Publix Drug Program

[DannyW]

I have had some health problems in my life, some quite serious, but am now relatively healthy. This is helped by meds, currently I take 7 different medications daily.

It’s time to get my 90 day refills so I went to the online pharmacy used by my insurance company. I requested the drugs needed and was shocked by the cost when it was time to checkout. I then remembered recently hearing about a new prescription drug program at Publix where you pay $7.50 each for a 90 day supply of some commonly used medications.

I went to the Publix pharmacy website and looked at the drugs offered under this program. I wasn’t expecting much so imagine my surprise when I discovered 5 of the 7 meds I take daily were included in the program.

It sounded too good to be true so I was still expecting some kind of issue when I took the 5 scripts to Publix today. But dang…they filled all 5 with 90 day quantities and charged me $37.50…total. These same 5 drugs would have cost me $254.19 if I had ordered them through the online pharmacy. I saved almost $220 by going to Publix.

Now some of the drugs are generic, and some are not, but you might be surprised at the list of drugs they offer under the $7.50 program. I am not sure how they do it, I’m guessing these are “loss leaders” to get you into their store to buy their groceries and other drugs not covered under the plan. But I really don’t care…this saves me nearly $900 after tax dollars a year.

Check it out.

 

[Hooty Hoot]

Well...…………..That shows you what a racket the pharmaceutical business is. One of the stated reasons for government is to protect its people and they won't do it. It's really kind of disgusting when you realize that we are all just a bunch of milk cows being milked twice a day. But thanks for the customer service announcement. I'm all about saving money and beating the system.

 

[NOYDB]

And your various prices will continue to rise. Obama care is a huge rip off for the average consumer and the various online sites are just passing on the cost rises they were promised to support Obama care passing.

 

[transfixer]

Insurance company pharmacies are a ripoff, in fact the pharmacy coverage by most insurance companies is a rip off, one of my prescriptions is cheaper if I self pay instead of putting it through my insurance, and I've got a couple friends that have the same type situation.

That being said, the pharmaceutical industry is probably the biggest legitimized thievery in the United States today, and they freely line the pockets of the politicians in Washington to make sure it stays that way.

I do believe Publix does that to get customers into their stores, I like their stores, although there isn't one convenient to where I live, their stores are always clean and brightly lit, even if their prices are higher on most items I regularly buy.

 

[KyDawg]

Seems like I have been in my donut hole all year. With the cost of my meds, I get in that hole pretty quick, but slow to get out of it. They are killing me, I will check with krogers. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Silver Britches]

This may also be very helpful to you. https://www.goodrx.com

 

[JackSprat]

Insurance company pharmacies are a ripoff, in fact the pharmacy coverage by most insurance companies is a rip off, one of my prescriptions is cheaper if I self pay instead of putting it through my insurance, and I've got a couple friends that have the same type situation.

I run into this. One of the world's most common generic drugs, co-pay is like $20.00. $4.00 on the pharmacy "budget plan"

I asked them why I was having to pay $20, "because that's what the insurance company pays".

So i said, "well don't submit it through insurance I'll just pay cash" and they looked at me like I had started speaking in tongues. "you want to do what?"

"Give you $4 for a drug you are perfectly willing to charge me $20 for no reason other than greed"

 

[hipster dufus]

publix also has some meds for free. i have been price shopping for years. very rarely do i use my insurance. kroger will price match with publix and walmart.u have to just ask the questions of ur dr. i print out the 4$ price list from walmart and publix before i go to drs. if i mail order from insurance it is 20$ for 90 days. if i go to kroger it is 10$. now it will be 7.50.. be an informrd consumer.

 

[specialk]

Been using publix for a few years...they got an app for that...easy peasy....

