Some Patients Paying as Much as $85 for a Three-Month Supply of Thyroid Medication Levoxyl
Wednesday May 7, 2008
Consumer Reports has released a study that found that the same bottle of pills can vary by as much as $100 or more, depending on the pharmacy you're using. To conduct the study, Consumer Reports contacted 163 pharmacies around the country, to evaluate the different prices for three name brand prescription drugs, and one generic medicine. Levoxyl (the brand-name levothyroxine medication for hypothyroidism) had prices ranging from $29 to $85 for a three-month supply. The drug Detrol, prescribed for urinary incontinence, had prices ranging from $365 to $551. Plavix (a drug for preventing blood clots), ranged in price from $382 to $541. The generic drug alendronate for osteoporosis ranged from $124 to $306.According to Consumer Reports, Costco had the lowest prices for the four drugs, followed by AARP.com and Wal-Mart. Among the most expensive were drugstore chains Walgreens and Rite-Aid.
Here are some helpful ways to save on prescription medications:
- Call different stores and comparison shop.
- Consider independent drugstores -- some have competitive prices, and they may offer better service than chains.
- Check with your employer's benefits administrator, to see if you have any pharmacy benefits.
- Buy generics when applicable -- they can cost 20 to 50 percent less than their brand name equivalents. (Note, however, that most thyroid experts do not recommend generic levothyroxine).
- Look into discount programs: some stores have programs for those 50 and older; other programs are open to anyone without insurance.
- Remember that Wal-Mart, Target, Sam's and Kroger offer many generic medications for a flat rate of $4 for a month's supply.
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I just refilled my prescription at Costco, using the discount I get from AAA, and it only cost $25.20. I saved over $10. It is useful to look into whether any of the associations you belong to have prescription drug discount programs. I used to get it filled at the HMO I belong to, but the co-pay was more than cost at Costco.
My prescription was $120 for a 3 month supply through our insurer’s mail-order pharmacy plan. It is $4 for a month’s supply at WalMart! Don’t assume your insurance provides the most economical supply.
“Among the most experience were drugstore chains Walgreens and Rite-Aid.”
???Is it ‘experience’ or ‘expensive’???
Also, you don’t need a Costco membership to use the Costco pharmacy. When you get to the door, just tell them you have a Rx to fill – they will let you in, no card required.
I read this and realise we are so lucky in IE. No pharmcy can charge you more than €90 pewr moinths for your meds. That said I get my thyroxine (Eltroxin) for just over €80 for six months supply – which when you consider that I take 400 mg per day is not bad going.
When I went to pick up my daughters refill this month of SYnthroid, my pharmacist said that just this month they announced now that it is safe to switch to the generic brand. Have you heard of this announcement yet? I have not allowed the generic before because of what you have at the link in your article. But is he right, did it change?
I am getting my namebrand Synthroid filled at the convenience pharmacy in the local hospital that I work for. I pay about $15 for 90 pills. I was paying more than 3 times that through my healthplan. It does pay to call around for the best price. It also proves how much profit the drug companies are making.
I’m shocked to hear these prices. I’m currently living in the Netherlands and my prescription drugs don;t cost me anything. I do have a pretty high premium to pay for my health care plan but all prescribed drugs are free, all doctors appointments are free.
In about three months time I’m moving to the states and already foresee high medical bills.
I live in Florida and work for Publix Supermarket and it cost me only $12.00 for a 1 month supply. The doctor justed upped my meds to 125 mcg from 50 mcg’s both cost me the same amount. So if you live where you can make it to Publix it is worth going. Even if you are not an employee.
I pay $14.00 for an entire 3 month supply of Synthroid thru (mail order) Medco where we’re required to get any “daily maintenance drugs” without paying a penalty.
United Healthcare is my primary healthcare thru work & not sure if they have an agreement with Medco or not…
You might be surprised to learn that this seemingly crazy pricing situation applies to most medications and has been going on for years. According to a seminar given by our in-house HR department several years ago at one place I worked, It is typical of most pharmacies to assess their demographics and the buying habits in their area, and pump up the prices on the most frequently purchased items. Therefore, your medication might cost one thing at a drug store on one side of town and be a totally different price at the SAME drug store chain in a different part of town or in a different city. There are other factors that contribute to price variation, but it is wise to call around and ask how much they charge for any medication you are getting filled!
I live in the England, and feel so lucky because hypothyroidism (underactive) is exempt from prescription charges here in the UK, so my medication is free. However medication for hyperthyroidism (carbimazole) for an overactive Thyroid gland is not and has to be paid for. I take 100mcg levothyroxine (Eltroxin) daily and it would cost me about £7 pounds, approx $14 dollars for a 2 month supply if I had to pay.
I’m taking generic, and getting it at Walmart for $4 a month. Good prices, but not a lot of personal care and service….
I will let you compare, but I am a member of
Life Extension Foundation, LEF.org and if you are a member, $75/yr, you can buy supplements, get a lovely monthly magazine & get Rx’s at reduced cost. The only one that I take is Armour Thyroid. I have paid at my Rx
$30.00 for #90. But buying from LEF, the Armour 1 gr table is only $4.95 for 100. I think you can go to the site without being a member and search for Rx prices.
Good insurance helps. I pay 6.48 for a 90 day supply of levoxyl.
Medco through United Health (Railroad) is $39.21 for a 90 day supply of Synthroid 75 mcg. We used to pay $10 per prescription but with the last contract negotiation some of my drugs have more than tripled in price. Cytomel (which keeps me going) is $30 for 5 mcg 90 day supply.
I am a veteran and my medications come from the VA mail-in pharmacy program. For the meds that they consider service-connected, there is no co-pay. For non-service-connected conditions’ meds, the co-pay is $8 per 30-day supply. So, a 90-day prescrip costs $24. My husband is retired military, so we have insurance thru that, and I have tried getting my prescriptions through them, because their co-pay for some of my meds is only $3 per prescription (and they will fill up to 180 days for one co-pay thru the mail). But, the VA will not allow their docs to write scipts for outside the VA system. What a racket!!