TAMPA, Fla. -- The average American pays more than a $1,000 every year for medications, more than any other country in the world, but Taking Action Reporter Jackie Callaway found customers could save big bucks by shopping around and using drug comparison websites.
Marisa Langford said she typically spends $300 each month on prescription drugs because three of her four children rely on daily medications for long-term conditions, including diabetes.
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ABC Action News asked Langford to compare her prescription prices on three websites, which claim to slash prescription costs: goodrx.com, blinkhealth.com and hellohippo.com.
GoodRx found Langford a savings of $120 on her daughter’s insulin.
While GoodRx provides a side-by-side price comparison, Blink Health shows customers where to find pharmacies with the lowest prices. But unfortunately for Langford, only two identified by the site – Walmart and Albertsons – are local.
“This is really super helpful,” Langford said.
At Hello Hippo, customers must provide a cell phone number in exchange for a free prescription card with access to discounted drug prices through both big box retailers and smaller local pharmacies.
Experts said you should shop around for the best prescription prices, even if you have insurance. That’s because the co-pay for some prescriptions may cost more than the discounted price offered online.
While that out-of-pocket cost may not count toward your insurance deductible, it could offer a short-term solution to a hefty prescription price tag.
