Price basics
Three prices for the same prescription
The insurance price, cash price and discount card price can each be different.
Ask for three numbers
Your insurance price is what the pharmacy would collect if it billed your plan. The cash price is the pharmacy’s price if you pay directly. The card price is the amount quoted through the discount program at a participating pharmacy.
Compare the same fill
Write down the drug name, strength, form and quantity exactly as they appear on the prescription. A quote for 30 tablets and a quote for 90 tablets answer different questions, even when the label shows the same medication.
An example at pickup
Suppose a pharmacy quotes $24 through insurance, $31 in cash and $18 with a discount card. For this fill the card costs $6 less than insurance. Those numbers are an illustration. Your pharmacy provides the actual prices.
Check again at refill time
A previous quote is a reference point. Ask for the current amount before you pay and whether the pharmacy can still process the option you chose.
Read next
Discount card or insurance?