Written and medically reviewed by Dorcas Morak, Pharm.D
Prescription discount cards, coupons, and apps are making a big difference for people managing chronic conditions. They help ease the burden of rising medication costs and provide a lifeline for those who need affordable options. Data from IQVIA shows that more and more people are using these cards, especially for generic medications and across different therapeutic areas. This trend underscores the importance of prescription discount programs in tackling medication affordability and providing relief to people managing chronic diseases.
How Expensive is Chronic Care in the United States?
Chronic care in the United States is very expensive, severely affecting the financial stability of individuals with chronic health conditions. In 2023, the average healthcare coverage cost for individuals with chronic conditions reached $6,032 annually—five times higher than for those without such conditions. Medication costs, especially for specialty drugs and biologics, have spiked recently. For example, the every-other-week regimen of adalimumab (Humira) now exceeds $9,000. These high costs often compel patients to make tough decisions such as switching medications, skipping doses, or splitting pills to extend prescriptions, all of which can harm their health.
What are Prescription Discount Cards and Coupons?
Prescription discount cards and coupons provide significant savings to patients, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured for branded and generic drugs. These programs operate by securing discounted rates with participating pharmacies. Discounts can vary among pharmacies and programs, but they often significantly cut medication costs. For uninsured or underinsured people, prescription discount programs provide crucial support, ensuring access to necessary medicines without the usual financial burden.
At RxLess, our mission is to ensure our member’s path to long-term wellness is accessible, affordable, and accurate. Filling prescriptions can often be more of a stressor than a relief, due to expensive and unexpected pricing. We built our company to change that. We believe that prescriptions should always be available at affordable prices. All the discounts listed on RxLess are free to use. There is a small fee included in the price that we earn only when you save with our program. We do not make money by selling your data or by spamming you with advertising.
How do Prescription Discount Programs Improve Medication Affordability?
Consider a patient with a chronic anaphylactic condition requiring an EpiPen. A package of 2 EpiPen auto-injectors costs around $650 to $700 without insurance. If the patient needs to purchase 6 EpiPens annually, the cost totals $3,900 to $4,200 annually. And that’s just for EpiPen. The patient may also have diabetes or other chronic conditions. With the RxLess discount program, the price of an EpiPen can drop to around $105, potentially lower depending on the pharmacy and location. Buying 6 EpiPens would then cost just $630 a year. This means the patient could save between $3,270 and $3,570 annually on this medication alone. The savings would increase further if RxLess is applied to other medications the patient needs.
How to Use Prescription Discount Programs.
Using the prescription discount programs on Rxless is simple:
- Get the Rxless App or Card: Visit rxless.com to get your free savings card or medication-specific coupon, or download the free app.
- Search Medications: Use RxLess’s Real-Time Price Finder in the app for the most accurate prices on-the-go or the website's pricing tool.
- Compare Prices: The app and website help you locate the pharmacy offering the lowest price for your prescription.
- Save with RxLess: Present your Rxless card, coupon, or app at the pharmacy for significant medication discounts.
Prescription discount programs play a crucial role in making medication affordable and ensuring adherence for those with chronic conditions. By using RxLess for your prescriptions, you can obtain your medications without experiencing the usual financial strain. Follow these steps to get your discounts without any privacy concerns.
