Americans Spend 87% Less When They Compare Prescription Drug Prices
From the emergency room to the pharmacy counter, high healthcare costs continue to haunt us all. And while I would like it if cost comparison would limit its necessity to laptops and home project contractors, it unfortunately also applies to our families’ healthcare. So, I hope you’re continuing to contest and negotiate down your medical bills. I implore you to ask pharmacies and clinician offices if their cash price is lower than your insurance copay. And I need you and your loved ones to know that comparing medication prices online often saves you a ridiculous amount of money.
We looked at the top 20 most sought-after medications on PharmacyChecker.com in 2022 so far, and the savings patients are achieving is unreal. Americans potentially spent an average of 87% less on their prescribed medication when they compared medicine costs on PharmacyChecker.com. Take a look at the full chart of drug price comparisons below. On our website, consumers can compare costs listed by Canadian and other international mail-order pharmacies with coupon prices available at U.S. pharmacies. We also provide information about patient assistance programs. The aim is to arm the consumer with a comprehensive look at their prescription medication savings options. PharmacyChecker.com recently came in #1 on the popular website MakeUseOf’s list of medicine price comparison tools.
Eliquis, a highly sought-after blood thinner, was recently excluded from CVS Caremark’s formulary, devastating an estimated 3 million patients. The pharmacy benefit manager instead suggested patients switch to Xarelto, a drug that has never proven itself interchangeable with Eliquis. The out-of-pocket cost for Eliquis at U.S. pharmacies is over $600 for a month’s supply. By comparing costs on PharmacyChecker.com, a consumer can see that a U.S. coupon can knock about $80 off that price; the lowest Canadian online pharmacy price would have them paying around $140; and the best prescription savings option is to order from a pharmacy located in Turkey – they sell the medication for around $95. All told, that’s an 84% savings. Fun fact: Eliquis sold in the U.S. – and likely elsewhere – is a product of Switzerland.
In the case of popular erectile dysfunction generic medicines, sildenafil (generic Viagra) and tadalafil (generic Cialis), comparing prices on PharmacyChecker.com is an open and shut case for using local U.S. pharmacy coupons. Folks can save 98% off the U.S. retail pharmacy price of tadalafil 20mg, which is $43.96 per tablet; 99% off the U.S. retail price of sildenafil 100mg, which is currently $39.26 per pill. This is often the case for generic medication in general: the U.S. pharmacy coupon is the way to go.
All international mail-order pharmacies listed on PharmacyChecker.com are accredited and monitored through the PharmacyChecker Verification Program. This program, led by Jeffrey Poirier, a licensed pharmacist in New Hampshire, ensures that each pharmacy is licensed in the jurisdiction in which they practice, accepts and validates prescriptions before dispensing prescription medication up to a 90-day supply, does not sell controlled substances, among other high standards of pharmacy practice. Check out PharmacyChecker Verification Program requirements.
Top Medication Cost Comparisons on PharmacyChecker.com - March 2022
| Drug Name Strength | U.S. Pharmacy Coupon Price | Average International Mail Order Price | Average Canadian Mail Order Price | Average U.S. Retail Price | What's the best deal? | How much will I save? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eliquis 5mg | $9.96 | $1.57 | $2.36 | $8.66 | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 84.24% |
| Tadalafil 20mg | $43.96 | $3.92 | $10.48 | $0.71 | Use this coupon at your local U.S. pharmacy | 98.38% |
| Trimetazidine 35mg | N/A | $0.93 | N/A | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | |
| Xarelto 20mg | $19.62 | $2.47 | $3.62 | $16.27 | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 87.41% |
| Rifaximin* (generic Xifaxan) 550mg | $56.65 | $1.02 | N/A | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 98.20% |
| Apixaban** (generic Eliquis) 2.5mg | $9.92 | $0.84 | N/A | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 91.53% |
| Trelegy Ellipta Inhaler 100/62.5/25mcg (95/55/22mcg comparable international strength) dose | $11.57 | $2.91 | $5.92 | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 74.85% |
| Sildenafil 100mg | $39.26 | $3.10 | $8.63 | $0.40 | Use this coupon at your local U.S. pharmacy | 98.98% |
| Jardiance 25mg | $21.73 | $2.28 | $3.50 | $18.22 | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 89.51% |
| Myrbetriq 50mg | $17.05 | $2.20 | $2.91 | $14.07 | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 87.10% |
| Vardenafil 20mg | $44.47 | $3.86 | $13.21 | $6.10 | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 91.32% |
| Farxiga 10mg | $21.57 | $2.25 | $3.68 | $17.96 | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 89.57% |
| OFEV 150mg | Expensive, specialty medication. Prices unavailable. | $49.02 | N/A | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | |
| Loniten 10mg | Brand Loniten has been discontinued by the manufacturer. The generic, minoxidil, is very affordable locally: $0.65 per tablet on average at U.S. pharmacies. | $1.29 | $1.25 | N/A | Get the generic version at your local, U.S. pharmacy. If you're set on the brand, shop internationally. | |
| Jublia 1ml of 10% | $189.87 | $15.28 | $15.11 | N/A | Order from a Canadian pharmacy that's accredited and monitored through the PharmacyChecker Verification Program. | 92.04% |
| Breo Ellipta Inhaler 200/25mcg (184/22mcg comparable international strength) dose | $7.38 | $4.79 | $6.33 | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 35.09% |
| Rivaroxaban*** (generic Xarelto) 20mg | $19.62 | $0.92 | N/A | N/A | Order the generic or brand internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 95.31% |
| Estring Vaginal Ring 2mg | $621.37 | $120.91 | $134.09 | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 80.54% |
| Menopur 75iu solution | $270.24 | $27.40 | N/A | N/A | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 89.86% |
| Januvia 100mg | $20.18 | $1.99 | $4.37 | $17.06 | Order internationally through a PharmacyChecker-accredited pharmacy | 90.14% |
Average Savings: 86.71%
Prices collected and savings assessed March 2022.
All prices listed are "per unit." U.S. retail prices sourced from those published on GoodRx.com. All international, Canadian, and U.S. coupon prices published on PharmacyChecker.com.
*Rifaximin is available only as the brand version, Xifaxan, in the U.S., making it incredibly expensive for those that reside in the United States. Therefore, the U.S. price listed is that of brand Xifaxan. The generic version is available to order internationally in addition to the brand.
**Apixaban, the generic version of Eliquis, has been approved by the FDA, but isn’t yet available in U.S. pharmacies. Therefore, the U.S. price listed is that of brand Eliquis.
***Rivaroxaban is available only as the brand version, Xarelto, in the U.S., making it incredibly expensive for those that reside in the United States. Therefore, the U.S. price listed is that of brand Xarelto. The generic version is available to order internationally in addition to the brand.
