In some US pharmacies, the margin reaches 840%: how to buy drugs cheaper

The cost of prescription drugs is growing steadily, but some pharmacies may offer a much higher price than others, writes Reader's Digest.

Photo: Shutterstock

Health care is one of the largest expenses in the United States. Even if you have good insurance coverage, sometimes the cost of prescription drugs is a bitter pill to swallow. However, it turns out that if you buy your prescription drugs from a larger pharmacy chain, you can pay anywhere from 8% to a whopping 840% markup for them compared to other pharmacies.

A report by the US Public Interest Education Foundation (PIRG) focused on health care costs and why it is so difficult for Americans to get the help they need. The study noted that one in four Americans can hardly afford drugs, and 4 out of 10 Americans with poor health can hardly find the money to buy drugs.

During the study, the group called 250 pharmacies in different cities and regions in 11 states to compare the prices of medicines for asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and a number of other diseases. Pharmacists were asked to name the price of medicines for those who were not insured or had high deductible insurance plans.

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It turned out that buying prescription drugs at a small, local and / or independent pharmacy can save a significant amount of money each year.

“People don't know they can get their medications for less at another pharmacy,” said Amy Compton-Phillips, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Providence St. Clinic. Joseph Health. There is no transparency about the cost of drugs - it is not published anywhere in a way that the average person can see."

The study also indicated that there are several other ways to lower the cost of prescription drugs, in addition to choosing a small pharmacy. These include:

• Studying the manufacturer’s website for discount coupons;
• price comparison in several pharmacies;
• Switch to a generic drug / generic (if your doctor agrees)
• mail order prescription drugs;
• the ability to pay for your purchase in cash instead of paying for insurance is sometimes cheaper.

“Unless we implement meaningful reforms, patients will continue to pay higher prices without improving their health,” the study notes. “They will decide to stop taking their medications, which will have serious consequences.”

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