Your guide to Optum Perks vs. other discount programs

Key takeaways

• Prescription discount programs can be a good way to save money on the cost of your medications. Many different programs exist, each with its own individual benefits.
• Optum Perks, for example, offers a discount card that can save you up to 80% on your prescription costs. This card is accepted at pharmacies nationwide. Optum Perks also offers integrated services like Online Care and home delivery.
• Some other options include GoodRx, SingleCare, and ScriptSave WellRx. These sites may offer different services or

Overview

There are several different programs and services that claim to be able to save you money on your medications. Optum Perks, for example, offers a prescription discount card that can help you save up to 80% on the cost of your medications.

But how does Optum Perks compare to other services out there? Let’s take a look at some common prescription savings programs and their varying benefits and drawbacks.

Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care in as little as 15 minutes. For $29, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a US-licensed healthcare professional. Get started here.

What are drug discount programs?

People in the United States currently pay some of the highest prices in the world for prescription medications. Because of this, many Americans are looking for ideas on how to save on prescription costs. One option is prescription discount cards and coupons.

Prescription discount cards work by giving consumers access to bulk-negotiated drug rates typically reserved for large insurance companies. These programs use the power of a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) to negotiate discounted prices with a network of pharmacies and drug manufacturers.

When you use a card like Optum Perks, you are simply accessing those pre-negotiated savings at the register.

Healthcare professionals also support the use of discount cards. A 2020 survey of 240 pharmacies in the United States suggests that 91.7% of pharmacists think prescription discount programs are legitimate and useful, and 84.2% believe that pharmacies should use discount programs whenever possible.

Some of the most common places to access these discounts are:

• Optum Perks
• GoodRx
• SingleCare
• WellRx

What are the benefits of Optum Perks?

Optum Perks offers a range of services focused on helping you save money on your prescriptions and improving convenience. These include:

• a prescription discount card
• an online care service
• home delivery of many medications

There are many benefits to using Optum Perks, including:

• Pharmacy acceptance: The Optum Perks Discount Card is accepted at over 64,000 pharmacies nationwide, including major chains like Walmart and Walgreens, as well as smaller independent pharmacies. This means that no matter where you live, you likely won’t need to go out of your way to find a participating pharmacy.
• Transparent cost savings: The card is completely free to download and use, and it can save you up to 80% on your prescription costs. Unlike some other programs, there are no higher tiers or monthly subscription fees required to unlock the deepest discounts.
• Integration with other services: Optum Perks also offers an Online Care service. If a doctor prescribes a treatment, you can use the discount card or a drug coupon to save on your costs. In some cases, Optum Perks may offer home delivery of that medication, too. This can allow you to access 3-month supplies of your medications.
• Strong healthcare roots: Optum Perks is powered by a large pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) called OptumRx. Because it works directly with drug manufacturers and pharmacies rather than acting as a third-party price aggregator, it can often provide more stable and reliable pricing for users.

Optum Perks now also offers reduced pricing on over 60 branded medications, and consumers can now save an average of 22.5%, or $91, per prescription. The final price of your medications may be discounted at the pharmacy even further than the offers listed on our site.

To see your final cost, simply present your Optum Perks card to the pharmacist — your savings will be applied in real time based on our most current discounts.

It’s important to note, however, that these discounts can’t be used in combination with insurance, so any medication costs won’t count toward your deductible. The discounts and drug prices can also fluctuate based on contract changes.

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

What other options are there?

Alongside Optum Perks, there are several other options for drug discounts. Each service utilizes a different business model to provide savings.

GoodRx

GoodRx is a widely recognized platform that operates as a price aggregator. This means it pulls prices from multiple sources and acts like a search engine. This means prices may fluctuate quickly. While it offers similar core discounts, its service structure differs from Optum Perks:

• Free prescription discounts: Like Optum Perks, GoodRx offers a free search tool and mobile app that provides discounts of up to 80% at thousands of pharmacies nationwide.
• Online healthcare: GoodRx also offers a virtual healthcare platform where users can consult with a licensed provider for common conditions.
• Home delivery: People with a GoodRx Gold subscription can have their medications delivered directly to their homes.

GoodRx also offers a subscription model called the Gold Tier, meaning you need to pay a monthly fee to access the deepest discounts and home delivery. Their telehealth platform is also more expensive for people without a subscription.

SingleCare

SingleCare also provides drug discounts, but it offers more of a loyalty-based model. Its benefits include:

• Cash-like rewards: SingleCare allows you to receive bonus savings on almost every eligible prescription you fill. These act as further discounts on your next refill, making it feel like a cash-back program.
• Price alerts: SingleCare also allows you to track your medications and receive alerts when the price fluctuates.
• Home delivery: Like Optum Perks, SingleCare offers home delivery for many of its medications.

SingleCare may not have widespread pharmacy acceptance. It also requires you to keep track of and manage your rewards balance. However, it can be a good option for families looking to earn rewards on their medications.

ScriptSave WellRx

WellRx is a well-established platform with a discount program called ScriptSave. Like Optum Perks, it offers a discount card that you can download or print, and its platform allows you to compare prices at different pharmacies.

One of the unique benefits of ScriptSave is its integrated medication management. This in-app feature allows users to store their medication history, set pill reminders, and receive alerts about potential drug interactions. This makes it a good option for families looking for extra management tools.

However, you need to sign up and create an account to use these features.

Summary

With high drug prices in the United States, many people are looking for ways to save on their drug costs. A common option is drug discount cards and savings programs, including those offered by Optum Perks.

One of the key benefits of Optum Perks is that it is powered directly by a PBM, whereas alternatives are third-party price aggregators that function more like search engines. It’s also a simple-to-use, uncomplicated service that’s accepted at thousands of pharmacies nationwide.

Other services, like GoodRx, WellRx, and SingleCare, all have their own benefits and drawbacks. These services all work in slightly different ways to provide discounts. None of these services can be used alongside insurance.

You can speak with a pharmacist if you have questions about which options can provide the deepest discounts.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.