privacy policy.

NiceRx

Best Subscription-Based Discount Plan

NiceRX operates differently from the other prescription discount card programs available on the market. Instead of offering discounts on medications, the company provides ‘free’ medications for a flat monthly fee. Patients must be eligible for the service and provide personal and primary care physician information to apply. If accepted into the program, NiceRx will charge $49/mo per prescription with no other hidden fees or charges.

Overview of NiceRx Prescription Discount Cards

Pros and Cons of NiceRx

NiceRx Drug Pricing

Unlike other prescription discount cards, NiceRx doesn’t provide discounts on specific drugs. Rather, their monthly payment business model covers the cost of the drugs themselves. Members at the $49/mo level can receive a 30-day supply of one medication for ‘free’. The company also offers 2 medications at $98/mo and 3 medications at $147/mo.

NiceRx advertises that its service covers over 1,500 FDA-approved prescription drugs. Potential members of the service can use the website’s search tool to see if the company covers their specific medications. The search tool also provides an average retail cost of some medications so users can see how much they will save by using NiceRx.

When NiceRx advertises that they don’t charge for the medications themselves, they mean it. The company’s website has a prescription search tool that provides the average cost for a specific drug and provides a comparison to their $49/mo service fee. Only some medications have a fee comparison, such as the Epipen at a US average cost of $465.

How to Use NiceRx

Getting Started

• Users can fill out the enrollment application on the NiceRx website to determine eligibility.
• If approved, the company lets the user know and requests documents from the user and their healthcare provider to complete enrollment.
• Once enrollment is complete, members pay their monthly fee and receive the medications they need, delivered to their home or their doctor’s office.

Search Tool Features

• The search tool doesn’t search for discounts at pharmacies because NiceRx operates at the pharmacy itself.
• The search tool shows the average cost of medications so users can see how much they will save by using NiceRx.

NiceRx’s Privacy Policy

• NiceRx uses members’ personal information to apply for assistance programs run by pharmaceutical companies.
• The company complies with all HIPPA regulations.
• NiceRx provides its Privacy Policy on its website for users to read before applying.

Methodology

The pricing “spot checks” that we conducted on the companies above reveal the kinds of discounts you might reasonably expect to receive on the generic versions of Zoloft, Lipitor, and EpiPen. These price checks do not provide conclusive information on which brand has the absolute best prices overall. Below you can learn about how we got the prices that we listed in each price check. 

Price Check Parameters

We strove to reduce the chance of errors in price comparison by standardizing how we searched in the following ways. 

• Location: Pricing can vary dramatically by location, even within the same pharmacy chain. All search tools ask for a zip code, and we used the New York City zip code 10001. Less populous areas may often have lower prices, but also fewer pharmacy options. 
• Date: We completed our searches of the different pricing tools between January 18th-22nd of 2021. Comparing prices during a narrow time frame is important since the deals do change over time. 
• Brand: Wherever possible, we compared only generic prices to one another to find the best deals. Generics often look different from name-brand medications, but they are still heavily regulated by the FDA and are considered therapeutically equivalent. 
• Strength: Dosage (mg per pill) and quantity (number of pills) both impact cost. We selected dosages based on commonly prescribed levels. Your actual dosage could be different. We checked generic Lipitor and Zoloft prices based on 30-day supplies. For the EpiPen, an injectable medication used only in emergency situations, we searched for the standard adult prescription of 2 “pens” (autoinjectors) that had 0.3 mg epinephrine each.

Note that the price check tables we provided all have a row that shows the overall “Price Range for This Drug”. That price range reflects the prices found in free programs.

Price Checking Problems

We ran into a few issues when comparing costs. For example, some brands showed pricing fluctuations even within the 5-day time period that we collected information. More complex issues also arose, and reading about them below will help you understand where you may also encounter difficulties with your searches. 

Unlisted Manufacturers

Common medications are often available in generic versions from several different manufacturers. However, price tools usually did not specify which generic manufacturer the listed price applied to. Some customers report that pharmacies will charge a higher price at the counter than was displayed on the price tool, citing the use of a different manufacturer as the reason for the discrepancy.  This is likely a rare occurrence, but possible. 

Medications in Unique Forms

When searching for the lowest cost Epinephrine auto-injectors (best known as the brands EpiPen or Adrenaclick), we realized that most of these search tools are designed to help you search pills, not injectable medications. The way some companies displayed dosage and quantity options in drop-down menus for this injectable medication was unclear or even contradictory. To complicate the matter, EpiPen and Adrenaclick have different generics though they serve the same purpose. We tried to only search the more popular EpiPen generic, but it wasn’t always an option. 

Whenever you have an issue with a pricing tool, your best option is often to call the pharmacy that you want to use. They may be able to give you the information you’re missing or to provide you with a more accurate price than is being displayed in the search tool. 

How to Choose a Prescription Discount Card

Step 1: Understand Your Financial Options

Before trying a discount card, you may wish to investigate other options, just to make sure the perfect cost solution isn’t already in front of you.

