There are many options to save on drug prices by shopping around. Even if your insurance covers prescription drugs, you may find that it costs less to purchase some drugs using self-pay than going through insurance:
Why a patient paid a $285 copay for a $40 drug
Prescription Drugs May Cost More With Insurance Than Without It
Check prices at your local discount stores such as Costco or Walmart as they offer lower prices for certain drugs. Local independent pharmacies also usually offer lower prices than large pharmacy chains.
The list of online discount pharmacies is continuing to grow. Amazon is also starting to offer certain pharmaceuticals by mail order.
Another way to save on prescription drugs is to ask your doctor or pharmacist if a generic alternative is available for the drug you need. These are priced lower than brand name drugs of the same formulation.
| GoodRx | www.goodrx.com | |
| WeRx | www.werx.org | |
| Rx Price Quotes | www.rxpricequotes.com | |
| Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug Company | markcubancostplusdrugcompany.com | |
| DiRx | dirxhealth.com |
| GoodRx: |
| www.goodrx.com |
| WeRx: |
| www.werx.org |
| Rx Price Quotes: |
| www.rxpricequotes.com |
| Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug Company |
| markcubancostplusdrugcompany.com |
Looking for Discount Lab Work (Labs?)
There are various independent national lab chains that offer laboratory services. Their self-pay prices can be 80 percent lower than what is charged through hospitals and insurance. There are also online labs emerging that offer home kits for some types of laboratory work.
You can start by either googling for a lab location near you or by visiting the companies' websites to see locations. Most DPC and direct specialty care providers also have access to discounted lab prices and pass them on to patients.
| Laboratory Corporation (LabCorp) | www.labcorp.com |
| Quest Diagnostics | www.questdiagnostics.com |
| Laboratory Corporation (LabCorp) |
| www.labcorp.com |
| Quest Diagnostics |
| www.questdiagnostics.com |
Discounted Lab Services
There are various companies that offer discounted lab services. Many of these companies use LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics, and have already negotiated lower prices with them. Note: Not all labs may be available on such sites and some states prohibit use of these services.
| First Choice Labs | https://firstchoicelabsusa.com | |
| Discounted Labs | https://discountedlabs.com | |
| Ulta Lab Tests | https://ultalabtests.com | |
| Direct Laboratory Services | https://directlabs.com | |
| PersonLabs | https://personalabs.com | |
| Affordable Labs | https://affordablelabsinc.com | |
| Link2Labs | https://link2labs.com/ |
| First Choice Labs: |
| firstchoicelabsusa.com |
| Discounted Labs: |
| discountedlabs.com |
| Ulta Lab Tests: |
| ultalabtests.com |
| Direct Laboratory Services: |
| directlabs.com |
| PersonLabs: |
| personalabs.com |
| Affordable Labs: |
| affordablelabsinc.com |
| Link2Labs: |
| link2labs.com |
| Health Labs: |
| healthlabs.com |
Looking for Urgent Care?
There are approximately 10,000 urgent care clinics in the US and growing. Urgent care clinics are a good option to get timely urgent care at usually fixed low prices for low intensity symptoms, such as fever, aches and pains, cuts and bruises. The Urgent Care Association claims that 90% of things that patients go to ER can be treated at Urgent Care. You can find urgent care centers easily by searching the Internet for ‘Urgent Care near me’. Note that if you think you have a serious or life threatening condition, you should call 911 or go to an ER.
Looking for Primary Care?
Studies have shown that having a primary care doctor and getting regular and preventative primary care improves wellbeing and long term health. If you have insurance, most preventative care should be covered with a copay and you should be able to get a primary care doctor through your plan. If you do not have insurance, Direct Primary Care (DPC) doctors offer reasonable monthly subscription plans that takes care of primary care and some urgent care needs. You can search the internet for ‘Direct Primary Care near me’ and be able to locate DPC practices.
The content provided here and elsewhere on the shopMD site is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended
as, and shopMD does not provide, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always contact your healthcare provider directly
with any questions you may have regarding your health or specific medical advice.
If you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your closest emergency room immediately.