GoodRx.com: A Success Story

This story starts with a simple complaint. A buddy of mine texted our group chat complaining about the signs that he is starting to get old. This particular sign was a new prescription he was given by his doctor. He had just gotten back from the pharmacy paying $377 out of pocket because he is on a high deductible health plan and has an Health Savings Account (HSA).

When you're enrolled in an HSA eligible plan, you use pre-tax dollars to pay for all prescriptions and doctors visits out of pocket. But, you get to use the HSA to stash away savings that the IRS can't touch. For a young, generally healthy person, it is a fantastic approach to healthcare.

Back to my friend. I asked him if he had ever heard of GoodRx.com. He had not been informed of the website from his employer or during open enrollment. GoodRx is a website and mobile app that tracks prescription drug prices and offers drug coupons for prescriptions. For anyone enrolled in a HSA plan, it is an absolute no-brainier. My friend looked up his drug on the website and found a $200 coupon for the drug. That same night, he went back to the pharmacy, presented his coupon, and CHA-CHING! got his $200 back.

The moral of the story? GoodRx is a free resource. It doesn't cost the employer or the employee anything. You don't have to enroll or become a member. You just have to know about it. You just have to be informed. Every open enrollment meeting and all benefits related employee communication should include a note about GoodRx and its money saving capabilities.