Can You Use GoodRx With Insurance?
Find Cheap Health Insurance in Your Area
You cannot use GoodRx with health insurance. However, some insurance plans will reimburse you for GoodRx purchases or count them toward your deductible.
GoodRx connects consumers to affordable prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The online platform lets you search for brand names and types of medicine in your area.
What is GoodRx?
GoodRx is an online platform that connects users to cheap prescription and over-the-counter drugs. It is not a kind of medical insurance. You do not need to pay to use GoodRx, although you can gain access to an expanded selection of discounts for a $10 monthly fee.
GoodRx mobile app score
Star rating
| |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.8 |
| Apple Store | 4.8 |
Although you cannot pay for a GoodRx purchase with your health insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid), you can ask to have it reimbursed or applied to your deductible afterward. Note that not all insurance plans recognize GoodRx, and a complete list of providers that accept GoodRx does not exist online.
According to GoodRx, 70% of their site users have health insurance. You might choose to use GoodRx for prescriptions instead of your insurance in certain circumstances. For example, if the GoodRx price is lower than your copay, you should always buy with GoodRx.
The best way to find out if your health insurance reimburses GoodRx purchases or counts them toward your deductible is to call or email the GoodRx customer support line.
When to use GoodRx
- Your copay is higher than the GoodRx price.
- Your insurance company will reimburse your GoodRx purchase.
- Your insurance doesn't cover a certain drug, but GoodRx does.
- Your insurance company will count your GoodRx purchase toward your deductible.
- You don't expect to hit your annual deductible.
To get the most out of GoodRx, you should use it alongside your health insurance. Consult both to find out which offers the best price for your prescriptions.
GoodRx also provides discounts for pet medications.
How does GoodRx work?
GoodRx negotiates savings on drug prices in exchange for commissions on each sale made using a GoodRx card or coupon.
GoodRx advertises savings of up to 80% off prescription and over-the-counter drug prices.
How to use GoodRx
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Go to the GoodRx website.
- Type in your drug of choice in the search bar on the main page.
- Select the pharmacy you intend to use from the lower left-hand corner.
- Two boxes will appear on the right-hand side.
- Print your coupon directly from the second box, or text or email it to yourself.
You do not need to create an account or input your personal information to access the free version of GoodRx.
Alternatively, you can sign up on the GoodRx website for a discount card. Complete the online form with your name, address and email, and you will receive a plastic card in the mail free of charge. Although it looks like a health insurance card, your GoodRx discount card is not proof of insurance.
The card grants you access to discounts at all of GoodRx's 70,000 member pharmacies. These include major chains like Walgreens and CVS.
Major GoodRx pharmacy partners
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Walmart
- Costco
- Walgreens
- CVS
- Kroger
- Rite Aid
- Albertsons
- Vons
Member pharmacies have to accept GoodRx coupons and discount cards. If a pharmacist at a participating location refuses to accept your GoodRx discount, call the GoodRx customer service line at 855-268-2822.
When you show your GoodRx coupon or card to the pharmacist, tell them you want to pay in cash even if you intend on using your credit card, your digital wallet or a check.
GoodRx prices
GoodRx has a large number of $4 prescriptions available online.
GoodRx claims its drug prices are a better deal 37% of the time when compared to the cost of drugs with a prescription insurance plan. So you'll still need to comparison shop since GoodRx is often not cheaper than standard health insurance prices.
For example, the cost of Mounjaro, an expensive weight loss drug, averages $922 per month with a GoodRx coupon and $321 per month with insurance.
GoodRx advertises discounts of up to 80% compared to regular drug prices. However, it's important to keep in mind that this represents a best-case scenario. Discounts can range dramatically between different types of drugs, manufacturers and brand names.
GoodRx makes most of its money on commissions and advertising. In 2020, GoodRx paid a $1.5 million fine to the Federal Trade Commission in response to allegations that it had sold sensitive customer data to third-party platforms like Facebook and Google for advertising purposes.
GoodRx Gold
GoodRx also offers GoodRx Gold, a paid subscription service that costs $10 per month for a single person or $20 per month for a family plan for up to six people or pets. The GoodRx website advertises savings of up to 90% and more than 1,000 prescriptions priced at $10 or less.
GoodRx Gold also comes with free home delivery and a 30-day free trial. You can cancel your membership at any time with no penalty.
Alternatives to GoodRx
GoodRx isn't the only tool for finding cheap medications online. You can also save money through the following websites.
- SingleCare
- OptumRX
- RxSaver
- Amazon Pharmacy
AARP members can receive additional discounts through OptumRx.
Not all of these websites are direct competitors of GoodRx. Amazon Pharmacy, for example, sells prescription medicine directly to consumers, while GoodRx only offers discounts through third-party pharmacies.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use GoodRX with insurance?
You cannot use both GoodRx and insurance for a single purchase. However, you can ask your health insurance company to reimburse you or apply the purchase price to your annual deductible if you buy with GoodRx.
How does GoodRx work?
Simply find the drug you are looking for on the GoodRx website and select your pharmacy. Then print off your coupon, or show it to the pharmacist on your smartphone when you go to make a purchase.
Can I use GoodRx even if I have Medicare?
You cannot pay for GoodRx with Medicare. However, you may choose to buy a drug using a GoodRx discount if it's cheaper than your Medicare copay or if you don't have drug coverage through Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.