Prescription discount card programs are a legitimate and helpful way to save up to 80% on the cost of some medications. You may use these cards at most pharmacies and for a variety of prescription drugs.
Medically reviewed by Alisha D. Sellers, BS Pharmacy, PharmD
Discount card programs may allow you to save money on the cost of prescription medications that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Prescription drugs can be expensive, and discount cards can get you up to 80% off their cost. You may sign up for a discount card program whether you have health insurance coverage or not. Most prescription discount cards are free.
You can print your prescription discount card or use it digitally from your phone.
How to know a prescription discount program is legitimate
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You can check whether a prescription discount program is legitimate and useful by following these steps:
Research the company offering the discount card to make sure it is a reputable one. For example, you can learn more about the company behind the free Optum Perks Discount Card by reading about Optum.
Compare the cost of the medication you are buying with and without the discount card. Your local pharmacist can give you this information when you show your printed or digital card.
Make sure that the prescription discount program doesn’t cost you anything to use. Legitimate prescription discount cards do not require a membership or personal information, and they don’t have any fees.
Carefully read the terms and conditions of the prescription discount card.
Contact the customer support team of the company offering the prescription discount card if you are unsure and want more information about the program. You can contact Optum Perks discount card’s customer service at 1-866-407-8901.
Check whether the company offering the discount card is accredited by any regulatory bodies or healthcare organizations.
Speak with your healthcare professional or pharmacist about the discount program and its benefits.
Many prescription discount card programs are helpful and give you significant savings.
But keep in mind that not all pharmacies accept prescription discount cards. That doesn’t mean the discount card isn’t legitimate. You may try using your discount card at other pharmacies or contacting the company to request a list of participating drugstores in your area.
A 2020 survey of 240 pharmacies in the United States suggests that most pharmacists (91.7%) think prescription discount programs are legitimate and useful and believe that pharmacies should use discount programs whenever possible (84.2%).
Research from 2019 also suggests that prescription discount programs have allowed people taking medications to make significant savings on the cost of their medications.
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Prescription discount cards work by creating a network of participating pharmacies and negotiating savings on medications with them. These savings are then passed on to you.
The pharmacies involved in a prescription discount card program benefit because they earn loyal customers who may be more likely to return to get medications and other services from them. You benefit because you can get your medication for up to 80% less than you would without a discount card.
Around 50% of adults in the United States use prescription medications to manage a chronic condition. But prescription medications can be expensive, and the cost of medication can make it difficult for some people to get the treatment they need.
Research from 2020 indicates that prescription discount cards make it easier for people to afford and access needed medications.
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Can you use prescription discount cards with your insurance?
Prescription discount cards and health insurance are two separate things. You can use one or the other but not both at the same time.
If you have a health insurance card and a prescription discount card, you can hand both to your pharmacist and ask what the cost of your medication is with each of them. That way, you’ll know which of the two gives you better savings on your prescription.
If you don’t have health insurance, you can just hand in your prescription discount card and ask how much you can save on your medication.
Whether health insurance copayments or card discounts are a better option for you may depend on which medications you take.
Discount card programs commonly cover drugs for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease. If you are using the free Optum Perks discount card, you may get discounts on hundreds of other medications, both brand name and generic.
Do prescription cards give you better out-of-pocket costs than insurance?
It depends on the medication and whether your health insurance covers it.
In many cases, even for medications covered by your insurance, you may be able to get a better price using a discount card. Each case is different, though, and it helps to check with your pharmacist which of the two offers higher savings on your specific medication.
According to 2021 research, studies suggest that prescription discount programs can give you a significant reduction in out-of-pocket expenses compared with health insurance, but it may depend on the drug.
The 2019 research mentioned earlier estimates an average saving of $18 per prescription (or a 48% saving on each drug) using drug discount cards. However, in some cases, you may get 80% off the price of your medication by using a prescription discount card.
Are prescription coupons the same as prescription discount cards?
Prescription coupons and discount cards may both offer you discounts on medication. They work slightly differently:
Medications they cover: Coupons usually apply to one specific medication, while discount cards usually cover several medications. You can search for specific drug coupons.
Duration: Coupons often have an expiration date, while discount cards may be annual or extend indefinitely. You can also usually use the same discount card several times for different medications. You may also use coupons several times but for the same medication.
Drug brand: Coupons often cover one brand or type of medication, while prescription discount cards may cover several brands and generic forms of medication.
Restrictions: Coupons may have more restrictions on their use than drug discount cards, and only certain people may have access to them.
Typically, you cannot use prescription discount cards and coupons at the same time. But you may show both to your pharmacist and see which gets you a better cost for your medication.
Summary
Prescription discount cards, like the free Optum Perks Discount Card, are a legitimate and helpful way to save on the costs of some medications. Prescription coupons are also a great way to save on your medications.
You may check whether a specific discount card is legitimate by verifying that it doesn’t cost anything to you, reading the terms and conditions, and confirming with a pharmacy you get a discount on your medication after showing the card.
