26 replies to this topic

[Sara E A]

I recently had to drop my husband from our insurance coverage, and was wondering if anyone uninsured had tried the costco rx program, and whether it made any kind of difference in costs. I don't know what generics they stock, but I figure they can get a deal with rx like they do everything they sell: the leverage of buying large quantities. What we're looking for is generic wellbutrin, which he tapered off of when he lost his insurance.

[Stacia]

In my limited experience a while ago, it's like the rest of Costco. Some meds are cheaper then elsewhere, some not. On the whole, it's supposed to be good. Still, your best bet is to check with a couple other local pharmacies including Target and the like. Some of the big box stores also have competitive pricing.

[Sara E A]

In my limited experience a while ago, it's like the rest of Costco. Some meds are cheaper then elsewhere, some not. On the whole, it's supposed to be good. Still, your best bet is to check with a couple other local pharmacies including Target and the like. Some of the big box stores also have competitive pricing.

I live in the middle of nowhere, but a new pharmacy is just being built in my town, so I have few options.

[Jerod Poore]

I thought we had a topic about this already. Then again it may have vanished with a lot of previous content.

In my limited experience a while ago, it's like the rest of Costco. Some meds are cheaper then elsewhere, some not. On the whole, it's supposed to be good. Still, your best bet is to check with a couple other local pharmacies including Target and the like. Some of the big box stores also have competitive pricing.

I live in the middle of nowhere, but a new pharmacy is just being built in my town, so I have few options.

Medicare part D(efraud) has killed a lot of pharmacies in small towns and rural areas. The pharmacy I usually use went from being open almost all day on Saturday, to half a day on Saturday, to closed Saturdays. That's never a good sign.

As I recall from the old topic generic bupriopion and other popular antidepressants are available at the big box stores' cheap-ass rates. Don't expect anticonvulsants to be as inexpensive and good luck finding any antipsychotics.

Fun fact: you don't have to be a CostCo member to use their pharmacy. Just ask the person who checks the cards.

[notfred]

Fun fact: you don't have to be a CostCo member to use their pharmacy. Just ask the person who checks the cards.

Sam thing with Sams Club. They tend to have the lowest prices in my area.

nf

[Jerod Poore]

I'm not a Costco member, and I asked if there were additional benefits to joining. They told me that it varies depending on the medication, and that they determine it at the time of sale according to their costs and their agreements with the manufacturers and suppliers, which can vary from time to time. They said sometimes people save a few bucks, but sometimes it's really significant. I didn't ask about the bupropion specifically. The price I paid was the same price shown on their website.

Now that's interesting, and useful.

[eliyah]

I just priced brand-name Lamictal on Costco's website. It's $192 for 60 150-mg pills. If my insurance does what I think it does, that'll cost me half (!!) off what I pay my local pharmacist.

I believe strongly in supporting local businesses, but the difference in copays between $96/month (Costco) and $150/month (local drugstore) is just too big to ignore. Anyways, the local pharmacy is booming; over ten years they've gone from one pharmacist, a few techs, and a couple of old computers to a high-tech operation, two and a half pharmacists, and a gazillion trainees and techs. So I don't think they'll miss my business too much.

Edited by eliyah, 09 December 2008 - 11:35 PM.

[Sduibek]

In my brief experience buying medications out-of-pocket, Costco is the cheapest i've found. For example, I take 20mg Lexapro and there's no generic for it. I called around to get pricing for a 30-day supply, and Costco's price (88$ and change, IIRC) was cheaper than Safeway, Albertson's, Walgreens, Walmart... you get the idea Some of them were charging over 30% more than Costco's no-insurance price. I didn't call Sam's Club, though, so I will have to do so.

Edited by Sduibek, 08 January 2009 - 03:47 PM.

[VAL]

Sduibek

Are you also participating in their prescription drug discount program? I'm curious because I'm bringing in the paperwork for it on Monday or Tuesday and will see if they offered any discounts on the drugs I'm taking. The stuff I buy at costco is cheap to begin with....I get the expensive stuff from patient assistance programs

[Sduibek]

Sduibek

Are you also participating in their prescription drug discount program? I'm curious because I'm bringing in the paperwork for it on Monday or Tuesday and will see if they offered any discounts on the drugs I'm taking. The stuff I buy at costco is cheap to begin with....I get the expensive stuff from patient assistance programs

I am not at this time. Sorry I may not have even added anything useful with my post above I was able to finally get my employer's insurance (covers Rx) to kick in, but the prices are pretty similar. I don't think the price for Lexapro changed at all. From what I understand the Costco program and others like it unfortunately only apply if you have no coverage. Shit I might even be better off with that instead of my current crappy Rx coverage. lol.

[R.P McMurphy]

I picked up a bupropion (generic wellbutrin) prescription today at Costco. They stock the Sandoz version. I got 60 150 mg tablets of the SR for $56.17 - the same prescription used to cost me about $95 at my old pharmacy. I have seen it listed for even less from various sources online, but not from any pharmacies I recognized. It doesn't seem to be on the Walgreens or Target $4 lists.

