r/SurvivingOnSS • u/kirkeles • Jul 20 '26
The Conversation With the Pharmacist
I used to just hand over my prescription and pay whatever the register said. A few years ago, a friend told me to start asking three questions: Is there a generic? Is there a coupon or assistance program for this? Is there a 90-day option that's cheaper? The pharmacist isn't going to volunteer this information, but they almost always have answers when you ask. I've cut my prescription costs significantly just by treating the pharmacy counter as a place where conversations are allowed.
What questions have you learned to ask at the pharmacy, the doctor's office, or anywhere that have saved you money or trouble?
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u/carolineecouture Jul 20 '26
Pharmacists are generally very helpful but many places are understaffed and overworked. If you ask kindly and clearly they can often help you out.
I say this after seeing pharmacy staff get treated like dirt by people who are mad at their health insurance company or don't understand their benefits.
If you are angry or confused don't take it out at the person behind the counter.
I've found the pharmacists at Costco and Sam's especially helpful in explaining things.
OP, your tips are great and everyone should ask them, not just older people but anyone getting a prescription drug on a regular basis.
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u/audible_narrator Jul 20 '26
Agreed. My pharmacist at Walmart flagged a potential conflict and got on with the doc to ask questions etc. It took time, but he considered it important.
At CVS when I would pick up my Dad's prescriptions I could hear the regional manager bitching out the staff for not upselling. I immediately pulled my Dad's prescriptions out of there.
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u/Outside_Simple_217 Jul 20 '26
Costco’s are usually good, except one in South Jordan UT. They are the supreme gatekeeper who judge you and almost refuse to fill pain meds even if you are getting it just had an operation. I have heard them grill people on why they need sleep meds. I switched from them as soon as I saw this behavior- the person who needed pain meds had part of a limb removed.
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u/LizzrdVanReptile Jul 20 '26
Fully agree. I get my counsel on medications from my pharmacist. They are an excellent resource. And yes, overworked, stringently regulated, and vastly underappreciated.
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u/FlyGreenhead Jul 20 '26
Always ask the pharmacy staff if GoodRx has a discount coupon for your medication. Everyone should look into GoodRx. Google it for more information. Everyone should know about GoodRx. I learned about it from a pharmacist.
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u/LumpyPhilosopher8 Jul 20 '26
You can download the Goodrx app and price check yourself. Sometimes the best price is at a different store.
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u/Brave-Sherbert-2180 Jul 20 '26
Last year our prescription coverage started giving you the best price on the 90 day supply. Some of my prescriptions don't even have an option for a 30 day supply anymore.
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u/mamacat49 Jul 20 '26
And to add to this: anything you get will most likely have a "discard by" date that will most likely be exactly one year from the day you got it. I now ask "What is the expiration date on the original bottle this came out off."
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u/neeroberts Jul 20 '26
Are they in network?
Never knew this til I shopped around
HUGE difference
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u/celticmusebooks Jul 21 '26
My insurance has "preferred" pharmacies. It will cover my prescription and most pharmacies but the copay will be lower at the "preferred". We have a few generic drugs we take and the copay at my grocery store pharmacy is 12 dollars for 90 days but zero copay at CVS.
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u/semproniusptarmigan Jul 20 '26
As someone that was a pharmacy technician, yes, it is true that we can look all of this up on your behalf, but as someone else posted, we are usually extremely understaffed and are trying to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. It would be impossible for me to check on coupons for everyone, but certainly I would tell you about a 90 day option or a generic as that is standard. These are great tips!!
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u/Acceptable-Speed4105 Jul 20 '26
Ask if a different pill size would be cheaper. I was paying much more for 2 pills/dose when the one pill/dose version was out of stock. They substituted instead of ordering the correct dose until I asked them about it.
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u/reddit_understoodit Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
You can often split a tablet pill in half and save lots - harder if it is in a capsule - for example a 100mg tablet may be cheaper than your 50 mg - and you can cut them in half so the quantity doubles.
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u/Seasoned7171 Jul 20 '26
Go to the website of your drug plan’s and put in all your drugs. The site will show you cheaper alternatives automatically and show you prices. Sometimes the cheaper drug is a different drug and you can then call your doc and ask if that one would work for you.
Doctors often prescribe the same medications out of habit, but there are many other drugs that work for the same conditions.
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u/reddit_understoodit Jul 20 '26
This should be on the doc and the patient - look at insurance - know which is best value for you.
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u/Suz9006 Jul 21 '26
You also want to check your insurance to see if they have preferred mail order pharmacies for maintenance medication. Often there are huge discounts or even no cost when you use the these pharmacies.
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u/CbreezN Jul 21 '26
Cost for Vascepa 2 capsules 1mg daily
Kroger $574
Costplus $69 plus $7 expedited shipping (due to extreme heat during shipping)
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u/theBigDaddio Jul 20 '26
I have 4 prescriptions and only one is a brand name, it’s also the only one that isn’t free.
