Access to affordable health care, particularly prescription drugs, is critical to maintaining health and wellness.

Approximately 60% of adults in the United States report that they take at least one prescription medication and 25% say they currently take four or more. And for those who are taking multiple prescription drugs, many say they face difficulties with being able to afford these medications.

“Every American deserves to have access to affordable medications – when they need them – from a pharmacy they trust,” said Candice Michaelson, vice president and general manager, Cigna Pharmacy Management, Cigna Healthcare. “Prescription medications help millions of people stay healthy every day, but many individuals aren’t getting the best value for their medications, which can impact medication adherence and the overall health, well-being and vitality of our communities.”

The cost for prescription drugs can vary widely. But, there are steps that consumers can take to ensure they get the most bang for their buck. Below, we dive into some of the ways that people can save money on prescription drugs.

1. Save money on your prescription drugs by switching to a generic or biosimilar

Check your health plan’s prescription drug list. Don’t see your medication listed? Talk to your doctor about prescribing an alternative that is clinically appropriate and more affordable. This could mean switching to a generic or biosimilar. 

Generics and biosimilars can be just as effective as brand name alternatives. The primary difference between a brand name drug and a generic or biosimilar for the consumer comes down to cost. As the adoption of generics and biosimilars as alternatives to traditional brand and specialty drugs grows, so does the overall savings.

There are a number of generics available today that can be used as alternatives to common prescriptions for cholesterol, blood pressure and birth control, to name just a few. Generics represent nine out of every 10 prescriptions dispensed in the United States. The average generic copay is $6.61, while the average non-specialty brand-name copay is $55.82.

Alternatively, more biosimilars are being introduced each year. Biosimilars are a less expensive, clinically equivalent alternative to branded biologic products, and can be prescribed in place of expensive specialty brand named drugs, which are used to treat complex conditions like cancer. Research from the Evernorth Research Institute shows that in the inflammatory conditions category, biosimilars are already driving tangible savings – even as utilization continues to increase.

2. Use your pharmacy insurance card for cost savings

With Cigna Healthcare pharmacy benefits, members don’t need to compare prices on generic drugs to know they are getting the best price. Cigna Healthcare integrated pharmacy customers now have access to lower pricing on their prescriptions.

Cigna Pharmacy also offers Price Assure, Powered by GoodRx, a prescription price comparison tool accepted at more than 70,000 retail pharmacies in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. GoodRx pricing is available for many commonly used generic medications¹ filled in a 30-day or 90-day² supply at any in-network retail pharmacy that accepts GoodRx discount cards. Customers only need to present their Cigna Healthcare ID cards to receive the GoodRx discount. Our system compares the price available through the customer’s Cigna Pharmacy benefit to the GoodRx price; customers are charged whichever price is lower.³ Since this service is part of the Cigna Pharmacy benefit, any out-of-pocket costs automatically count towards deductibles and/or out-of-pocket maximums, for optimal convenience.

For non-Cigna Healthcare customers, check with your insurance plan to learn about cost saving opportunities specifically for pharmacy care.

3. Request a 90-day supply delivered to your door

For the prescriptions you take regularly, you may be able to save by opting for 90-day refills delivered to your doorstep. Mail order can also save you money and make receiving your medications easy – with no trip to the pharmacy required. And, sign up for automatic refills or refill reminders so you don’t miss a dose, and can keep management of your health condition on track. Research shows that switching to 90-day refills increases medication adherence and lowers avoidable inpatient visits.

4. Use an HSA to cover out-of-pocket expenses

If you have a health plan through your employer, explore your options to open a health savings account. Both employers and members may contribute to the account, up to the federal limit, which is $7,300 for 2022. Contributions can be made with pre-tax dollars, which reduces taxable income. Additionally, HSA funds earn interest tax free, and taxes are not paid on the money when it is used to pay for eligible healthcare expenses like prescription drugs.

5. Be proactive about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and seeking preventative care

Lastly, seeking out preventative care, like an annual check-up, health assessment or biometric screening, can help detect illness or disease early so it’s more likely to be preventable or treatable. Getting ahead of an illness or disease, can help reduce your need to take medicine.

After getting your results, work with your doctor or Cigna Healthcare health coach to create a roadmap for setting and achieving your short- and long-term health goals. Whether that’s incorporating more exercise, quitting smoking or getting up-to-date on your immunizations, work with your doctor or health coach to commit to a plan. Additionally, preventative care is often covered under your health plan at no additional cost to you. Just check your health plan for details about what is covered as a preventative care service.

“Prescription affordability isn’t just about finding discounts. We are committed to developing solutions that make medications easy to access while supporting your long-term health,” said Michaelson. 

<sub>1. This pricing only applies to medications that are covered under the benefit. Customer information for a qualifying claim may be processed by GoodRx. The claim is processed outside of the pharmacy benefit, but out-of-pocket costs at the register will still be applied to plan deductible/OOP.
2. Not all plans allow 90-day supplies. 
3. In most cases, the pharmacy plan offers the lower medication price, but there may be times where GoodRx’s pricing is better.</sub>