Walked into a CVS in Baltimore and saw something that bugged me

Ngl, I went to pick up my blood pressure meds last Tuesday and noticed the generic was priced at $14 while the brand name sat right next to it at $89. Same active ingredient, same dosage, same pharmacy counter. The cashier told me most people still ask for the brand because their doctor wrote it that way or they saw a commercial. It took me like 2 minutes to ask for a pharmacist consult and switch, but I wonder how many folks just pay that extra $75 without asking. Has anyone else caught this gap at their local spot and actually gotten a straight answer on why the price difference is that wild?

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the_piper1mo ago

Generic and brand can differ in fillers, not just price.

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kimfisher1mo ago

Heard a pharmacist on a podcast last month say insurers basically set those prices and the gap is about what they're willing to cover, not the actual med cost. It's wild how a doctor's signature on a script can cost you $75 extra just because nobody questions it. Honestly, the system relies on folks being too rushed or embarrassed to ask, which is exactly why the pharmacy counter has that little private consult room.

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