Is it better to use insurance or GoodRx?

Asked by: Miss Alycia Schmidt  |  Last update: April 28, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (26 votes)

Insurance and GoodRx. Sometimes, insurance isn't the best deal — because of high deductibles or high copays, or because maybe your drug isn't covered at all. In many cases, GoodRx prices actually beat insurance prices (a copay or coinsurance charge).

What is the disadvantage of GoodRx?

Predictability. GoodRx's prices “fluctuate frequently — daily, weekly or monthly” the company's website says. So it might be hard to predict what you'll pay and where you'll have to go for your medications from month to month.

How often does GoodRx beat insurance?

GoodRx Beats Insurance Copays 37% of the Time for Top Drugs. You have insurance, so you must be paying the lowest possible price for your prescription, right?

Can I use GoodRx even if I have insurance?

Yes, it works. You can either get a card or print out the coupons (reusable and never expire). However, whatever prescriptions you use GoodRx for will not count for your deductible if you have insurance (since you will use that program to get the price instead of your insurance).

Does GoodRx really save you money on prescriptions?

For the 200 most-filled medications in the U.S. , the average GoodRx user saves about $72 per prescription when averaging the estimated savings for users who would have paid cash and users who would have paid commercial insurance copays. These savings can be put towards things like nutrition, housing, and education.

How to Use GoodRx With Your Health Insurance

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Why do pharmacies not like GoodRx?

“Pharmacies hate GoodRx's system since they lose money from the potential profit, they would have made from cash paying customers and then also lose money when they pay a fee for selling to a patient who might have used their pharmacy anyway,” says Dr. Fein.

Is GoodRx cheaper than insurance?

You may be able to save more with GoodRx than you do with your insurance or Medicare! Many insurance and Medicare plans have high deductibles or limited formularies that don't cover the drugs you need. GoodRx may be able to find you a lower price than your insurance co-pay.

What's the catch in using GoodRx?

Keep in mind that you cannot use GoodRx and insurance at the same time. However, you can use GoodRx instead of insurance or government-funded programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid, to pay for your prescription medications. GoodRx is not insurance.

Who pays the difference when using GoodRx?

By using GoodRx in place of your insurance, you're paying for the cash price of a medication, rather than the insurance price. While a medication may be cheaper this way, the fact of the matter is you're still not using your insurance—which you already pay for.

Can a pharmacist refuse GoodRx?

Are pharmacies required to accept GoodRx coupons? Participating pharmacies are required to accept GoodRx through contracts with their pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). An exception is for controlled medications. Accepting a GoodRx coupon for a controlled medication is always at the discretion of the pharmacist.

Is it hard to cancel GoodRx?

If you would like to close your GoodRx account, you can do so by logging into your account and visiting your account settings page.

Can I use GoodRx if I'm in the donut hole?

Key takeaways:

You may want to consider using GoodRx instead of Medicare when Medicare doesn't cover your medication, when you won't reach your annual deductible, or when you're in the coverage gap phase (“donut hole”) of your Medicare plan.

How many times a month can you use GoodRx?

GoodRx coupons themselves do not expire; you are able to re-use the coupons as many times as you would like.

What is the GoodRx controversy?

The telehealth and prescription drug discount provider, GoodRx, recently agreed to pay $25 million to settle class action claims originating from the company's unauthorized disclosure of consumers' personal health information, according to recent filings with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of ...

Why is GoodRx charging me $9.99 a month?

Unless you have a discounted Membership Fee, you will be charged $9.99 for the Individual Membership or $19.99 for the Family Membership for each monthly Membership Cycle, or $89 for the Individual Membership and $179 for the Family Membership for each annual Membership Cycle prior to or at the beginning of each ...

Who is GoodRx's biggest competitor?

  • The top GoodRx competitors are.
  • Blink Health.
  • SingleCare.
  • RxSaver.
  • WellRx.
  • Optum Perks.
  • Express Scripts.
  • MedImpact.

Is Walmart no longer accepting GoodRx?

GoodRx discounts are still accepted at Walmart and Sam's Club. If you have issues using a GoodRx discount at a Walmart or Sam's Club, please have the pharmacist call 1-866-921-7286.

How does GoodRx make money without insurance?

Coupons and Partnerships: GoodRx derives a substantial portion of its revenue from their coupon services. By providing users with coupons that offer discounts on medications, GoodRx encourages consumers to fill their prescriptions at partner pharmacies.

Do insurance companies negotiate drug prices?

When drug prices go down, you pay less. That's why health insurance providers negotiate with drug companies for lower out-of-pocket costs and premiums for millions of patients. We're not middlemen — we're your bargaining power standing in the way of even higher drug prices.

Why are pharmacies dropping GoodRx?

Three independent pharmacies have filed separate lawsuits accusing GoodRx, which markets a prescription drug discount card, of conspiring with several pharmacy benefit managers to fix reimbursement fees, the latest skirmish over the opaque pharmaceutical supply chain in the U.S.

Why is GoodRx cheaper than insurance?

Prescription drug prices are a barrier for many when trying to get the medications they need. Although health insurance reduces the price of many prescription drugs, costs remain high for numerous medications. GoodRx finds the pharmacy with the lowest prescription cost by gathering prices and discounts.

Does Costco accept GoodRx?

GoodRx is accepted at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide — including major chains like CVS, Rite Aid, Costco, VONS, and Albertsons!

Can I use my insurance and GoodRx?

However, GoodRx cannot be combined with your insurance or any federal or state-funded program such as Medicare or Medicaid. GoodRx is not insurance. If you choose to use a GoodRx coupon or your GoodRx Gold membership, it's important to ask the pharmacist not to run your prescription through your insurance or Medicare.

Can Walgreens refuse GoodRx?

Participating pharmacies are required to accept GoodRx through contracts with their pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). An exception is for controlled medications. Accepting a GoodRx coupon for a controlled medication is always at the discretion of the pharmacist.

How much of a discount do you get with GoodRx?

Use this card for discounts of up to 80% on most prescription drugs at over 70,000 U.S. pharmacies. Get discounts for every member of your family, including pets! No expiration. No fees or obligations.