COLORADO, USA — You could be saving 80% or more on your prescriptions.
That's due to an ever-expanding list of free programs that offer discount cards and codes that anyone can use to save money on prescription medicines.
We're talking about discount cards for programs like GoodRX, WellRX, FamilyWize, SingleCare and countless others. These cards often arrive in the mail, work like coupons — and most of us throw them away.
Pharmacies have agreed to fill many prescriptions at discount rates when presented with the correct discount codes. You can often get better prices using these than with your insurance, depending on the drugs you need.
King Soopers Pharmacist Jim Hansen said the cards are stand-alone discounts. They work independently of your insurance plan.
"The discount cards are actually in lieu of insurance," Hanson said. "They don't work with the insurance — especially with insurances that are provided by a government entity like Medicare or Medicaid. It's always in lieu of, not in addition to."
Hansen said a lot of consumers are initially reluctant to venture outside their insurance plans.
"But when they find out eventually that the coupons can provide a big savings, in a lot of cases up to 80% or more, then a lot of them gravitate to the coupons," he said.
Also unlike your insurance, you can find out how much you'll pay in advance.
Good RX, for example, will give you a list of prices at multiple pharmacies so you can pick up the discounts wherever your shop.
"They can find out the price on some of them before they walk up to the counter," Hanson said.
Not all the cards offer the same discounts.
"There's a different percentage of discount really on every one of those cards," said King Soopers Corporate Pharmacy Director Michelle Izor. "So bring them into us and we'll be more than happy to check the price and see if we can save you any money."
She also pointed out that with the cards, many common prescriptions are free.
"Such as Metformin, Sertraline, generic Singulair that's used for asthma and allergies. There are also many medications are only $6 for a 90-day supply and some that are $12 for a 90-day supply," she said.
Most retailers will hold all your cards on file in their computers so they are automatically checking each card's discount for every prescription you pick up.
King Soopers has found the cards to be so popular with their customer base they are now offering their own discount card. You have to pay to get into their program, but the savings may offset the price.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS