@FicoMike0 wrote:
That's interesting, @AndrewF
How does goodrx gold work, is it direct mail order?
I usually check goodrx when I get a new script, but not familiar with gold version.
My most recent drug is eliquis, 5 mg x 2, 30 days. My insurance co pay is $62, good rx offers a coupon at Kroger for $350.
GoodRX Gold works the same way the GoodRX app already does except you pay for it. It's either $9.99 a month or $89.99 a year (paid in one lump), and once your account is "Gold", you see better prices at participating "Gold" pharmacies that have worked out better deals with GoodRX for this program.
You also get a consistent member card for Gold where all the numbers and stuff change depending on pharmacy and prescription under the free version of GoodRX. So once your Gold is on file, you always use that card to fill the prescriptions.
Some participating pharmacies have lower prices than their Gold contract if you're a member. For example, Costco has lower pharmacy prices for Costco members than their Gold contract. (Anyone can use the pharmacy at Costco or Sam's due to the laws in most states. You tell the greeter that you're not a member but you're there to use the pharmacy.)
But CVS, Walgreens, and Jewel can be a better savings with Gold and CVS has an additional discount for 180 day fills (so does Meijer, but the closest one is a 28 minute drive). You can verify whether you'll save more by switching that medicine and dosage to the number of pills you take over 180 days.
For example, one prescription that I take one pill per day is $34 for 90, or $37 for 180. Another one where I take 3 pills per day (270 for 90 days or 540 for 180 days) is $55 for the 90 day supply vs $77 for the 180 day supply.
CVS is interested in selling in bulk so they pass those discounts to you because they sell more meds at once, and the pharmacist tends to use less time, less bottles, and they only pay to run GoodRX one time instead of twice (GoodRX bills the pharmacy about $3 each time they run it).
If you want, you can call the 800 number and request a physical Gold Card, but it's already on your phone as soon as you sign up. You get a free trial first.
Gold also lets you use $19 telehealth visits. I did it once for a sinus infection, and I spoke with an NP in Minnesota, but she was able to call in some Tesselon Perles and antibiotics to Jewel. I also did it for my spouse and they called in Tamiflu when he had the flu.
I recommend keeping some combination flu and COVID test kits in your bathroom mirror because it helps if you come down with flu or COVID to be able to tell them that's what it is so they can call in antivirals. And if it's negative, that rules it out, so they know it's something else.
I like the $19 telehealth because if I go to the walk in clinic my copay usually ends up being about $40-50.
I'm seeing enough savings over the year that Gold is saving me well over $100 a year over the price of the membership, so it makes sense for me. The more prescriptions you fill with it and get the better price, the more likely you will benefit from the membership level.
I've checked SingleCare and BuzzRX, and rarely do I find competitive prices on those.
GoodRX also has a program where you get $1 worth of points every time you fill any prescription with GoodRX. You can redeem those for gift cards or money off your next refill.
I always take them as gift cards though.
Gold has a slightly higher fee if you want a family plan.
You do not all need to live in the same household and it lets you add 5 additional people, and costs $179.99 a month.
So potentially you get an even better deal since they all get their own Gold card and you rack up the points for their fills as well.
Gold does have a mail order option, but your mileage may vary with prices.
They will help you transfer fills from a pharmacy to Gold Home Delivery if you call their 800 number, so if you do find it more convenient or lower priced then you can easily move them over. There are also instructions for having your doctor send them in.
Really if you're into mail order and want good prices, check out Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs.
They have decent prices. They can only give you the price for 90 days worth up front when you check, but it says that they can process a fill for any amount your doctor writes. So if you want to see if there are 180 day fill savings, you could call them or just have the doctor send it, and find out I guess.
