Many medications are cheaper in America than in Canada: Generic Crestor

All the proposals by politicians to allow drug importation have overlooked something huge: most FDA-approved generics are just as affordable or cheaper in the U.S. as they are in Canada.

We called several brick-and-mortar Canadian pharmacies asking about prices and found that a 30-day prescription of 10 mg tablets of the generic version of Crestor costs roughly $14.25 USD there, inclusive of foreign transaction fee (2.5%), the cost would be $14.60 for 30. A search on GoodRx.com showed the best price was $11.40 for 30 days worth* from HealthWarehouse.com. HealthWarehouse.com is a U.S. licensed mail order pharmacy delivering FDA-approved prescription drugs to your door.  But we recommend that you actually just take that quote to your local pharmacist and ask them to match the price.

Are generics a big part of medications dispensed in America?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported in 2015 that almost 80% of all prescriptions filled were for generics. The FDA requires over-the-counter and prescription generic drugs have exactly the same active ingredients as the brand-name versions. Additionally, a generic drug must demonstrate that it is bioequivalent to the brand-name drug, delivering the same about of the active ingredient into a person’s bloodstream. Like brand-name drugs, generics are reviewed and approved by the FDA and must undergo rigorous safety standards for efficacy, manufacture, and safety.

How can I use this tip to save money for my family?

Talk to your pharmacist about price matching and cash prices

Consumer Reports says your local independent pharmacist has more flexibility than anyone to help you find the best price. That may be by switching to a generic like this one, or by paying cash price for the medication instead of insurance.  Believe it or not, sometimes it costs less to pay cash for a medication than to use your insurance. Your local, independent pharmacist can tell you this. You can also use the prices you find from licensed U.S. pharmacies through GoodRX.com to ask your local pharmacist to price match. Most of all, it’s important to keep all your prescriptions with your local, independent pharmacist so they can supervise your health care, especially for drug interactions.

Use medications discount programs like NeedyMeds and Medicine Assistance Tool

For years, two of the best pieces of advice we’ve given patients is to get a NeedyMeds discount card, good in all fifty U.S. states, and to see if the Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) program is right for them.  The NeedyMeds discount card is entirely free and should be your absolutely first step for any savings plan. The MAT program matches patients who are under-insured with benefit programs provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers. If you qualify, you can get your prescription subsidized or even paid for entirely by the program.

* Price based on an order of a 90-day prescription.