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Wal-Mart expands affordable drug program

There's been so much press on Wal-Mart's decision to cut the price of prescription drugs yet again. The mega-retailer's original $4 prescription plan completely changed the face of the business. Generic meds now account for an overwhelming number of prescriptions in the United States. Wal-Mart played a big role in breaking the stranglehold that Big Pharma's TV ads had on the market.

Now Wal-Mart's program is being expanded to allow a 90-day supply for $10. Target has immediately matched the deal. While you'll save $2 over 3 months, Wal-Mart and Target benefit by saving on the cost of labor. Wal-Mart is also making its private label brand, Equate, available on the list of approved drugs.

Meanwhile, the June edition of Consumer Reports names the best pharmacies based on price and service. Costco is tops when it comes to saving on brand-name drugs. The warehouse club can be hundreds of dollars cheaper over the life of a prescription than the big chain drugstores like Walgreens and Rite-Aid. The beauty of Costco's pharmacy is that you do not have to be a member to use it. Some Costcos even have a separate pharmacy entrance for non-members to cut down on the risk of shoplifting.

If you're looking for the best service, Consumer Reports says you should try an independently owned pharmacy. Indies get a score of 92 out of 100 for service, while Costco only gets a respectable 85. Meanwhile, if you use a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) through your work, Cigna and Aetna are dead last. They get the lowest marks in the shopping experience category. On the flip side, Caremark has been singled out as the best PBM.


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What others are saying

  • Cheap eyeglasses
    Clark...they are the BOMB!!! These are the same as the fancy opticians, but cheap! Fantastic! TY TY TY!!!
  • low prices-drugs
    escapees RV club with members world wide-have a very very inexpensive drug plan for members. www.escapees.com
  • Lowest prescription prices
    Wal Mart's 90 day/$10 program for generics simply cannot be beat for generics. Not even Costco can match those prices for most generics, and they refuse to do so!
  • Pharmacy Plans
    Humana surprised us with tier level co-payments. If your MD prescibes a highly advertised RX, we pay a $50 co-pay. Generics are sometimes less potent than their mainstream equivalent, so if a person is forced to take generic, and doesn't seem to be as effective, by all means, the person's MD should be made aware.
  • Publix
    Publix supermarkets down here in Florida has released a list of antibiotics that you can get a free 30 day supply of.
  • Pharmacy ratings
    In his 5/6 program, Clark singled out independent pharmacies as the best for service, knowledge, and speed according to the latest Consumer Reports magazine. I was disappointed that he did not also mention the only other supermarket to earn CR's top rank in service, knowledge, and speed: Publix. (In fairness, I have to confess that he may have mentioned Publix, but I did not hear it; I had to turn off the radio so I could continue to provide JD Power award-winning service as a Publix pharmacist.)

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This week's poll
NYC health inspectors have been handing out violations to chain restaurants that don't post calorie counts on their menus. What's your take on this?
I believe in what the inspectors are doing. Long live the food police.
This isn't a legitimate function of gov't-paid employees.
I couldn't care less. I'd be eating at home to save money!
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