Medication Costs (AI)

@anjalima Thank for the info, we recently switched to Costco pharmacy. We used our local pharmacy exclusively for 25 years. In November they informed us that Tricare no longer pays enough and they were not going to renew the contract with them. Tricare is for veterans on community care and retired military and their dependents. We were left with Costco 10 miles away or Safeway 15 miles away. My brother used Safeway, and we had a terrible event there, so we chose Costco.
Because of my husband and I both having some complex pharmacy needs, and having to use a mail company for a couple of black box meds. We really want to have an in person pharmacist, but it is becoming a big challenge. My doctor wanted me start a new medication the first of Jan, and my insurance is still holding up approval. We absolutely, positively, cannot add another $3k medicine to our line up.
I do not believe this is going to get any easier in the immediate future, but I am very happy that when I go to Costco pharmacy, I am met by a smiling face, even if I don’t get my medicine.
I am sure we could all vent about pharmacy and insurance woes, anybody else have possible solutions?

It is a disgrace that such profit driven companies won’t step up, the way the military does and did, when they were needed!

I hope you get your meds AND a smile. Costco has incredible worker and consumer integrity; it’s a pleasure doing business with them.

Good luck!

I had my anastrozole first filled at CVS under my Part D through Aetna for $25 per month. My oncologist thought the price was high so when I read about online pharmacies in Consumer Reports last year I switched over to Honeybeehealth.com at $8 per month. They ship Accord generic, which has caused me little to no SEs, and are very responsive to refills and change requests. I have kept Aetna at a very low monthly premium ($4.50 currently) because hospitals would probably be better able to fulfill prescriptions in an emergency through a regular Part D insurer.
I have an epileptic dog and fulfill her prescriptions through GoodRx at Costco and Rite Aid. Costco is a bit pricier but I don't mind because the pharmacists there are easy to work with and my vet prefers them. Rite Aid has been good too.
It pays to shop around!

costplusdrugs.com shows $5.70 for 30-count anastrozole but backordered. I haven't used them but heard positive things.
https://costplusdrugs.com/medications/Anastrozole-1mg-Tablet/
Also wanted to add this site for useful information:
https://triagecancer.org/cancer-finances

I have Medicare part D and Medicare Advantage 65 through the state retiree program in my state. Because of this I’m in enrolled in the state’s enhanced Medicare part D. I just filled a prescription for anastrole for 90 days and paid $4.80. But other drugs even those that have a generic form are through the roof. It makes no sense

Make sure check out GoodRx. I have Medicare with Wellcare for part D, and I use GoodRx for many of my drugs vs Wellcare. No membership charge, just need to make sure your pharmacy's takes the coupons. The GoodRx site will list pharmacy that take.

Laurie