How Patients Can Save on Prescription Drug Costs in 2025

It’s 2025, and prescription drug prices remain a significant barrier to healthcare access. Pharmaceutical companies and predatory middlemen (PBMs and insurers) continue to drive up costs, often prioritizing profit over patient outcomes. The U.S. Justice Department reported over $1.67 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments related to matters that involved the healthcare industry alone, “including managed care providers, hospitals and other medical facilities, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, laboratories, and physicians.” A 2023 tracking poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that 29% of U.S. adults skipped or rationed their prescribed medication due to high costs. Low-income individuals and those without insurance were disproportionately affected.

While proposed reforms and policies continue to be debated in the United States – too often in the service of those greedy players – the shameful reality is that, in the meantime, patients are forced to take proactive steps to reduce their medication expenses. They and their care teams must make the time to carefully compare medicine and healthcare costs. If they’re lucky, they’ll find ways to afford their prescribed drug therapy; if not, plenty of polling demonstrates that they will either skip or completely forgo it.  According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 9.2 million U.S. adults (18–64 years old) did not take their medications as prescribed in 2021 due to cost concerns.

PharmacyChecker is committed to sharing strategies to help lower costs for families while minimizing inconvenience and risk. The following information is based on our experiences discussing options with residents in the United States, a country where healthcare cost reform is notoriously and so sorely needed. 

Work Closely With Your Prescribing Clinician

If you do have insurance, before filling a prescription, review your health insurance plan’s formulary (drug list) to see which medications are covered and at what tier. If your prescribed medication is expensive, your doctor may be able to prescribe a lower-tier alternative to reduce costs. If you’re prescribed a brand-name drug, ask your doctor or pharmacist about generic or therapeutic alternatives that may be available at a lower price.

Be honest with your doctor about cost concerns. If a prescription is too expensive, you may be tempted to skip doses or not take it at all. The American Medical Association Journal of Ethics emphasizes the importance of patient-physician communication regarding medication costs to ensure adherence and effective treatment plans.

A word of caution: your physician may determine that the brand or another, more expensive therapeutic alternative works better for your condition. That should be a great thing! They’ve demonstrated proactive care and found a medication that works better for you. Although switching to the brand should be a no-brainer, it can result in a messier path to affordability. The point is: talk cost! And monitor your side effects carefully! Your health depends on it. 

Related: How Clinicians Can Assist Patients with Unaffordable Prescription Drug Costs 

Look into Cash Prices vs. Insurance Copays

Sometimes insurance doesn’t cover what we think it should. In the United States, that’s perhaps an understatement. When it comes to prescription drugs, check the cash price vs. your copay before paying at the counter: the cash price could actually turn out to be the cheaper option, especially in conjunction with a drug discount coupon. 

A study by the USC Schaeffer Center found that nearly a quarter of U.S. prescription purchases were cheaper when patients paid cash rather than using insurance. Before paying, always ask your pharmacist for the cash price—you might save more than using your copay. Price comparison tools like PharmacyChecker.com can also help identify these opportunities.

For ongoing medications, filling a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply often reduces the per-unit cost. Many insurance plans and pharmacy discount programs offer better pricing for longer-term prescriptions.

Compare Cash Drug Prices on PharmacyChecker.com

Out-of-pocket (cash) prices for the same medication can vary greatly even between pharmacies located in the same neighborhood. We encourage you to compare prices on PharmacyChecker.com to determine which local pharmacy offers the best cash discount. We know that there are many drug discount coupon providers on the market at this point. PharmacyChecker.com compares digital coupon price offerings among several discount card providers so you can find the best deal in your area. For local offerings, we also encourage you to look at sites such as GoodRx, SingleCare, and RxSaver.

PharmacyChecker.com is unique because users can also easily compare prices internationally, among mail order options. We run our own independent International Pharmacy Verification Program (IPVP) and only allow those foreign pharmacies that are accredited and monitored in the IPVP to list pricing on our site. 

Generally, if an American is prescribed a generic drug, the most affordable option is located domestically, at your neighborhood pharmacy. If you are prescribed a brand that has yet to face generic competition in the United States, you may consider international online pharmacies that offer mail order. 

With decades of experience in drug price savings, PharmacyChecker has become a trusted resource for comparing prescription drug prices and providing transparent information about licensed international online pharmacies that meet high safety standards. Many Americans have chosen to order medications from abroad.

Related: International Online Pharmacies Offer Relief as Medicare Prices Remain Sky-High 

Rigorous testing and analysis from independent studies have repeatedly confirmed that patients receive lawfully manufactured, high-quality medicine when orders are placed with online pharmacies accredited through the PharmacyChecker IPVP. Research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) found that credentialed online pharmacies, including those verified by PharmacyChecker.com, dispensed authentic, lawfully manufactured medications and required valid prescriptions. In contrast, unverified drug-selling websites present real risks to consumers. Websites that are not accredited or credentialed by reputable organizations are more likely to sell counterfeit or otherwise substandard drugs. This research underscores the importance of utilizing credentialed online pharmacies to ensure the receipt of authentic and safe medications.

Related: ‘I Would Probably Be Dead’: How Online Pharmacies Offer Hope and Savings 

Explore Patient Assistance Programs, Federal and State Assistance, & Manufacturer Savings Programs

Many pharmaceutical manufacturers offer patient assistance programs (PAPs) that provide free or low-cost medications to qualifying individuals. Nonprofit organizations, such as NeedyMeds, help connect patients with these programs. NeedyMeds is a nonprofit organization that connects patients with pharmaceutical assistance programs to help reduce medication costs. If you’re struggling to afford your medication, check with the drug manufacturer or use online tools to see if you qualify.

If you need a brand-name drug, check if the manufacturer offers a copay savings card or rebate program. Many companies provide discounts to insured patients, reducing out-of-pocket costs. However, these programs are typically unavailable to those on Medicare or Medicaid.

Certain states and government programs help residents with prescription drug costs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provides information on programs like Medicare Extra Help and state pharmaceutical assistance programs (SPAPs) that offer financial aid for prescription medications.

Final Thoughts

The cost of prescription drugs in 2025 remains a challenge, but patients have options. Using comparison tools like PharmacyChecker.com, exploring assistance programs, and discussing costs with your doctor can significantly lower out-of-pocket expenses. Advocating for systemic reform is also crucial to making medications more affordable for all. 

See: PharmacyChecker Advocacy on Drug Prices 

We sincerely hope you find a viable solution that works well for your family’s health and finances. Should you encounter frustration in your prescribed therapy’s access and/or affordability, please email info@pharmacychecker.com. We will do our best to provide information based on your specific situation.