Midpack
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It’s criminal how variable and “non transparent” medical costs are, especially prescription drugs. We’ve all seen examples, we had two recently that left us angrily scratching our heads.
There have been many other anecdotes like those below, so optional reading.
My Part D plan paid for my first 90 pills (1/day) but would not pay for another 36 pills (1/week) to complete my doctor’s recommendation - I found out while standing at the pickup counter at CVS. I asked what the 36 pills would cost, they said $80 - ouch. But the pharmacist could see I wasn’t pleased, though I would have gone ahead, but he said let me see if I can do better. His first hit was $75 and he kept looking. I took out my iPhone and simply searched exact name of drug plus discount - and America’s Pharmacy came back with a page full of other sources with actual prices. All the numbers and details were included. Turns out the Publix Pharmacy across the parking lot had the exact same drug at 42 tablets for $10.81 - that kind of price difference is criminal in my view. CVS transferred the Rx to Publix for me, and I picked them up 15 minutes later.
Two days earlier DW bought an inhaler that was quoted at $290. She went on GoodRx and found it elsewhere for $263, assumed that was the best she could do and bought it. After my $80 > $10.81 experience, she entered her inhaler - found the same inhaler for $8.66 - though 50mcg vs 110mcg to be fair. Still I can’t imagine any justification for such a huge discrepancy.
Not promoting America’s Pharmacy (I’d never heard of them they just came up first on search) or any particular resource, just sharing we’ll be more vigilant than ever with prescriptions from now on…
There have been many other anecdotes like those below, so optional reading.
My Part D plan paid for my first 90 pills (1/day) but would not pay for another 36 pills (1/week) to complete my doctor’s recommendation - I found out while standing at the pickup counter at CVS. I asked what the 36 pills would cost, they said $80 - ouch. But the pharmacist could see I wasn’t pleased, though I would have gone ahead, but he said let me see if I can do better. His first hit was $75 and he kept looking. I took out my iPhone and simply searched exact name of drug plus discount - and America’s Pharmacy came back with a page full of other sources with actual prices. All the numbers and details were included. Turns out the Publix Pharmacy across the parking lot had the exact same drug at 42 tablets for $10.81 - that kind of price difference is criminal in my view. CVS transferred the Rx to Publix for me, and I picked them up 15 minutes later.
Two days earlier DW bought an inhaler that was quoted at $290. She went on GoodRx and found it elsewhere for $263, assumed that was the best she could do and bought it. After my $80 > $10.81 experience, she entered her inhaler - found the same inhaler for $8.66 - though 50mcg vs 110mcg to be fair. Still I can’t imagine any justification for such a huge discrepancy.
Not promoting America’s Pharmacy (I’d never heard of them they just came up first on search) or any particular resource, just sharing we’ll be more vigilant than ever with prescriptions from now on…
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