5 Prescription Discount Programs That’ll Save Your Wallet (Even If You Have Insurance)
If you think prescription discount programs are only for people without insurance, you’re missing out on significant savings—sometimes hundreds of dollars per month.
Insurance companies don’t want you to know this, but using a prescription discount program often costs less than using your insurance coverage from the marketplace, an employer, or through a private avenue.
At White Hat Brokers, we recommend prescription discount programs to nearly every client—whether they’re on an ACA marketplace plan through Anthem or Blue Cross, or using alternative coverage options like health sharing plans or private insurance.
Why? Because the math often works out better, especially if you’re on a Bronze-tier plan or taking generic medications.
In today’s post, we’ll break down exactly how these programs work, which ones we recommend, and how to save the most money on your prescriptions.
When Prescription Discount Programs Make Sense
For People With Insurance
You might assume that if you have insurance, you should always use it for prescriptions. This is not necessarily true.
If you have a Gold-tier marketplace plan, your prescription coverage is usually robust enough that using your insurance makes sense. Copays are typically reasonable, and your medications count toward your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
If you have a Bronze-tier marketplace plan, you’re almost always better off using a prescription discount program for routine medications. Here’s why:
Bronze plans typically don’t include prescription copays until you’ve met your deductible. That means you’re paying full price anyway—but “full price through insurance” is often higher than discount program pricing.
Example scenario:
- Bronze plan member needs atorvastatin (cholesterol medication)
- Price through insurance (before deductible): $85
- Price through GoodRx: $12
- Monthly savings: $73
Over a year, that’s $876 saved by not using insurance.
For People With Alternative Coverage
If you’re on a health sharing plan, private insurance, or other alternative coverage, prescription discount programs are even more critical.
Most alternative plans don’t include traditional prescription coverage at all (unless the medication is part of a larger incident or hospitalization). For continuous medications—blood pressure meds, thyroid medications, diabetes management, etc.—you’ll need a discount program.
The Best Prescription Discount Programs: Our Top Recommendations
1. GoodRx: The Most User-Friendly Option
What it is: A free app and website that compares prescription prices across pharmacies in your area.
How it works:
- Download the free app or visit GoodRx.com
- Enter your medication name and dosage
- Enter your location (or let the app use your current location)
- See real-time pricing at nearby pharmacies
- Show the discount code/coupon to your pharmacist
Cost: Completely free for 90%+ of users. There’s a paid GoodRx Gold membership, but it’s specialized and rarely necessary.
Why we recommend it:
- Incredibly easy to use
- Works at nearly every major pharmacy
- No registration or paperwork required
- Prices are transparent and accurate
- Shows you exactly which pharmacy has the best price
Best for: Generic medications, comparing prices across multiple pharmacies, people who want maximum convenience.
2. Cost Plus Drugs: Mark Cuban’s Game-Changer
What it is: An online-only pharmacy that sells medications at cost plus a flat 15% markup, $3 pharmacist fee, and $5 shipping.
How it works:
- Visit CostPlusDrugs.com
- Search for your medication
- Get your doctor to send your prescription to Cost Plus
- Medications are shipped directly to you
Cost: Free to use; you only pay for medications and shipping.
Why we recommend it:
- Transparent pricing (you can see exactly what the medication costs)
- Exceptionally low prices on many generics
- Great for people comfortable with mail-order
- No insurance billing means no surprises
Best for: Generic medications, people who plan ahead and can wait for shipping, those who want the absolute lowest prices.
Example savings: Many common generics are available for $3-$10 per month through Cost Plus, compared to $40-$100+ through traditional pharmacies.
3. Kroger Family Pharmacies: Hidden Discount Programs
What it is: Kroger-owned pharmacies (King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, and others) have internal discount programs that are often overlooked.
How it works: Ask your pharmacist about their discount program when you pick up your prescription. Some pharmacists will automatically apply it if you don’t have insurance; others require you to ask.
Cost: Free.