Tips for looking into all cost-saving options:

• Ask Your Doctor: Sometimes your situation can improve a lot when you simply explain the situation to your doctor. If you’ve been given a name-brand prescription, you might be able to switch to a generic or just an older but similarly effective drug. In some cases, you may need to get in touch with your insurance company or Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) and ask if the drug formulary covers a different option for your condition at a better rate. 
• Find a Copay Card:  Copay cards aren’t the same as the discount cards this guide focuses on, though their names are similar. Copay cards are special coupons issued by drug manufacturers, and they can actually be combined with insurance to reduce a patient’s copay, sometimes dramatically. These cards don’t help all situations by any means, but they can be worth looking into. Learn more about copay card basics from Kaiser Health News.   
• Get Extra Help: Check to see if you qualify for a Medicare assistance program called Extra Help. You may qualify if you’re a senior whose 2022 income was $20,385 ($27, 465 for couples) or lower. Note that certain resources are counted separately from your income. This program keeps your costs low by capping all of your copays at amounts below $10 and helping with other costs.

Step 2: Explore Discount Cards with Realistic Expectations

If you’ve decided that other forms of assistance aren’t for you, it’s time to start comparing the discount cards/coupons that are available. It’s best to start your search with realistic expectations.

Keep in mind the limits and the risks that may be involved, including the following points:

• Discount prices can fluctuate unexpectedly (as can insurance copays)
• Discounts can’t be used on top of an insurance copay and purchases made using the discounts won’t count toward your deductible
• Discount card companies can use your health data for various advertising purposes
• Getting the best possible price offered often requires a pharmacy switch

For a more thorough explanation of these points, you may wish to refer to the Basics section of this guide. Another important thing to consider is that discounts on most medications will not approach the “up to 80% off” discount that is so famous. That being said, you can easily still save $10, $20, $50, or even several hundred dollars if you choose the right program for your medication. 

Step 3: Start Comparing Discounts 

Make a list of all of your daily medications, being sure to note the quantities and dosages that you need. You may also wish to include medications that you use on an as-needed basis. If you’re taking name-brand medications, contact your doctor to ask if switching to generics will be just as effective for you. Most of the time the answer is yes, and most of these discount programs specialize in generics. 

Select at least three different discount companies to compare, and check your medication prices at each. Adding your zip code to the search tool will be crucial since prices do differ across the nation. It’s a good idea to check free discount programs first, as there are many good options available. If the prices you’re finding are still too high, it may be time to reach out to some paid programs to ask about your specific medications. Many paid programs may cost $70 or less per year. Their costs may be worth it to you if you will save more than that using the program.

As a final note on comparing costs, keep in mind that ordering “in bulk” can be a very effective cost-saving technique. For example, 90-day supplies of medications are often less expensive per month than a 30-day one, and it’s usually easy to make the switch. You’ll need to communicate with your doctor about all such options. A doctor can write a prescription with different dosages and quantities if it’s advisable for your situation.  

Step 4: Look for Discount Program Perks

As you compare prices, remember to look for other perks that you may want or need. Since there are so many discount options available, companies do compete to carry services that set them apart from the rest.

Common perks to look for include:

• Free upgrades based on your membership in other organizations
• Free shipping on delivery options
• Apps that will provide useful health information 
• Articles with tips on cost-saving
• Low-cost telehealth programs
• Patient advocacy services 
• Pet medication discounts
• Rewards programs

For seniors, delivery programs are some of the most popular perks. Being able to receive your medications at home is very convenient and is safer for many whose health conditions make going out hard. Prices on delivery services do vary widely, so you may need to do extra additional price comparisons to find your best option. 

Step 5: Sign Up and Familiarize Yourself with Digital Tools

Once you’ve settled on your favorite program, familiarize yourself with the sign up process. We have found that companies tend to have slight variations in how their cards/coupons work, so before signing up you may wish to take the time to read through the company’s full “Help” or “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” section. Doing so often makes getting set up with the program easier. Create any password-protected logins as needed, and remember to set email preferences to exclude advertisements if you wish. This is also a good time to download any apps that are offered and learn how to use them. 

As you begin to use the program, you may experience a learning curve or may encounter pharmacists that are unfamiliar with the program you’re using. You’ll often be able to reach out to the company’s customer service line to resolve any issues, however. As you get used to using the program that you selected, try to keep an eye on how often the discount levels offered fluctuate, particularly if you’re using a paid program. If you find one brand’s discounts are too unstable, you may wish to consider exploring a different option. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Works Cited

1. Luthra, Shefali. “‘Pharma Bro’ Shkreli Is In Prison, But Daraprim’s Price Is Still High.” KHN, 4 May 2018, https://khn.org/news/for-shame-pharma-bro-shkreli-is-in-prison-but-daraprims-price-is-still-high/. Accessed 20 January 2021.
2. “Costs in the coverage gap.” Medicare.gov, 2021, https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/costs-in-the-coverage-gap. Accessed 23 January 2021. 
3. “Data Note: Prescription Drugs and Older Adults.” KFF, 09 August 2021, https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/data-note-prescription-drugs-and-older-adults/. Accessed 21 January 2021. 
4. “The HIPAA Privacy Rule.” HHS.gov, 10 December 2020,https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html. Accessed 18 January 2021.  
5. “Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers.” FDA, 01 May 2018, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/questions-answers/generic-drugs-questions-answers. Accessed 26 January 2021.  
6. “Drug Coupons: A Good Deal For The Patient, But Not The Insurer.” KHN, 01 October 2012, https://khn.org/news/drug-coupons/. Accessed 21 January 2021. 
7. “Lower prescription costs.” Medicare, 2020, https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/get-help-paying-costs/lower-prescription-costs. Accessed 23 January 2021. 
8.  “How to get prescription drug coverage.” Medicare, https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/how-to-get-prescription-drug-coverage. Accessed 23 January 2021.