The Wall Street Journal has done a research project on prescription drugs, showing the disparity in the industry. The price difference – even between generics – is huge. The last survey found Costco Wholesale to be the cheapest. This time, it was Sam’s Club with Costco coming in No. 2. For example, Zocor is $90 at Walgreens, $80 at CVS, $12 at Costco and $6 at Sam’s Club. The generic of Zoloft was $74 at Walgreens, $70 at CVS, $6 at Costco at and Sam’s Club it was $5. So what’s happening? Instead of pricing generics up from the wholesale cost, places like Walgreen’s and CVS discount from the cost of brand name drugs. So, a generic may cost them $3 at wholesale, but they charge $70 or $80 because it’s still less than a brand name. That’s why CVS and Walgreens push generic drugs so hard. They make a ton on generics because they mark them up so much. So, it’s clear that filling your prescriptions at Costco and Sam’s Club is the way to go. If you’re worried about being a member, don’t worry. In many states, you don’t need a membership to get prescriptions from those warehouse clubs.