Why we recommend it:
- No app or registration required
- Works in-person, which some people prefer
- Often comparable to GoodRx pricing
- Convenient if you’re already shopping at Kroger-family stores
Pro tip: If you go to the pharmacy counter without insurance and the price seems high, explicitly ask: “Do you have a discount program or savings card you can apply?” Some pharmacists won’t offer it unless you ask, which is frustrating but common.
Best for: People who prefer in-person pharmacy interactions, those who already shop at Kroger-family stores.
4. Trump Rx: Government-Backed Prescription Cards
What it is: A federal program (trumprx.gov) that provides free prescription discount cards to help Americans save on medications.
How it works:
- Visit TrumpRx.Gov
- Request a free prescription discount card (no registration required)
- Present the card at participating pharmacies
- Receive discounts on eligible medications
Cost: Completely free.
Why we recommend it:
- Government-backed program adds credibility
- No personal information required to get a card
- Works at most major pharmacy chains
- Can be used alongside other discount programs (compare prices to see which gives the best deal)
Best for: People who prefer government programs, those seeking an additional discount option to compare against GoodRx and others.
How it compares: The available medications on Trump Rx are currently limited, due to the new program beginning its roll out. You can continue to check to see updates. As for pricing, it can be competitive with GoodRx and other commercial discount programs, but it varies by medication and pharmacy. Always worth checking alongside your other options.
5. RX Valet: Personalized Prescription Concierge
What it is: A prescription discount and management service that helps you find the lowest prices and manage your medications.
How it works:
- Visit MyRxValet.com and enter your medications
- RX Valet searches multiple discount programs and pharmacies
- They show you the best available price
- They can help coordinate transfers between pharmacies if needed
Cost: Free for basic price comparison; may offer premium services.
Why we recommend it:
- Does the comparison work for you across multiple programs
- Particularly helpful if you take multiple medications
- Can save time by showing you the best deal without checking multiple apps
- May offer additional services like prescription reminders and refill coordination
Best for: People taking multiple medications, those who want a “set it and forget it” approach, patients who find it overwhelming to compare multiple discount programs manually.
6. CleverRx and Other Alternatives
There are several other prescription discount programs worth exploring:
- CleverRx: Similar to GoodRx with competitive pricing
- SingleCare: Another comparison app with good pharmacy coverage
- RxSaver: Owned by RetailMeNot, works similarly to GoodRx
All of these are free and worth comparing if you’re looking for the absolute best price on a specific medication.
Real-World Pricing: What You Can Expect to Pay
To give you a sense of actual costs, here are ballpark prices for common generic medications through discount programs:
Lisinopril (blood pressure medication):
- 30-day supply: $4-$10
- 90-day supply: $10-$15
Atorvastatin (cholesterol/statin):
- 30-day supply: $8-$15
- 90-day supply: $12-$25
Simvastatin (cholesterol/statin):
- 30-day supply: $4-$12
- 90-day supply: $10-$18
Levothyroxine (thyroid medication):
- 30-day supply: $4-$10
- 90-day supply: $10-$20
Metformin (diabetes medication):
- 30-day supply: $4-$10
- 90-day supply: $10-$15
These prices can vary based on dosage, location, and pharmacy, but they illustrate just how affordable generic medications can be when you use discount programs.
Compare these costs to what many people pay through insurance before meeting their deductible (often $40-$100+ per prescription), and the savings become obvious.
If you have continual prescriptions, it’s always worth it to check out prescription discount programs like we’ve listed here, whether you have insurance or not!
At White Hat Brokers, we don’t just help you pick a health insurance plan and call it a day. We dive deep into the details that actually affect your wallet—like prescription costs.
When we work with clients, we:
- Research prescription pricing for your specific medications
- Compare discount programs vs. insurance coverage
- Help you access Canadian pharmacies when appropriate
- Find manufacturer copay assistance programs for expensive medications
- Run the actual numbers to determine which plan + prescription strategy saves you the most money
This level of detail matters. A plan that looks affordable might become expensive once you factor in prescription costs—or a plan that looks expensive might actually save you money if the prescription coverage is good.
We figure this out before you enroll, not after you get hit with surprise costs.
Book a call with one of our brokers today to go over your plan, prescriptions, and budget– and make sure you’re not overpaying for your healthcare!