Why are we not entitled to find out what different Pharmacies charge for Prescriptions?

Question

No Pharmacy will reveal what a certain Medication costs so that the Consumer cannot go shopping for the best Price.  Should that not be illegal?

Big Mo · Accepted Answer

All you have to do is call the pharmacist and ask them the price. I do it all the time.

Anonymous · Answer

If you are trying to get a price with your insurance, the pharmacy cannot just magically conjure up your copay without actually running the prescription through to the insurance. They can give you a cash price on your medication, but by asking them to bill your insurance without a prescription, you are asking them to commit insurance fraud. And they can get in serious trouble for that. So if you want to know your copay, why not just call your insurance company and ask? They have that information available, your pharmacy does not.

Edit: You clearly do not understand how pharmacy works in the US. Maybe it's crazy that the pharmacy is legally not allowed to bill your insurance for something they are not filling, and maybe you don't approve of the fact that the pharmacy doesn't keep a list of every copay for every medication for every person under every insurance plan in existence. But it isn't the pharmacy's fault. You are asking them to do something they simply cannot do. Like I said, call your insurance company and tell them you want to find out what the copay would be for a medication. Really not that hard.

Educated · Answer

I am guessing that you are talking about controlled substances such as Oxycotin or Percocet because those are the only types of drugs that pharmacies will not give you the price for. If you have insurance your copay is the same everywhere. And the cash price for the drugs will be about the same everywhere. Go to a Walmart pharmacy because they typically have the best prices. 

No it is not illegal for a pharmacy to not disclose controlled substances prices because the pharmacies don't want people knowing what is in stock and what isn't because of the risk of robbery. So stop whining and stop taking so many strong, addictive pain medicines!

Teekno · Answer

I have never had a pharmacy refuse to tell me what something costs. They're always happy to tell me the price.

EDIT: If you have insurance with a copay, then you'll pay exactly the same at every pharmacy. Call your insurance company to find out what your copay is for that medication.

wizjp · Answer

My receipts show the price before insurance and deductible on it.

Not USA maybe?

HD · Answer

call the pharmacy, they'll tell you the cost. costco and walmart are the cheapest.

Why are we not entitled to find out what different Pharmacies charge for Prescriptions?

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