Prescription Drug Discount Services Not Always Patient-Centered

One of the many ways to purchase prescription drugs is to use a discount program, such as GoodRx or Amazon pharmacy services. However, despite a cheaper up-front price tag, using these services means that payment for drugs isn’t counted in a patient’s deductible, leading to higher downstream costs.

The amount people pay out of pocket for their medication is tied to secretive contracts among pharmacy benefit managers, health insurers, distributors, pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and other entities. When people decide to use discount programs like GoodRx (now a publicly traded company) or go to cash-only pharmacies, they are no longer using their insurance — and thus any amount they pay doesn’t go toward deductibles and out-of-pocket limits.” Read more here.

(Source: Bob Herman, Axios, 5/26/21)