I'm not a Costco member, and I asked if there were additional benefits to joining. They told me that it varies depending on the medication, and that they determine it at the time of sale according to their costs and their agreements with the manufacturers and suppliers, which can vary from time to time. They said sometimes people save a few bucks, but sometimes it's really significant. I didn't ask about the bupropion specifically. The price I paid was the same price shown on their website. If you google costco pharmacy pricing it will take you to the page.

I did the same. I'm a Costco member and I also have the Sandoz 150SR generic Wellbutrin. It cost me $44 for 60.
That was $60-70 cheaper than CVS, Walgreens, and Publix. Walmart was 2nd cheapest at about $60 for 60.
Thank god for Costco, otherwise I wouldnt be able to afford it.

[egodystonic_james]

Yep, that's correct: You have a right to use Sam's Club and Costco Pharmacies even if you aren't a member of Sam's or Costco. I thought I'd post this so if someone out there didn't know that, they will now. Just go to the front door and tell them you're going to the pharmacy. They have to let you in.
James

Edited by egodystonic_james, 30 April 2010 - 08:31 PM.

[egodystonic_james]

Wow, thanks for the info about getting deeper discounts on meds by getting a membership to Costco and Sam's.

As far as trying to pay cash for atypical antipsychotics, try, try, try to see if generic Risperdal (risperidone) will work. It is the only atypical that is generic, and definately call around to get quotes of cash prices. They can vary wildly. I called the local Sam's, and without a membership the cost of 60 2 mg Risperidone's is $172, which is not bad because that is a therapeutic dose. The next lowest cash-price comparable dose of an atypical, Geodon, is over $500.

However, Zyprexa (olanzapine) and possibly Seroquel (quetiapine) are going generic in 2011. So probably in the next few years the second-generation antipsychotics will be available at much lower prices.
James

Edited by egodystonic_james, 30 April 2010 - 08:47 PM.

[korey1015]

As far as trying to pay cash for atypical antipsychotics, try, try, try to see if generic Risperdal (risperidone) will work. It is the only atypical that is generic...

I think Clozaril is also generic, but it's probably not very practical for prn use like Risperdal can be.

[egodystonic_james]

Oops, I always forget clozapine. Good point!

James

[VAL]

I went to the costco pharmacy for years without belonging but joined when I filled out the paperwork for their prescription program. My more expensive meds are free through the pharma co's but I take several cheaper generics. I only save a few dollars on each one but it adds up and made joining worth it...I also get those giant bottles of ibuprophen and use the generic zantac and it's much cheaper there and you do need a membership card to buy the over the counter pharmacy stuff.

[egodystonic_james]

Ummm....yeah, I feel pretty stupid because it seems that everyone already knows about this. I was just trying to help people out.
James

[R.P McMurphy]

Ummm....yeah, I feel pretty stupid because it seems that everyone already knows about this. I was just trying to help people out.
James

You helped me out, I wouldnt have thought to check Costco if not for this thread...also wouldnt have known to avoid Teva generic WB, Thanks.

[egodystonic_james]

Cool! You made this thread worth it !! Anyway, I certainly didn't know until this week that you didn't have to be a member to use their pharmacies.

James

[eliyah]

Here's a little whining for ya'all. I forget which med it was, but a few years ago I found that Costco's online listed price without insurance was way less than Medco's total price (copay plus what they covered). But when I called to see if it was true, Costco said yes, but that my co-pay would be the same because the insurance company took the entire savings. I can't even describe the incredibly stupid and insane explanation Medco's pharmacy people gave me. So if you have insurance, check the copay first in case they'll screw you like mine does.

[VAL]

Why did you have it run through insurance at all? I never put my cheaper meds through when I had insurance. Some of my drugs are around five dollars (like xanax and klonopin) and the minimum co-pay was $10.00...so screw that.

[Serpens]

Hello all. I am one of the unlucky uninsured anxiety ridden depressed people I just started on venlafaxine hcl xr 35.7 mg again (although it was regular Effexor before) and the generic cost me 95 dollars at Rite Aid (which was cheaper than Walmart). For a 30 day prescription. I almost wept. I don't have a job right now and I'm a student/waitress most of the time. I was looking up the Cosco prices (I think the nearest one is a 1.5 hour drive but whatev) and the venlafaxine hcl xr is MORE than the Rite Aid price, but the plain venlafaxine hcl is around 15 bucks for a 30 day prescription. Say what!!!

Is there that large a difference between the regular and xr versions? Would it be worth it to ask my Dr to switch me to the regular vhcl? She wanted to put me on Lexapro (whatever the generic similar to it is) which is on the Walmart 4 dollar program, but I already know Effexor works. I'm afraid one day I'll run out of money and I can scrounge up 15 dollars a lot easier than I can 95 dollars!

The generic Effexor XR is a newly release generic. It has been on the market for less than a few months. At $95, the price has come down a bit already. It will likely come down more as January approaches, and other generic manufacturers ready to release their copies of the drug. Controlled release drugs are expensive to develop and manufacture, hence the price difference.

There is a significant difference between the XR and immediate release versions of Effexor. They are not directly substitutable drugs. While you may be able to switch, it would require different dosing and may not be effective, though you also may find it just as effective. It's an option worth considering.

There are patient assistance for Effexor. You may qualify: http://www.needymeds...name=Effexor XR . You can also look into your state's Medicaid program.