Prescription discount cards are a popular tool for consumers looking to save money on their medications. These programs are typically free to join and can offer discounts of up to 85% off of some prescription medications. However, it is important to note that these coupons are not insurance and do not qualify as a part of your healthcare spending account or Medicare Part D deductible. In fact, these coupons may actually cost you more in the long run by increasing your out-of-pocket costs compared to what you would pay with insurance.
In order to better understand the role that these prescription discount programs play in our healthcare system, we conducted an 11-item telephonic survey of community pharmacists. Our survey aimed to identify community pharmacists’ general perceptions and knowledge of pharmaceutical company direct-to-consumer prescription coupon and drug discount network card programs.
We chose to focus on the top four prescription discount companies GoodRx, ScriptSave WellRx, SingleCare, and GoodRx Gold as they offer some of the most diverse program options for patients. Each of these programs has its own set of perks and drawbacks.
The most notable aspect of these prescription Prescription Discounter discount programs is their ability to offer substantial savings on medications for patients that do not have health insurance or who have high deductibles and copays. These programs typically function by negotiating with large pharmacies on behalf of their members to provide discounts on certain medications at their participating locations. These prices are then marketed to consumers through websites and mobile apps.
These programs are not regulated by healthcare or federal agencies, so there is no guarantee that they are transparent about their operations or their pricing structure. Many prescription discount companies share information about their users with third parties to gain a competitive advantage, and some even sell their customers’ personal information. Most of these programs have also found it necessary to charge pharmacies for the privilege of distributing their coupons, which can negatively impact independent pharmacy owners.
The most significant drawback of these programs is the lack of clarity about how they operate and what their true costs are. In addition, these programs can cause confusion in the marketplace by distorting consumer behavior, driving up drug costs, and decreasing profitability for pharmacies.
We recommend patients do their research and compare different programs to determine which one is best for them. Keep in mind that prescription discount programs should never replace insurance, but rather should be used as a supplement to cover gaps in coverage when needed.
Despite these issues, prescription discount programs remain an essential resource for patients that are struggling to afford their medication needs. However, it is important for patients to carefully evaluate the programs and make sure they are using them properly in order to maximize their benefits. The most common way to do this is by ensuring that they are only using the prescription coupon when their pharmacy charges higher than the discount card price and by avoiding pharmacies that are inactive with the program.