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15. Insurance or private discount drug store

Tue Nov 27, 2012, 12:59 PM

Nov 2012

If you have insurance -- even if its an otherwise fairly crappy high deductible plan -- the pricing will be much more reasonable after they apply their negotiated discounts.

If you don't have insurance, look for a "discount pharmacist" or local independent and call around. Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc. are MUCH higher -- often by a factor of 10 or more on generic drugs.

Also, the discount cards you can get through AARP, AAA, etc. are worthwhile if you do not have drug coverage as they get you negotiated rates.

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Well now I know personally why our insurance is so high [View all] madmom Nov 2012 OP

I am curious. DURHAM D Nov 2012 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author Tikki Nov 2012 #7

Yes it was. madmom Nov 2012 #8

Sorry this happened to you. DURHAM D Nov 2012 #14

I got really bad stomach pains. At first I thought it madmom Nov 2012 #26

do some research on statin drugs if you haven't already. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #45

REALLY do some research on statins, please. dixiegrrrrl Nov 2012 #59

I'm pretty sure the nurse said madmom Nov 2012 #67

Another reason to demand (nicely) for a copy of your lab results. dixiegrrrrl Nov 2012 #69

Thanks for the tips, I am currently madmom Nov 2012 #72

Cholestorol racket in the US is absolute. kickysnana Nov 2012 #2

+1 sarcasmo Nov 2012 #6

Then there is the third group nadinbrzezinski Nov 2012 #11

And sometimes the statins don't even help. VenusRising Nov 2012 #54

I am sorry for your loss nadinbrzezinski Nov 2012 #62

Thank you. VenusRising Dec 2012 #74

We were lab rats for the vitamin E studies nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #75

Eat oatmeal every day. Lotsa fiber, go easy on meat and butter and stuff like that. nt MADem Nov 2012 #29

++ kickysnana Nov 2012 #66

Paid $100 for pinkeye medicine last week (about half an ounce) AngryAmish Nov 2012 #3

Ouch! LeftInTX Nov 2012 #16

Paid $65 with no insurance for 4th generation cephacor (antibiotic) Panasonic Nov 2012 #18

But PHARMA got their deal first hootinholler Nov 2012 #4

C'mon. The one percent need their yachts. nt woo me with science Nov 2012 #5

My dog's lifetime seizure medication used to be cheap... tridim Nov 2012 #9

Boy oh boy LeftInTX Nov 2012 #17

No, don't "work" for them. Better you should "own" them. SharonAnn Nov 2012 #57

What kinda dog do you have? Panasonic Nov 2012 #19

Boston Terrier. tridim Nov 2012 #36

One of my favorite breeds! Panasonic Nov 2012 #39

I don't understand how anyone could be terrified of a Boston or a Pug. tridim Nov 2012 #41

What is she on? Is that the "PetMeds" price? nt MADem Nov 2012 #31

Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide. tridim Nov 2012 #35

Don't wait--let your fingers do the walking. Find out if you can get it at Walmart or Target, too. MADem Nov 2012 #42

Seems too good to be true, but I'll definitely check it out. tridim Nov 2012 #58

I have a dog that needs denamarin for liver issues. MADem Nov 2012 #70

I take migraine medication former-republican Nov 2012 #10

yeah, the price hasn't really come down at all since imitrex's monopoly expired. unblock Nov 2012 #32

The price of Imitrex is actually going UP. subterranean Nov 2012 #56

unfortunately imitrex affect my mood in a way that zomig doesn't, and i don't think there's unblock Nov 2012 #61

We need single payer for many reasons nadinbrzezinski Nov 2012 #12

It's all about the money RegieRocker Nov 2012 #13

It's not even the docs who are doing it. Jackpine Radical Nov 2012 #22

yes, and I find Doctors to be more liberal and democratic in their thinking vs. Pharmacists Tuesday Afternoon Nov 2012 #38

The OP RegieRocker Nov 2012 #52

Insurance or private discount drug store Sgent Nov 2012 #15

I have insurance through my hubby's work.. madmom Nov 2012 #27

I buy all my medications from Canada. n/t RebelOne Nov 2012 #20

Canada Negotiates for Prescription Drugs as One Nation Yavin4 Nov 2012 #21

I worked at a pharmacy in 1979 OkieGranny Nov 2012 #23

Competition is what should regulate prices - Why can't we buy from Canada? socialindependocrat Nov 2012 #24

Before "S & D" comes, always, "What The Buyer Will Bear." WinkyDink Nov 2012 #64

What the buyer will bear is allowed because of lack of competition socialindependocrat Nov 2012 #71

Yes, but how many multi-million pharma execs are there in Canada? ehrnst Nov 2012 #25

There are a bunch of them. It's very easy to check on facts like this. slackmaster Nov 2012 #34

I posted this in another thread yesterday - my experience buying drugs with no insurance - djean111 Nov 2012 #28

Why would Costco be around a tenth of the price for the same drug? SheilaT Nov 2012 #37

How does that happen?? Tuesday Afternoon Nov 2012 #40

Military-related? MADem Nov 2012 #43

Thank you, but his PTSD is from two pretty frightening things that happened to him on jobs. djean111 Nov 2012 #49

Good grief--you'd think his employer (or former employer) could be brought to the bar and MADem Nov 2012 #55

Are no generics available? dixiegrrrrl Nov 2012 #60

Those are generics. (n/t) djean111 Nov 2012 #73

Yep, we're expensive guinea-pigs, but TPTB on this'll be good-god damned before RU486 or patrice Nov 2012 #30

It IS available--albeit through restricted channels--in USA. MADem Nov 2012 #47

Thanks for the info. Perhaps I'm thinking of other "emergency contraception"/monring-after drugs. nt patrice Nov 2012 #50

The reason is the patent on the active ingredient in Crestor expired in February 2012 in Canada... slackmaster Nov 2012 #33

a video everyone thinking of Statins should see.. trekbiker Nov 2012 #44

Thanks for posting. DURHAM D Nov 2012 #65

ditto eom catrose Nov 2012 #68

Health, education, and justice, three fields in which profit has no place. Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #77

You can bring it down by taking flax seed and fish oil glowing Nov 2012 #46

Oatmeal! Swimming! nt MADem Nov 2012 #48

I do take fish liver oil - and does wonders. Panasonic Nov 2012 #53

Crestor is rosuvastatin calcium, Astra Zeneca has patent protection to 2016, it can set prices. FarCenter Nov 2012 #51

My husband's pills (different from OP's) are $1/each, $30/month, also. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #63

I was taking Crestor, the package said the retail price was $174 for 30 doc03 Dec 2012 #76

the doctors REALLY push these bbgrunt Dec 2012 #78