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Why Costco's generic drugs are so cheap

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Posted 4/5/2013 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=4e8c9546-bba6-49f1-a000-5d8281117c36

"Consumer Reports went shopping at 200 pharmacies across the country for a month's supply of five prescription drugs that just went generic: Actos for diabetes, Lexapro for depression, Singulair for asthma, Plavix for blood thinning, and Lipitor for high cholesterol.

What they found was a $749 difference -- that's 447% -- between the $916 price tag at CVS (CVS 0.00%) and the $167 that Costco charged for the same five drugs. For generic Lipitor alone CVS charged $150 to Costco's $17. The generic Lexapro found at CVS for $126 could be had at Costco for $7.

Why such a big difference? Because CVS, Rite Aid (RAD 0.00%) and Walgreen (WAG 0.00%) draw most of their profits from the pharmacy, while Costco, Sam's Club and other discount stores consider their pharmacies throw-ins that help bulk up foot traffic."

From reading the reviews - it looks like you don't have to have a membership at Costco to get meds.
Posted 4/5/2013 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
I love competition and seeing exposures of marketings to we da' people. Locally Meijer's Grocery stores with Pharmacies even offer alot of drugs 'free' now and even for your dogs or pets (very unbelieveable). My doc wrote a script for me and I got it free and my vet wrote one for my dog and I got it free. Pretty hard to trump the 'free' price tag (LOL). This restores my faith in mankind and beautifulness that is possible. Support Costco would be good marketing from us, I go there for food but would consider the Pharma even more now....like to support good behaviors.

Seems our insurance companies would be interested in saving money, but they are not from what I have witnessed over the years. Zoladex shots back in 2002-2004 (like $1300), doc switched me to Lupron after 6 months or so, and now $2,100 per shot. Insurance company didn't flintch, seems they should complain about that $800 difference or tell doc or patient back to Zoladex buddy. Now we have drugs that are pills for PCa costing: $4,350 and $7,000+ per month.....lovely stuff to see.
Posted 4/5/2013 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Before my PCa I bought my Viagra at Costco and they were 50% less than Walgreens and all other pharmacies. . My insurance would not cover my ED meds and they still do not. I do not know about other states but in Alabama you do not have to have a Costco membership to use the Pharmacy. They do require that you join a discount Costco Pharmacy plan, but it is free. It has been a couple of years since I bought from them, but 8 100mg pills of Viagra were about $116 vs Walgreens price of $239. I used a pill splitter and got 16 doses of Viagra from the 8 pills

Post Edited (Water Guy) : 4/5/2013 7:40:22 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/5/2013 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Consumer Reports and Costco ... two of my favorites. I feel they really do look out for the customers, especially when it comes to cost. CVS, not so much.
Posted 4/5/2013 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting thread. When I first got the script for generic Casodex, my insurance company balked at paying. Dr. Scholz sent a letter as part of an appeal and they finally approved it. That really ticked me off, as I wasn't even using it off-label.
Anyway, I started checking prices just in case my insurance was not going to pay and there were huge price differences just among the local pharmacies. It turned out Costco was hundreds of dollars cheaper for even a 3-month supply. Sam's Club was second, but I think I would have had to upgrade my Sam's Club Membership to some higher level status at a cost in order to get it there at a good price. The nearest Costco is about 125 miles away, I think.

Mel

(post edited -- forgot the word "cheaper," and that changed the whole meaning of the post!)

Post Edited (compiler) : 4/5/2013 4:36:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/5/2013 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Mel, in case you even need it, Costco pharmacy can mail fulfilled prescriptions to you.

Terry

Posted 4/5/2013 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
I can get a box of generic Claritin D at Costco for about $6. Anywhere else it's about 15 bucks. This loss leader got me going back to Costco on a regular basis where I also buy fruits and vegetables and other stuff. I have been buying Kirkland coffee beans at Costco for almost 20 years. They are the same as Starbucks house brand but much cheaper.

Ed
Posted 4/5/2013 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
I am so happy to have read this thread.  Thank you so much for the information!

Peace,

Aimzee

Posted 4/6/2013 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
I need to put my Costco card to use.
But good golly, my Costco is SUPER packed with people on Saturday's. Hardly room to walk, let alone use the buggy...lol
Posted 4/6/2013 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
go on Tuesday

Mel

Posted 4/6/2013 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
go at 6pm on sat.
Posted 4/6/2013 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Costco is great. One other alternative for those who can't use Costco--the outpatient pharmacy in your local hospital. Also, a few large companies have a dispensary. Chain pharmacies almost always are the most expensive except for a few generics that they promote as loss leaders. Mail order pharmacy services are not necessarily inexpensive.
Posted 4/6/2013 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
We love the savings at Costco.  However, just after I save $68 on pharmacy and OTC products, I go to a different department and spend $226 on something I really didn't need.  lol turn
Posted 4/6/2013 10:28 PM (GMT 0)

lifeguyd said...
We love the savings at Costco. However, just after I save $68 on pharmacy and OTC products, I go to a different department and spend $226 on something I really didn't need. lol [img]/community/emoticons/turn.gif[/img]

LOL
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