Many individuals and families worry about the affordability of medications without traditional insurance coverage. However, the truth is pleasantly surprising: purchasing medications without insurance is hassle-free, cost-effective, and flexible. It empowers you to compare prices and decide where to purchase your medications.
With the Health Access Benefit, you can enjoy all the advantages of shopping for medication without insurance. To help you be prepared for your next refill, here are a few options for finding affordable prescriptions.
Use Your Prescription Service
Through your prescription service, you have access to some of the lowest-priced prescription medications in the country. We partner with a nationwide network of pharmacies, called Drexi, to give you access to affordable drug pricing at over 65,000 locations, including mail-order pharmacies.
Members aren’t limited to only using their prescription service to search for the best deals on prescription medications. Here are some other ways to access prescriptions at a discount.
Ask Your Primary Care Provider
Your primary care provider often knows about affordable or discounted prescription options near you. Especially when your provider knows that you are considered “self-pay” for your medications, they can connect you to pharmacies in your area that offer competitive pricing.
Your primary care provider can also tell you whether you need a name-brand medication, or whether you would be able to use a generic. The FDA estimates that generic prescriptions are 20% to 70% less expensive.
Some primary care providers may even sell common medications and supplements through their offices, or have samples available for one-time medications you may need the same day.
Search Amazon and Other Retailers
Many retailers are expanding into prescription medications, including Amazon. You can easily search for your medications, submit prescriptions, and have them mailed to your home.
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you may save even more. For some common prescriptions, they even offer an RxPass, which reduces eligible medications to only $5.00 a month.
Amazon isn’t the only one. Walmart offers a mail-order pharmacy, and many grocery stores and pharmacies offer online ordering and local deliveries.
Compare an Online Pharmacy (or Two)
For prescriptions you refill regularly, rather than same-day antibiotics or other acute care needs, you can compare pricing through online pharmacies like GoodRx, Optum RX, or BlinkRx. Here are a few options, if you’re shopping around.
The best part about most online pharmacies is that they offer free shipping, automatic refills, and price comparison tools.
Because most online pharmacies have no membership fees, you can even sign up for multiple services. Find the least expensive service offering each medication and go with the best price every time.
Use Coupons at the Pharmacy
There are many apps out there that will help you find coupons to save money on prescriptions, including GoodRx and Pharmacy Checker. Some members have even reported that they save money on prescriptions through rewards programs with companies such as CVS, Walmart, or Sam’s Club.
Especially if someone in your household requires name-brand prescriptions or expensive medications like inhalers or injections, you will benefit from looking around for a few coupons first.
You Are in Control of Your Prescription Spending
When it comes to shopping for medications, possibilities are plentiful. You have the freedom to explore various pharmacies, compare prices, and take advantage of different coupons, services, and apps. Just like how you approach shopping for any other goods or services, you should apply the same mindset to prescriptions. After all, why should they be any different?
The Health Access Benefit is built for this kind of flexibility. Because you’re not locked into a traditional insurance plan, you are in control of your health care spending.