Prescription discount cards: Your Reddit questions, answered

Key takeaways

• Social media sites like Reddit are filled with questions — and answers — about many health topics. However, it can be difficult to know what information to trust.
• Prescription discount cards can be confusing, so there are many questions online about how they work and what their benefits are.
• The use of prescription discount cards is becoming more common, and pharmacists often recommend them. Optum Perks offers a discount card that can get you up to 80% off common medications.

Overview

With healthcare costs rising every year, it’s common to have questions about ways to save money, and in today’s world, many people are turning to social media sites to get answers. However, social media can also be full of misinformation and anecdotal answers.

Sites like Reddit are filled with questions about prescription discount cards and how they work. Here, we’ll take a look at some of these questions and provide evidence-based answers to bring you clarity.

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How do discount cards work?

Prescription discount cards are free or low cost cards that can help you save money on prescription medications at certain pharmacies. You may either have a physical card or use an online card that you access via a website or a mobile app.

Research from 2019 suggests that prescription discount programs have allowed people taking medications to make significant savings on the cost of their medications. 

With a discount card, all you need to do is present it at a pharmacy, and the pharmacist will apply the discount automatically. You should be able to use the card at many pharmacies nationwide, both in chains like CVS and smaller pharmacies.

Discount card providers, like Optum Perks, negotiate with pharmacies and drug manufacturers to offer lower prices on a range of medications. The amount of savings will depend on the specific card, pharmacy, and medication in question. With Optum Perks, for example, you can save up to 80% on your prescriptions.

It’s important to note that discount cards aren’t insurance, and often can’t be used alongside insurance.

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.

Are prescription discount cards a scam?

Sometimes, medication savings offers that you see online may seem too good to be true, and it’s good to be sceptical of untrustworthy websites. But while it’s true that there are many scams found online, there are several safe, legitimate discount cards available — you just need to know what to look for.

You can determine whether a savings card is legitimate by following these steps:

• Research the company: Look into the company offering the discount card and make sure its website looks legitimate and secure. You can also contact the customer support team of the company offering the prescription discount card if you are unsure. You can contact Optum Perks discount card’s customer service at 1-866-407-8901.
• Compare the prices: Compare the cost of the medication with and without the discount card.
• Be careful giving out personal information: Most legitimate discount cards are free to use and won’t ask you for personal details, credit card details, or subscription fees.
• Check with a professional: Speak with your healthcare professional or pharmacist about the discount program and its benefits.

Healthcare professionals also advocate for using 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.

Why would drugmakers agree to discount cards?

Prescription discount cards can provide many benefits to the consumer, but this may contribute to a sense that an offer is “too good to be true”, and you may wonder why drugmakers and pharmacies would offer these discounts. For drug manufacturers, the benefits include the following:

• Brand loyalty: If a customer has a discount, they may be more likely to continue taking a brand-name medication rather than switching to a generic alternative.
• Enticing customers: Drugmakers may offer discounts on new medications to entice patients to take them and continue with that medication.
• Good public perception: There may be negative perceptions of very high list prices for medications. Accepting discounts can improve a drugmaker’s public perception while still allowing them to achieve a high return on their investment.

Pharmacies can also see similar benefits by accepting discount cards:

• Customer acquisition and loyalty: A customer may be more likely to continue to use a pharmacy if it allows them to use discount cards.
• Increased business: If more customers come to the pharmacy, it’s possible that they will also buy other products while in the store, increasing overall profits.
• Benefits to the consumer: Pharmacists often support discount cards because of their benefits to patients, regardless of how they benefit individual pharmacies.

Can a pharmacy refuse a discount card?

It is up to the individual pharmacy whether they accept prescription discount cards. This means a pharmacy may be able to refuse a discount card. However, if this happens, you can still try to use the card in a different pharmacy.

However, tens of thousands of pharmacies in the United States accept discount cards, including large chains and small independent stores, so you should be able to find a pharmacy that works for you.

Is it better to use insurance or a discount card?

It’s important to consider your personal situation when deciding whether to use a discount card or your insurance to pay for a medication. It may be better to use a discount card if:

• you don’t have insurance, as discount cards can’t be combined with insurance
• your insurance doesn’t cover a specific medication
• you have a high deductible that you haven’t met yet

However, if insurance covers the medication, it may be cheaper to use your insurance. If you’re unsure, consider discussing with a pharmacist which option would be cheaper for you.

Summary

Prescription discount cards are available from third-party companies to offer you discounts on a range of common medications. Reddit users have many questions about these cards, including whether they’re legitimate and safe to use.

These discount cards are available because a company has negotiated with a pharmacy and drug manufacturer to offer savings. Many of them are safe, legal, and reliable — but make sure you do research into the company to ensure it isn’t a scam.

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.