People who do not shop around can get overcharged for generic medications in the US

[jstro]

This article points out the wisdom of making phone calls or research on the prescription items you want to buy. Even on generics prices can vary by a factor of 10 times. Yes you heard right the same drug at Costco for $26.00 can be gotten at Rite Aid for $260.

Buyer beware but do not let the first price you get necessarily be the inhibiting factor. Call around, research. This applies to inside U.S. pharmacies. Overseas should not be used as generally a "fair" comparison unless you are quite certain of the the source.

"Lisa Gill is the editor for prescription drug coverage at Consumer Reports. Last spring she led a survey of more than 200 pharmacies around the country asking the retail prices of five blockbuster drugs that had recently gone generic.
The study found the cost of a month’s supply of generic Plavix, a blood thinner, ranged from $15 at Costco and $12 at an online store …all the way up to 10 to 15 times more at Target and CVS. It was similar for generic Lipitor, used to control cholesterol. Prices ranged from 15 to 17 dollars, up to around 9 times higher at other national chains."


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec13/generics_12-23.html

 

[paco]

I was recently quoted $850 for 10,000 IU of HCG at Walgreens. The same amount at Empower Pharmacy was literally one-tenth the price. Has anyone found great prices on HCG at a conventional pharmacy such as Costco's?

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Paco: Are you kidding? Wow!!

 

[captq]

Definitely the same for generic Viagra / Sildenafil which is 4.50 a pill at CVS and even higher at Target, at Costco was $1.00 for the 20MG which is the only strength it comes in. This goes under the brand name of Revatio.
Frankly I don't know why you would go through all the shipping from India and pill splitting when you can just get the generic here for a dollar a pill.

 

[Re-Ride]

I was recently quoted $850 for 10,000 IU of HCG at Walgreens... Has anyone found great prices on HCG at a conventional pharmacy such as Costco's?

Torrential posted a great resource, goodrx.com. hCG goes for $44 at Walgreens if you grab the goodrx coupon and its more pure than componded. Goodrx searches all local pharms and quotes prices on everything. Play with quantity to get the best price.

Paco, I would report that $850 quote to Walg corporate. Their national price is about $125.

https://www.excelmale.com/forum/sho...-Still-has-the-best-pricing&p=22733#post22733

 

[OMI100]

FYI
ANYONE can use Costco MAIL ORDER pharmacy. You do not need to be a member to use that service, but you will need to have a script called in by your Dr. You can go to their web site and drill down to the pharmacy section and do a price check on the drug you are interested in. You may have to call to see if your med insurance will kick in and lower it any more. I have not used them yet as my insurance coverage and Wal-mart get me a cost similar to Costco's. But I have looked at some items (Armidex) and Costo almost gives it away free, even without insurance.....

 

[OMI100]

Interesting.... Never heard of Revatio..

http://www.goodrx.com/revatio#/?fil...tablet&strength=20mg&quantity=90.0&qty-custom=

 

[Re-Ride]

Orrin, The price with goodrx discount $57, without it is $1,640.

It is syndicated racketeering like this that threatens American health care and why RICO was enacted in 1970. Making matters worse, insurers including Medicare / Medicaid are only able to negotiate a slight discount off the list price thanks to the monopoly cemented in place by the 43rd prez.

Instead of Big Pharma goons being called to the bar for theft of billions RICO is being misused to round up mom and pop bikers having brunch, hold them on million dollar bails or just outright shoot them in the back.

This board is about about pursuing health care but until the true gangs in America are dealt with continued access to that care is in severe and imminent jeopardy.

Complacency merely because one's insurance is currently paying out is destined to end badly for all. Make your voices heard by asking your representatives to explain the glaring disparity and overt immunity afforded to pharma gangsters in the context of the RICO aktion in TX of May 17.

jstro, you lime-lighted an issue of major concern to all here: price scalping. Comparative shopping is a point well taken however only the unified rejection of corprocracy will serve us in the long run as competitive choices evaporate and the rackets grow stronger.