Key facts
- A patient's 90-day supply of a generic drug was quoted at $618 by Walgreens.
- A QR code coupon reduced the price to $15 for the 90-day supply.
- Pharmacy discount programs like GoodRx earn fees by directing customers to pharmacies.
- Pharmacies offer varied prices based on insurance, PBMs, or discount programs.
A patient seeking a 90-day supply of a generic drug, which was not covered by their insurance, was initially quoted $618 by Walgreens. The situation dramatically changed when the patient utilized a QR code coupon found at the pharmacy. This coupon, initially for a 30-day supply priced at $15, was surprisingly applied by Walgreens to the full 90-day prescription, reducing the cost from $618 to just $15.
The patient questioned how discount programs like GoodRx, which provided a separate coupon for a 30-day supply at $22, generate revenue. The explanation provided is that these platforms direct customers to network pharmacies and earn referral fees from pharmacy-benefit managers (PBMs) or the pharmacies themselves for processing these discounted transactions. Unlike drug manufacturers, these discount services do not profit by promoting specific medications but rather by facilitating sales through their network.
This experience highlights the significant price variations for medications depending on the purchasing channel. Other individuals have shared similar stories of substantial savings through discount programs when their insurance coverage was insufficient or absent, finding lower prices at different pharmacies or through these discount services.