With prescription drug prices continuing to rise faster than inflation, Americans are struggling to afford their medications. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 people report difficulty paying for prescriptions, according to a recent survey by SingleCare. This is where prescription savings programs like SingleCare come in. SingleCare is a free discount service that leverages bulk pricing power to get reduced rates on prescription medications for its members. This article will overview how SingleCare works with insurance, when to use it over insurance, expected savings, and best practices to maximize prescription savings in 2024.
How Does SingleCare Work?
SingleCare is not insurance. Rather, it functions as a prescription savings program by negotiating directly with major retail pharmacies to reduce drug costs for its members. Here’s a quick rundown of how SingleCare works:
- Completely free to join – No fees or membership costs
- Works independently of insurance – Can be used by both insured and uninsured patients
- Accepted at major pharmacies – CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, and more
- Simply present SingleCare savings card when filling prescriptions to access discounted pricing
SingleCare leverages the bulk buying power of its membership base to secure exclusive prescription pricing discounts from pharmacies. These discounts are then passed directly onto SingleCare members in the form of lower medication prices.
Using SingleCare with Health Insurance
Because it functions independently from insurance coverage, SingleCare can be used in tandem with most health insurance plans. However, there are a few important things to note about using SingleCare alongside insurance:
- Not combinable – You cannot use SingleCare and insurance simultaneously to cover a single prescription. You must choose one or the other when purchasing medications.
- Always compare – Be sure to compare SingleCare’s discounted cash price against your insurance copay price with each prescription fill. Choose whichever is lower.
- For insured or uninsured – SingleCare can benefit both insured patients and those without insurance equally.
The key is to always check SingleCare first to see if their discounted rate beats what you would pay out-of-pocket through insurance. If the SingleCare price is lower, you’ll pay less even if you have health insurance.
When to Use SingleCare Over Health Insurance
While SingleCare can provide value for all patients, those most likely to realize significant savings are:
- High deductible health plans – Policyholders responsible for paying 100% of drug costs until meeting a high annual deductible threshold.
- Limited prescription drug coverage – Plans that only cover certain medications, have restrictive formularies, or place expensive specialty drugs on higher tiers.
- Uninsured patients – Those paying full cash price without any insurance benefit.
Additionally, SingleCare will likely beat insurance when:
- Medication is not covered – For drugs excluded from your health plan’s formulary or coverage limitations.
- Copays are very high – When your out-of-pocket copay costs exceed SingleCare’s discounted prices.
Always compare SingleCare vs. insurance prices every time you fill a prescription to ensure you get the best deal.
Real-World SingleCare Savings Examples
Just how much money can you save using SingleCare over insurance? Here are some real-world examples:
- Atorvastatin – Used to treat high cholesterol. 30 tablets of 20mg atorvastatin = $24 with SingleCare vs. $180 copay through insurance. Savings of $156 (87% off retail).
- Ventolin HFA – Asthma rescue inhaler. 1 inhaler of Ventolin HFA = $40 with SingleCare vs. $75 copay through insurance. Savings of $35 (47% off retail).
- Januvia – Diabetes medication. 30 tablets of 100mg Januvia = $24 with SingleCare vs. $600 copay through insurance. Savings of $576 (96% off retail).
As you can see, savings amounts can vary substantially but oftentimes exceed over 50-90% off the full retail cash price. And don’t forget – these savings apply even for insured patients whose copays exceed SingleCare’s discounted rates!
How SingleCare Compares to Other Discount Programs
In addition to SingleCare, there are other popular prescription discount programs like GoodRx and RxSaver that aim to help consumers save on medications. Here’s an overview of how SingleCare stacks up against the competition:
- Pharmacy network – SingleCare has the largest network with over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide.
- Account required – SingleCare does not require users to create accounts, while others like GoodRx prompt account creation.
- Price variation – SingleCare prices tend to be more consistent across different pharmacies compared to fluctuating prices on GoodRx and RxSaver for the same medications.
One major advantage of SingleCare is that prices are set across all major pharmacy chains, meaning you’ll pay the same discounted rate whether you fill your script at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc. This simplifies the savings process.
Common Misconceptions
There are a few key facts about utilizing SingleCare with insurance that often get misinterpreted:
- Not insurance – SingleCare is NOT insurance. It will not cover medical bills or other healthcare expenses beyond prescriptions.
- Not combinable – The SingleCare discount cannot be combined with insurance for a single prescription. You must pick one or the other at the pharmacy counter.
- Prices vary over time – SingleCare prices are renegotiated periodically, so discounts may vary year to year. Always compare options.
The core thing to remember is that SingleCare acts as a supplemental discount program, while insurance covers overall medical care. Be sure to clarify how these savings programs differ from insurance when educating others.
Best Practices for Using SingleCare
Follow these best practices to ensure you maximize prescription savings when using SingleCare:
- Compare options – Check SingleCare, GoodRx, insurance prices, and any other discounts available with every prescription.
- Use for entire household – Access SingleCare savings for your entire family and all covered dependents, regardless of individual insurance status.
- Check formulary exclusions – Review your health plan’s drug formulary to understand specific medication exclusions and utilization management requirements.
- Consider changes at renewal – Assess insurance plan offerings during open enrollment periods to maximize out-of-pocket prescription savings long term.
Conclusion
With rising medication prices in the US, programs like SingleCare are essential to making prescriptions affordable. SingleCare can offer substantial savings over insurance, especially for those with high deductibles or limited prescription benefits. Just remember to always compare SingleCare and insurance pricing when you fill scripts to ensure you spend the least out-of-pocket. Following the best practices outlined, consumers can take control over prescription costs and maximize savings using SingleCare alongside their existing health insurance coverage.