A Pharmacy Price Comparison on Emergency Contraceptives by ScriptSave WellRx
NEW YORK, November 15, 2018 (Newswire.com) - The prescription discount program ScriptSave WellRx has just completed a price analysis of emergency contraceptives in New York City, trying to assess how much prices fluctuate for the most popular brands.
Their data analysts looked at retail chains - like Walgreens, Duane Reade and Rite Aid - as well as independent pharmacies located in Midtown Manhattan.
Different pharmacies market prescriptions differently based on their customers, market size, neighborhood and other factors. It's no different than the grocery store that might lose money on milk but make a larger profit on cereal. It's similar with prescriptions. Pharmacies might raise or lower the price based on their individual business model. This is why it's important for consumers to shop around when they pay out-of-pocket.
Andrew Potter , Pricing Analyst with WellRx
ScriptSave WellRx discovered prices for the same emergency contraception varied by more than 200 percent in the same neighborhood and, in some cases, was more than $35 for the more expensive prescriptions.
Which pharmacies have the best prices?
ScriptSave WellRx negotiates prices in bulk with pharmacies, so it has an insider view of how prescription drugs are priced across the country - from national chains to small independent pharmacies.
Its analysis, which took place in October 2018, found the “cash price” for Plan B is $13.92 at Rite Aid, while several Duane Reade and Walgreens chains in the same zip code sold Plan B for $36.31. Several independently owned pharmacies in the same neighborhood sold Plan B for an average $34.
The analysis found similar price discrepancies for other well-known emergency contraceptives.
Next Choice One Dose sold for $13.92 at Rite Aid but jumped to $36.31 at Duane Reade and Walgreens. Meanwhile, Ella’s price fluctuated less with a price range of $40.75 to $46.22 in the same Midtown neighborhood.
Why do prescription prices for prices vary so much?
Andrew Potter, pricing analyst with WellRx, says prices for emergency contraceptives vary on supply and demand.
“Different pharmacies market prescriptions differently based on their customers, market size, neighborhood and other factors,” said Potter. “It’s no different than the grocery store that might lose money on milk but make a larger profit on cereal. It’s similar with prescriptions. Pharmacies might raise or lower the price based on their individual business model. This is why it’s important for consumers to shop around when they pay out-of-pocket.”
Free Mobile App Reveals Prices at Local Pharmacy
In the past, consumers had no way of comparing prices for their prescription other than calling around and asking for a quote. Now, consumers can find the lowest price for their prescription by downloading the free mobile app ScriptSave WellRx.
The company, based in Tucson, Arizona, has a proprietary pricing database that shares pharmacy prices with consumers on WellRx.com and their mobile app ScriptSave WellRx, which can be downloaded for free on the App Store and Google Play.
Potter says consumers, on average, can expect to save 45 percent and, in some cases, more than 80 percent on their prescription costs with the ScriptSave WellRx app.
Press Contact:
Mark Macias
Email: mmm@maciaspr.com
Phone: 646-770-0541
Source: ScriptSave WellRX
