Most medications prescribed in the U.S. are available as generic medications, which are almost always lower cost than the brand, and often 90% less. In fact, over 80% of medications dispensed are now generic drugs.
 

In the U.S., generic drugs often cost less than in Canada and many other countries as well. However, generic drug prices within the U.S. are different from pharmacy to pharmacy, with some medications costing 90% less at one pharmacy than another neighboring pharmacy. Shop around to get the lowest price.

Costco, the wholesale club retailer, is known to offer exceedingly low prices on generic drugs and you don’t need a membership to buy from their pharmacies. Find a local Costco: http://www.costco.com/warehouse-locations%3FstoreId%3D10301%26.

Prescription drug discount cards are used to obtain lower prices than the regular cash price and sometimes lower than you would pay using your insurance at the pharmacy. There are free discount cards available that work at most chain and independent pharmacies. The savings on brand name drugs is usually very small, between 5-15% but on generic the savings can be huge, closer to 70% off the cash price.
 

Prescription Justice offers you a free prescription savings card to use at most pharmacies nationwide. Click here to print your own discount card or bring the image of the card to your local pharmacy when you fill your next prescription.

The card offered by PJAG will not necessarily get you the lowest prices. There are several pharmacy benefit companies offering these cards that work with dozens of marketing companies throughout the country to distribute them. We recommend you obtain a few of them to show at the pharmacy and see which one obtains the lowest price.

Many chain pharmacies offer their own cards in the form of pharmacy memberships for a small annual fee.

U.S. government officials have stated that individuals who order non-controlled prescription drugs from Canada or other foreign sources (up to a three-month supply) for their own use are not being pursued or prosecuted. No one has ever been prosecuted for importing small quantities of medication for personal use. However, according to the FDA, under most circumstances, it is technically not legal for individuals to import prescription drugs for personal use. The U.S FDA regulates the safety and efficacy of medications sold in U.S. pharmacies. Medications dispensed from pharmacies outside the U.S. are regulated for safety and efficacy by drug regulatory authorities in other countries.
 

Watch Marcia Crosse, PhD, director for the Health Care Team at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) explain FDA’s personal drug importation policies.