US savings options
Prescription discount cards compared
Prescription discount cards (sometimes called coupon cards) can lower the cash price you pay at a participating US pharmacy when you are uninsured or when the card price beats your insurance copay. They are not insurance. This page explains how they work and compares major options at a high level.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up or use certain discount-card links on this page. Commissions do not change pharmacy prices you are quoted. How we make money.
How discount cards work
- You present a card or coupon code (app, printout, or text) at a participating US pharmacy.
- The pharmacy runs the claim through a pharmacy benefit processor associated with that card.
- You pay the cash price the card returns—if it is better for that drug at that pharmacy that day.
- You generally cannot combine the card with your insurance on the same fill (rules vary; ask the pharmacist).
Prices change by pharmacy, dosage, quantity, and date. Always compare the card price with your insurance price and with other pharmacies before filling.
Comparison table
Details below summarize how each program is publicly described as of October 2026. Programs and participating pharmacies change, so check the program’s own website before you rely on it.
| Program | Type | How you use it | Where accepted | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SingleCare | Rx discount card | Free app, web coupon, or printable card | Participating US retail pharmacies | Not insurance; usually can’t be combined with insurance on the same fill; compare each fill |
| GoodRx | Rx discount card / coupons | Free app or coupon shown at the counter | Participating US retail pharmacies | Not insurance; coupon prices vary by pharmacy, dose, and date |
| LowerMyRx | Discount card | Card with BIN/group numbers the pharmacy enters | Participating US pharmacies | Not insurance; savings vary by drug and pharmacy |
| National Drug Card | Discount card (Group ID) | Card or digital card with a Group ID | Participating US pharmacies | Not insurance; confirm the price before filling |
| Optum Perks | Rx discount card | Free coupons or card | Participating US pharmacies | Not insurance; compare prices |
| RxSaver | Rx discount card | Free coupons | Participating US pharmacies | Not insurance |
| BuzzRx | Rx discount card | Free coupons or card | Participating US pharmacies | Not insurance |
| ScriptSave WellRx | Discount card (often offered through employers or organizations) | Card provided through a sponsor, or the WellRx app | Participating US pharmacies | Not insurance; availability can depend on the sponsor |
Related US options (not discount cards)
- Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs — online pharmacy with transparent cash pricing (a published markup over cost plus pharmacy and shipping fees) for many generic drugs.
- Amazon Pharmacy — US online pharmacy that accepts many insurance plans and shows cash prices; Prime members may see additional savings options.
- Blink Health — lets you pay a set price online for certain prescriptions and pick them up at a participating pharmacy or get home delivery; check current availability on its site.
- Telehealth (Ro, Hims & Hers, PlushCare, Nurx) — online visits with US-licensed clinicians who can prescribe when appropriate; separate from discount cards. Telehealth is not a way to get controlled substances without a proper evaluation.
Practical tips
- Price the same drug at more than one pharmacy and more than one card.
- Ask whether a 90-day supply changes the unit price.
- If you have insurance, compare the card cash price with your plan’s copay.
- Discount cards do not make foreign mail-order importation legal.
- Watch for lookalike card sites; stick to well-known brands and verify URLs.
After Canadian mail-order interruptions
If you previously relied on a Canadian mail-order pharmacy, see our factual explainer of the October 22, 2026 US Customs mail-entry change: Canada pharmacy shipping change 2026. Discuss US refill options with your prescriber before you run out.