Prescription discount cards can help you save money on medications in a wide range of stores and pharmacies. The benefits and cost savings of these cards can help with the rising costs of prescriptions.
Prescription discount cards can offer lower medication prices, sometimes saving you up to 90%. This is because the companies offering discount cards and programs negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies and retailers to lower the prices.
There are several benefits to using prescription discount cards and some things to consider.
Benefits of using prescription discount cards
Photography by Zamrznutitonovi/Getty Images
In addition to saving you money, the Optum Perks Discount Card and app can help you manage repeat and new prescriptions. There are some general benefits of these types of programs, which include:
Savings: The Optum Perks prescription discount card can help you save up to 80% on medications. For example, the high blood pressure (hypertension) medication, amlodipine (Norvasc), costs around $10 for 30 2.5 milligrams (mg) tablets. If you don’t use insurance or other discounts, the brand-name version, Norvasc, costs more than $250. With the Optum Perks discount card, you can get the generic version for about $3.
Local and nationwide savings: Prescription discount programs can help you find coupons and discounts from both local and large nationwide stores and pharmacies.
Comparison: If you search online, prescription discount card programs can let you choose a specific medication. You enter your ZIP code to show the different prices available by location. This allows you to compare costs and make an informed decision.
Free of charge: Most prescription discount cards, like the Optum Perks discount card, are free and often don’t require you to enter any personal information.
Wide coverage: Most prescription discount cards are available at thousands of physical and online pharmacies. They offer discounts on many of the most common prescription medications.
Considerations when choosing prescription discount cards
You may like to consider some other key information when considering using a prescription discount card.
100% online care
Treatment plans in 15 minutes or less for 40+ conditions.
While discount cards can save you a lot of money on your prescriptions, you cannot use them alongside health insurance.
This means that you won’t be able to apply the cost to your deductible, which is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurer starts to pay.
Exclusivity rights
Although generic drug options are less costly, newer medications may not yet have generic versions due to exclusivity rights.
Exclusivity rights allow the initial drug manufacturer a specific amount of time before competitors can produce generic drug versions. The exclusivity period can last up to 7 years, depending on the drug type. This makes the brand-name version the only option. Even with a discount, brand-name drugs can be more expensive.
Additionally, some prescription discount cards may only offer savings on drugs that have been available for many years and already have generic options available.
Differing rules
Not all discount cards work in the same way or offer the same discount. Some companies may negotiate for more discounts in different areas of the country or with different retailers, manufacturers, or pharmacies. So it is important to look around and compare the options.
Long-term prescriptions
If you have repeat prescriptions, prescription discount cards may not be an effective long-term solution due to fluctuating costs.
If you have insurance coverage that includes prescription coverage, it may prove more cost-effective to use insurance.
Personal information
Some prescription discount cards may ask you to enter your personal information, which they may then pass to third party marketing companies for profit.
Be careful and mindful of this to ensure the protection of your data.
How to use the Optum Perks discount card and app
The Optum Perks prescription discount card is free, and you dont necessarily need to enter any personal information. You can get the card by going to perks.optum.com/discount-card, and you will get it by email or text. Alternatively, you can choose to print the card at home.
If you choose the email or text options, you’ll need to provide your email address or telephone number. Here, you’ll find the Optum Perks privacy policy detailing how the company will hold and use your personal information.
You can use the card at different pharmacies, and when you show your discount card, the pharmacy will apply the discounted medication cost. According to Optum Perks, you can get up to 80% savings with the discount card.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
The Optum Perks discount card also has an app for iOS and Android devices. After you download the app, you can find pharmacies that offer the lowest price for the medication you’re looking for, as well as coupons for those medications. You can save and share those coupons with family and friends.
Yes, a pharmacy can refuse a discount card if there are no discounts available via Optum Perks.
But if you have searched on the Optum Perks website or app for a specific drug, and the discount is available, the pharmacy cannot refuse to honor this discount. You can feel confident in making this point if you receive any pushback from a retailer or pharmacy, and if they still refuse, you can feel free to go to an alternative store.
If you have difficulty using a card or coupon, you can call the Optum Perks customer service team at 866-407-8901.
Prescription discount cards are useful tools that help you save money on medications. This is particularly helpful amid the rising prices of prescription drugs.
You could save up to 90% on prescription medications with prescription discount cards. This is possible as the companies that issue the cards work with pharmaceutical companies, retailers, and pharmacies to lower the price of the medication.
Prescription discount cards are widely accepted in pharmacies and stores (physical and online) that sell medications.
Some prescription discount cards require considerations, including the privacy of personal information, whether drug exclusivity rights are in place, and whether an insurance plan may offer you a better discount on long-term medication.
When choosing the right prescription discount card, researching and comparing options can help you make a more confident choice.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
Munigala S, et al. (2019). Drug discount cards in an era of higher prescription drug prices: A retrospective population-based study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31422026/