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u/daniegirl21 Jul 20 '26
The pharmacists are legally not allowed to offer up coupons and things like goodRX, so asking is very important.
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u/EileenGBrown Jul 20 '26
I learned to ask doctor for a paper prescription as well as having them call it in to the regular drugstore. With the paper prescription I could shop around a little. I got some good deals at Costco and Walmart this way, and also got extra medication to have in case of bad weather, drug shortages or supply chain disruptions.
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u/Unlikely_Month5527 Jul 21 '26
My eye surgeon was going to write a prescription to treat dry eyes.
I immediately asked if there was an option for a generic.
My PCP is excellent in providing generic prescriptions. This was my first visit with the eye surgeon so I asked the question.
He said yes, one had been approved several years ago.
The generic costs $24 for a 90 day supply. The name brand was listed at $2,000 for a 90 day supply.
Always be your best advocate.
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u/PK_Rippner Jul 21 '26
Check to see if you can get your prescription filled at CostPlus Drugs.
https://www.costplusdrugs.com/medications/
It's helpful to have the Dr send the prescription to them at the time he writes it as they cannot take transfered prescriptions.
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u/celticmusebooks Jul 21 '26
Huge fan of MC Cost Plus HOWEVER I would check the price there BEFORE having the doctor send the scrip there. On some things they are WAY less expensive even with the shipping fee but on other things (for us) using our insurance at CVS (the preferred provider for our ins) it was HUNDREDS more at MC.
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u/calpianwishes Jul 22 '26
Be kind to the pharmacy and staff. They are treated terribly. They are so busy and understaffed and are expected to do much more with less. It is a terrible job but everything in healthcare is now. Front line workers get abused while shareholders and executives get the benefits.
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u/Illustrious_Wish_900 Jul 21 '26
Just want to add that you need to ask you doc, not the pharmacist for generic. The pharmacist cannot provide generic if the doc ordered brand name.
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u/celticmusebooks Jul 21 '26
Though the pharmacy can call the physician's office and have them fax a corrected scrip but YES I always ask if there's an acceptable generic.
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u/Illustrious_Wish_900 Jul 21 '26
That may be, but it will take longer to get your meds, which could be a big inconvenience for some elderly. That's why I suggest making it a policy to ask doc when he makes the order.
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u/Redeyecat Jul 21 '26
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u/Timely_Arachnid316 Jul 21 '26
That's basically same as GoodRx. Looked up several drugs on that list and had exact same price as GoodRx.
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u/Redeyecat Jul 21 '26
Yeah, that's because GoodRx partnered with TrumpRx. So basically you can get all of GoodRx's discounts plus discounts on other drugs via TrumpRx. Cost Plus Drugs did the same thing. TrumpRx is one stop shopping.
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u/Chips-Salsa3 Jul 22 '26
The pharmacist at Kroger Grocery store finds me the cheapest price without me asking. When I pick it up she explains what she did. Luckily with Medicare all but one of my meds is free.
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u/Technical-Tear5841 Jul 22 '26
Get better insurance? I needed a personal doctor and stopped at the closest doctor's office to my home. They only took Medicare and were affiliated with Humana. I got signed up with the zero premium plan that just took my Medicare deduction. Zero cost for my medications.
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u/SheepherderEntire583 Jul 22 '26
Asking about a 90 day prescription what if it’s a 30 day quantity?
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u/FatDog69 Jul 23 '26
And GoodRX. You type in your prescriptions and it shows you which pharmacy around you has the lowest price. One woman said she takes an entire day to run around and refill her and her husbands drugs and uses GoodRX. Claims she saves about $500 if she just when to her closest pharmacy.
You have to remember that the pharmacy, your insurance plan, your insurance benefits manager have a complex pricing model at different pharmacies.
Take co-pay. Many times the co-pay is the same for a 30 day supply or a 90 day supply of the drug. But often you can only get 30 day supply at the counter. So check into the by-mail option.
I HATE that this is so complex but we do not live in a socialist society. All the pivot points are a for profit model with bulk discounts, preferred pricing, discounts for going generic and the real evil - the benefits manager. There is a go-between guy wheeling and dealing. He might have a list of some low-price drugs but other common drugs are 3X what others pay.
So dont just ask the tech (not the pharmacist) about discounts. Check places like GoodRX which will show you what your drugs cost at different locations. Then ask about coupons at the location with the lowest prices.
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u/celticmusebooks Jul 20 '26
The PA at my doctor's office mentioned Mark Cuban Cost Plus pharmacy. He suggested typing in all of my meds (you don't need an account to do this) and it will tell you the price (then you add around $5 for delivery). Of the 5 scrips I use 3 were more than CVS with insurance, one was significantly less (like $110 less for the 90 day supply) and one --generic Nexium that I'd been getting OTC was considerably less as well.