GoodRx Vs. OptumRx: Best Prescription Savings Programs

When it comes to saving money on prescription medications, GoodRx and OptumRx are two popular options. But how exactly do these prescription savings programs work, and which one offers the best deals? 

This comprehensive guide examines the key features, pros, cons, and differences between GoodRx and OptumRx to help you decide which savings program may be better for your needs.

A Brief Comparison Table

Feature	GoodRx	OptumRx
Overview	Prescription discount program	Pharmacy benefit manager
How it Works	Provides coupons for discounted cash prices at pharmacies	Administers prescription drug plans through health insurance
Cost	Discounted cash prices	Set copays or coinsurance rates
Insurance Required	No	Yes
Pharmacy Choice	Accepted at most pharmacies except some like CVS.	Retail pharmacy network set by plan
Medications Covered	Brand, generic, pet meds	Varies by formulary
Additional Perks	Price comparisons	Home delivery, clinical support
Best For	Uninsured or drug not covered by insurance	Insured with prescription drug coverage
Potential Savings	Up to 80% discounts from cash price	Lowers out-of-pocket costs from negotiated rates

Overview of GoodRx

GoodRx is a prescription discount program that lets you compare prices and print free coupons to save up to 80% on prescription medications at virtually any pharmacy in the U.S. 

GoodRx is free for consumers and works by partnering with major pharmacy chains like CVS., Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, and more to access discounted prices negotiated on your behalf.

Some key things to know about GoodRx:

• Works on brand-name and generic drugs
• No membership fees or insurance required
• Print free coupons or show them on your phone at the pharmacy
• Prices vary between pharmacies, so comparison shopping is key
• Discount prices can sometimes beat insurance co-pays
• Coupons never expire, so you can use them as needed

Pros of GoodRx:

• Totally free for consumers
• No insurance required to use coupons
• Works at almost any pharmacy nationwide
• Transparent pricing makes comparison shopping easy
• Significant discounts on many medications
• Coupons never expire

Cons of GoodRx:

• Some pharmacies like CVS. may not accept GoodRx coupons
• Discount prices on some drugs may still be expensive
• Doesn’t work for pet medications
• Can’t be combined with insurance or other offers
• Prices and availability can change frequently

Overall, GoodRx is an excellent free tool for saving on medications without insurance or for those with high drug costs and deductibles. The ability to easily compare prices at different pharmacies makes it easy to find the lowest available cost.

Also Read: Comparison Between MEDICA and Blue Cross Blue Shield

Overview of OptumRx

OptumRx is one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that administers prescription drug plans and offers coverage through employer or health insurance plans. 

OptumRx negotiates discounts with drug manufacturers and pharmacies to help lower costs.

If your health insurance utilizes OptumRx, you will have access to its pharmacy network and drug pricing. 

Key things about OptumRx prescription coverage:

• Offered through employer, Medicare, or private health plans
• Fixed copays or coinsurance rates determined by your plan
• Lower out-of-pocket costs when using in-network pharmacies
• Home delivery available for maintenance medications
• Prior authorization may be required for some drugs
• Specialty pharmacy services available

Pros of OptumRx:

• Low copays and predictable medication costs
• Coverage for a wide range of brand and generic drugs
• Access to home delivery pharmacy services
• Large national pharmacy network
• Negotiated lower drug costs than without coverage

Cons of OptumRx:

• Copays and costs vary by your specific health plan
• May have deductibles or coverage gaps
• Restrictions like prior authorization or step therapy
• Higher costs if using an out-of-network pharmacy
• Doesn’t apply to people without eligible insurance

For those with qualifying health insurance, OptumRx provides more complete prescription coverage at generally lower out-of-pocket costs compared to paying cash prices. 

But plan details like deductibles, copays, and pharmacy networks impact your savings.

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Key Differences Between GoodRx and OptumRx

While both GoodRx and OptumRx aim to save consumers money on prescriptions, there are some important distinctions:

• Insurance: GoodRx works without insurance, while OptumRx requires eligible insurance.
• Cost: GoodRx offers discounted cash prices. OptumRx offers set copays/coinsurance based on your plan.
• How savings are accessed: GoodRx requires printable coupons. OptumRx gives you pharmacy benefits through your insurer.
• What pharmacies can be used: GoodRx works at most pharmacies except some like CVS. OptumRx has an in-network pharmacy network determined by your plan.
• Medications covered: GoodRx works on almost all drugs. OptumRx coverage depends on your health plan’s formulary.
• Other perks: OptumRx offers extras like home delivery and clinical support. GoodRx focuses solely on pharmacy discounts.