 

[10th Legion]

Check with your local independent pharmacy too (full disclosure, I am an independent pharmacist). Here's the truth, most of the drugs on those $4, $7.50, etc drug lists actually cost fractions of a penny per pill. Go to an independent and most times they will match or beat those prices if they can get all your business. Here's a couple of the secrets. We sign a contract with a PBM (pharmacy benefit manager) who handles your insurance. A part of those contracts that I sign states that I cannot tell you if a drug is cheaper without insurance UNLESS YOU ASK. If I just tell you the cash price, they could cancel my contract which would make it impossible to compete with the chains. Also, I don't get to keep all of that $20 copay. Nope, the PBM hits me with fees so they can keep the majority of the copay (google prescription clawback for a better understanding). Very often, I would make more money selling it to you as a cash customer, and you would pay less out of pocket.
PBM's are the problem, complain to your insurance company and more importantly representatives/senators if you want real change. Also, take all of your prescriptions to an independent, tell them what you are currently paying out of pocket, ASK IF THEY ARE CHEAPER WITHOUT INSURANCE, and I'll bet they will beat the other prices.
Last note, GoodRx is nothing but a middle man for chain pharmacies. They add no value to the transaction. In most cases, my cash prices are cheaper than the price advertised on GoodRx

 

[NOYDB]

Drug as on everything else, the retailer wants the most money from you as they can get. Shop OFTEN for some things the prices change every time you ask.

 

[Oldstick]

My money lies on what 10'th Legion said. From years and years of experience as a pharmacy and insurance customer.

 

[specialk]

My independent pharmacy closed down and moved 20 miles away a few years ago......

 

[Bow Only]

PBM's are the problem. DIR fees are going to kill pharmacy unless something can be done about it. Fred's paid $26 million dollars in DIR fees last year. That is part of the reason they are currently selling their pharmacy assets.

 

[georgia357]

PBM's are the problem. DIR fees are going to kill pharmacy unless something can be done about it. Fred's paid $26 million dollars in DIR fees last year. That is part of the reason they are currently selling their pharmacy assets.

Is Fred's getting out of the pharmacy business?

 

[Bow Only]

Is Fred's getting out of the pharmacy business?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucej...-firm-to-sell-retail-pharmacies/#533f272820ac

 

[washeduppickle]

Yep. I get my generic Zyrtec from them. $7.50 for 90 pills. Even the generic at Walmart would run me roughly $25 or more for 90 pills.

 

[dslc6487]

I must comment on this topic. Never heard of PBM until I read these posts. Still don't know what DIR means. I admit, up front, that as far as drugs and prescriptions go, I am lucky. Today, all of mine are free. Paid for mine back in 1969 in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam. I am a highly decorated, disabled, combat veteran of the Vietnam War, and, I have the paperwork and the scars to prove it. I am 72 years old and take quite a bit of medication. If I had to pay for my medication, I would have to choose, do I eat this week, or, do I buy my medication. That is no way for the average American citizen to live, especially those that have worked hard all of their lives to try to have a nice retirement and end up spending the majority of it on health insurance and drugs. I don't have the answer to the problem, but, I do know that the "greed" that exists all areas of the pharmaceutical industry enters very heavily into the equation. And, I do know what will eventually happen if the problem is not addressed by our politicians and every one that is a part of the pharmaceutical network. In the past, those people that call themselves conservatives, like me, and have always frowned upon "big" government will finally be put in a situation where they will have no other choice, but to let the government take care of their health care costs and medications. They willl be forced, by their own conscience, to vote for such changes. Hence, enter the vicious cycle of "socialism" where all of our needs will be met by government standards and all of our freedoms will be taken away. Sadly, we are almost there already. Only by the Grace of God and the election of President Trump have we been able to keep socialism at bay.
My own personal thoughts, I am sure there are those that disagree.
Good hunting and fishing to each and every one..

 

[JustUs4All]

Thank you for your service dslc6487. We have similar stories except that I got back with no physical damage. I appreciate where you are coming from and agree with most of your post.

I have no connection with the medical or pharmaceutical industry other than seeing doctors and taking pills.

The Pharmacy system is rigged in favor of the big players. This was accomplished through the typical means of lobbying (buying off) the proper peope in the Govt. There are still some innocents in the "pharmaceutical network" and many small independent pharmacists are among them. I suspect that 10th Legion is one of these.

 

[elfiii]

The Pharmacy system is rigged in favor of the big players.

Pharmaceutical companies negotiate national contracts with the insurance companies. In so doing the pricing to you the consumer is based on the insurance company's drug formulary as well as the number of annual doses the insurance company guarantees for each specific drug. A higher number of guaranteed doses reduces the price and vice versa. That's why when you apply for health insurance coverage the insurance company wants to know if you have any Rx's and whether they are temporary or ongoing maintenance drugs.

Rx's are one of the biggest cost drivers related to health insurance.