Call Kurtis: Prescription Prices Can Vary Thousands Depending on Pharmacy
STOCKTON (CBS13) — Gary Medina says his chemotherapy pill Tretinoin is keeping his Leukemia in remission. However, the pharmacy quoted him $3,359 for a one-month supply.
"You've got to be kidding me," said his wife Janice.
The couple knows they can't afford this prescription out of pocket for long.
"It's easier to die," said Gary. "It's cheaper."
CBS13 found the same specialty drug can vary by more than $1,000, depending on the pharmacy.
- Gary's Pharmacy: $3,359
- Costco: $1,580
- Walgreens: $1,900
- Walmart: $2,200
- Independent Pharmacy: $2,462
Why is there such a difference?
"They can almost name their price," said John Ortego of Parkside Pharmacy.
Ortego says it's a free market and some pharmacy markups are higher than others. He suggests asking your doctor if there's a cheaper alternative. You can also check with the drug manufacturer if they have a coupon or a discount program. At minimum, he says call around for pricing.
"I would do my best to price match," he said.
Gary's pharmacy told us it, "...is conscious of the growing healthcare and medication costs and therefore makes efforts to exhaust all lawful and appropriate opportunities to secure savings for our patients."
It did discount Gary's pills by $400. Fortunately, his insurance agreed to cover future prescriptions of this life-saving drug.
A recent Consumer Reports survey of five common generic drugs found CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid were the most expensive. Surveyors found the best prices online at Healthwarehouse.com, and good deals at Costco. You don't need a membership to fill a prescription at Costco.
