Walgreens prescription plan question...

[Regret My New Name]

So, I signed up for a prescription plan at Walgreens. It was $20 for a year and it has already paid for itself... How do these work? Does anyone have experiences with this plan? Am I going to get any surprises in a few months when they say I met some quota? It just seems a bit too good to be true... How do they make money from this? Are drugs just over priced at normal cost? Do they get subsidies?

[Oregone]

1. No idea.

Maybe they assessed their risk pool and figure they come out ahead most of the time (but not on you), or the piggybacking of OTC sales created enough profit to offset the loss from the plans

What do you get for $20 bucks a year?

[Regret My New Name]

2. Their description:

* More than 5,000 brand name and generic medications
* Over 400 generics priced at $12 for a 90-day supply - that's less than $1 a week!
* 10% reward on purchases of Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services*
* Medications in all drug classes covering most common and chronic health conditions
* Includes insulin and diabetic supplies
* Can be used for pet prescriptions
* No age limits, health restrictions, medical exams or prior authorizations required
* Can be used at any Walgreens retail store nationwide

------------------

I take synthroid which costs me about $35 for a 90-day supply when not insured (it was about $13 with my insurance). I paid $12 for it thus for my last refill... Plus I got a one time prescription filled and it would have been like $40 for it, but it was only $12... Over a year, that will add up a bit. I guess getting people into the store is their motivation, maybe? Considering I usually use the drive through pharmacy, I don't know if I will help 'em out much.

[Oregone]

4. They must have some sort of margins on those generics

But Ill pass this on. I know someone else who takes Synthroid. Thanks

[rucky]

3. I think your membership puts you in a buying group

that allows Walgreens to negotiate better prices w/ pharma on your behalf.

[gateley]

5. Sounds like a great deal. Maybe I should look into it and possibly be able to

start taking my blood pressure medication again. Although it doesn't come in generic...

[Juche]

10. What one do you take

[gateley]

21. Micardis. I've tried other, less expensive ones, but this seems to be the

one that works, naturally. :7

[csziggy]

11. If it doesn't come in a generic, check to see if the Walgeens plan will cover it

I take three medications,two of which do not have generics and the third, the generic is crap. None are covered under the Walgreens plan, so I did not sign up for it. Heck, even the generic I could use if it worked is not covered. Their list is pretty short or was when I checked on it.

It is a great idea if your meds are covered so it is worth checking into.

[gateley]

20. Yeah, I'll def check into it, just to see. I only take two meds, the generic one, for

thyroid, is pretty cheap anyway, but the blood pressure prescription is pricey.

[Mojorabbit]

6. I don't know about their plan

buy my husband is a family physician and when he calls a prescription in to walgreens he gets India on the phone. They then relay the info to the walgreens pharmacy. It is madness.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. I don't know the details, but Walgreen's is...

huge and has enormous buying power. It may also be have an interest in the actual manufacture of some generics, just like it has house brand over the counter stuff.

Note that it's only 400 generics that are really cheap, and most are old enough to be dirt cheap and easy to make.

Think aspirin-- also rigously regulated, highly useful, and available for way under a penny a pill. Just over the counter, not prescription.

Wal-Mart has a simlar program and I think we'll be seeing more of these-- selling generics at or close to cost for PR purposes and as loss leaders to get you in the door. The deal comes with a rewards card-- aka loyalty card.

[cabluedem]

13. The quality of Walmart $4.00 drugs is very low. Walgreens drugs are much better. nt

[Juche]

8. Sounds like a combo prescription discount card & $4/month generic plan

Neither of which is controversial. Many pharmacies now sell a variety of generics for $4/month (Kroger, Walmart, target, etc).

Discount plans are when you pay a certain amount a month for a card that gets you 20-50% off of dental, vision & prescriptions. I used to use one of those a lot. I would pay $100/yr and in exchange I'd get my dental work and eyeglass stuff almost half off. Prescription discount plans are fairly cheap, $20/month or so.

So that sounds like what Walgreens is offering, a combo prescription discount plan & $4/month generic list. That doesn't sound controversial.

[undeterred]

9. I'm about to renew mine for a second year.

I have no insurance, and this is a good deal.

[LatteLibertine]

12. Yep if you

have no insurance it helps. It knocked 75 dollars off a prescription of mine that would have just passed 300usd.

[NMMNG]

14. I looked into it since I'm uninsured

Unfortunately only one of my drugs is on their list of "covered" drugs, and it's the drug that's already so cheap I'd only be saving a few dollars each month. The other medications would be just as expensive if not more expensive than what I'm paying now. So it would be of no benefit to me.

I do have AAA and that gives me a bit of a discount on my meds (I get them at CVS). It's not a lot (about 20% off on average) but it's better than nothing, which is what I'd have otherwise. The AAA card gets me discounts on other things too, like hotel rooms, rental cars, my recent eye exam and new glasses, and other stuff. My membership had more than paid for itself before I even used it for my car.

[Are_grits_groceries]

15. I use it.

I have saved a lot of money. That's because my drugs are on their list. If that's the case for you, then it may be worth it. I've even seen the prices of a couple decrease.

It really frosts me though that the Canadian pharmacies prices are so much cheaper.

[1]

16. if it already paid for itself then you haven't lost anything. take advantage while you can. enjoy...

[freeplessinseattle]

17. here's a free one with avg. 1/3 off

You can check the price of your meds on the site to compare. My $150/mo migraine meds (this is the generic rate, seriously) are now only $27 (twenty-seven), a new pharmacist clued me into this great program just recently, I posted on it a couple months ago but was thinking I should maybe repost now and then, it could help so much.


"UNA RX CARD is a “FREE” discount prescription drug card delivered through a joint effort by RESTAT and United Networks of America. This program is made possible through the participation of U.S. pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. UNA Rx Card provides members with average savings of 32%-35% off U&C Pricing with savings as high as 75% on some medications. UNA Rx Card is designed as a stand alone benefit program but it may also be used as a supplement for insured prescription plans to cover non-formulary prescriptions. It can also be used as a Medicare Part D supplement by covering drugs once participants reach the “donut hole”!

The UNA Rx Card network includes most major pharmacy chains nationwide.

http://unarxcard.com/index.php

[Kahuna]

18. They're just doing what a lot of large chains are doing. I get my RXs

(generics) from my supermarket for $9.99, three month supply without a plan fee.

Walmart, Target and some other supermarkets also have generic plans.

[Bitwit1234]

19. WalMart has a good drug plan

Generics are $4.00 for 30 day prescription and $10 dollars for 3 month. No plan to pay for and join.

My prescription plan cost $5 for 45 days(instead of the usual 30) When I get my prescriptions filled at WalMart they give me 90 days for $10. Now to make matters better, if I have 3 refills available, what they do is give me 90 days for $10 and only use one refill. This way my refills last longer. Most of the time I pay the $4.00 instead of my regular $5 fee. And sometimes there is no cost at all. If the $10 fee goes over a certain amount I get the prescription free. I don't know why , but I don't argue.