We know health care costs can be confusing, especially for medications. It is difficult to know exactly how much you will pay for your prescriptions. The price you pay is based on many different factors, including the type of medication, the dosage, whether or not you have insurance, whether or not your insurance will cover that type or dose of medication, and which pharmacy you get your medication from. In this article, we’ll look at the different tactics you can use to get the best price on your prescriptions.
FOLX Partner Pharmacy
At FOLX, we have transparent pricing for gender-affirming medications that are sent directly from our partner pharmacy. You can view the prices for various medications here. Our partner pharmacy only provides gender-affirming medications at this time, so for all other medications, they will be sent to a pharmacy of your choice.
Looking at different pharmacies
Prices for the same medication can vary widely between pharmacies. In-person pharmacies in your area may have different prices for the same medication. You can search pharmacy price comparisons online or speak directly to the pharmacies in your area to get the costs. There are also many online pharmacies that may have cheaper prescription costs, like Capsule Pharmacy, Amazon Pharmacy, and others.
Using your insurance
While your insurance cannot be used at the FOLX partner pharmacy, you may be able to use it at a pharmacy of your choice, depending on your plan and coverage. If a medication is not covered by your insurance, there may be an alternate medication that is. This could be a different medication that serves the same purpose (like a generic medication vs a branded medication) or it could be a different medication route, such as injections vs pills. It’s always a good idea to reach out to your clinician to see if there is another option available that may be cheaper, or contact your insurance company to find out what is covered by your plan.
GoodRx
Whether or not you have insurance, GoodRx can be a good resource. GoodRx provides coupons for prescriptions that you can use directly at the pharmacy. When you search a medication on their website, you can find out how much you would pay with that coupon at various pharmacies. All you have to do is bring the coupon to the pharmacy and show it to the pharmacist when you pick up your medication. In some instances, GoodRx coupons can be cheaper than your insurance coverage. It’s best to find out from your pharmacy how much a medication will cost with your insurance (or without if you don’t have insurance), and compare with GoodRx prices to get the best deal.
Prescription Discount Programs
Many pharmacies offer discount programs or savings cards that can significantly lower the cost of medications. These programs may be offered by the pharmacy itself or by pharmaceutical companies. There are also nonprofit organizations and government programs that provide assistance with prescription drug costs for eligible individuals. You can search online for any prescription assistance programs in your state. They may help cover the cost of prescriptions if you don’t have insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover the medication you need.
In summary, there are many different options when it comes to prescription pricing, and finding the best price can take some research and comparisons. If you are a FOLX member, you can reach out through the Help Center to the Member Navigation team who can answer questions and help navigate your care, including your insurance.
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FOLX Health is the first digital healthcare company designed by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. Our services include virtual primary care, gender-affirming hormone therapy including estrogen and testosterone (HRT), mental health care, sexual and reproductive health care, preventive care, and fertility consultations. FOLX memberships give you access to LGBTQIA+ expert clinicians, peer support, thousands of LGBTQIA+ resources, and more. Whether you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, gender non-conforming, or nonbinary, you can find LGBTQIA+-specialized health care that helps you meet your wellness goals. FOLX Health is health care that's queer all year. Get all the benefits of becoming a FOLX member and sign up today!