So in summary, GoodRx helps those without insurance save on medications through price transparency and discounts. OptumRx reduces prescription costs for insured consumers through plan benefits and negotiated pricing.

Pros and Cons of Using GoodRx Vs. OptumRx

Let’s compare some of the key pros and cons of using GoodRx versus OptumRx:

GoodRx

Pros

• No insurance required
• Works on almost any medication
• Print unlimited coupons valid at most pharmacies
• Easy price comparisons promote savings

Cons

• No complete prescription coverage
• Cash discounts still expensive for some drugs
• Prices fluctuate frequently
• Doesn’t work at some pharmacies like CVS.

OptumRx

Pros

• Lowers out-of-pocket costs for insured consumers
• Fixed copays and coinsurance for covered drugs
• Large national pharmacy network
• Additional services like home delivery

Cons

• Requires eligible health insurance
• Savings dependent on your plan details
• Some drugs may not be covered or need authorization
• Higher costs when using out-of-network pharmacies

Overall, GoodRx is ideal for saving without insurance, comparing prices, and shopping around. OptumRx provides more complete coverage at generally lower costs for eligible enrollees, but creates less pricing transparency.

Which Offers Better Savings on Drugs?

Whether GoodRx or OptumRx offers greater savings depends on your specific medication, dosage, pharmacy choice, and insurance coverage if applicable.

For the uninsured, GoodRx coupons can provide excellent discounts on most drugs that beat standard pharmacy cash prices. But for costly brand name medications, even discounted rates may be expensive.

For those with insurance, OptumRx contracted rates and copays are designed to provide the lowest out-of-pocket costs on covered prescriptions, beating GoodRx cash pricing in most cases. But for drugs not covered by your plan or subject to deductibles, GoodRx may offer better discounts.

There are also cases where GoodRx coupons can beat OptumRx copays, especially on very high cost or specialty medications. Always compare options.

The best way to determine the lowest price is to directly compare GoodRx and OptumRx costs for your specific prescriptions. Print GoodRx coupons and compare them to OptumRx quoted prices or calculated copays at your preferred pharmacy.

Also Read: Comparison Between Doctor On Demand And MDLIVE Online Doctor Service.

Tips for Using GoodRx Vs. OptumRx to Save

Here are some top tips on how to maximize savings with GoodRx or OptumRx:

For GoodRx:

• Check prices at multiple local pharmacies, as discounts can vary significantly.
• Use GoodRx coupons on refills to keep saving over time.
• Compare against insurance copays, as GoodRx is sometimes cheaper.
• Look into manufacturer discounts and patient assistance for expensive brand medications.

For OptumRx:

• Use in-network pharmacies and ask about lower-cost generic alternatives when possible.
• Consider OptumRx home delivery for maintenance medications to save.
• Check if your medication requires prior authorization or has quantity limits.
• Compare OptumRx prices to GoodRx if paying full cost for non-covered drugs.
• Use any available manufacturer coupons along with your OptumRx coverage.

Watch the video to know more about GoodRx!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Bottom Line

Which is Better – GoodRx or OptumRx?

Whether GoodRx or OptumRx is better depends on your individual health and prescription needs:

• For the uninsured, GoodRx generally provides the best discounts and savings on medications.
• For those with health insurance that uses OptumRx, OptumRx will generally offer lower out-of-pocket costs and more complete coverage.
• If choosing between plans, compare formularies to ensure needed medications are covered under OptumRx first.
• For Medicare enrollees, plans that use OptumRx may offer higher convenience through services like home delivery.
• For prescription affordability issues, GoodRx is a good supplemental option if OptumRx copays for a drug are unaffordable.
• For specialty or expensive drugs, review both options to find the lowest price.

In most cases, having insurance and OptumRx benefits will be cheaper and more convenient than paying cash prices. But GoodRx still plays an important role in saving on medications when needed.

GoodRx and OptumRx both offer ways to save on prescription medications – either through printable coupons or insurance coverage. While OptumRx provides lower costs for insured individuals, GoodRx allows the uninsured to save through price transparency and discounts.

The best approach is to utilize both tools as available by comparing GoodRx coupon prices with OptumRx copays to maximize savings. Consider your insurance status, medication needs, pharmacy preferences, and total out-of-pocket costs when deciding between GoodRx and OptumRx.