Motley Fool - Thu May 16, 9:00AM CDT
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When you think of items to buy at Costco, odds are that purchases like groceries and electronics come to mind. But there's also plenty of other practical essentials you can pick up at the warehouse club.
Prescriptions are one of them. If you've never bought your medications from Costco before, you should seriously think about doing so. Here are three big reasons why.
1. It can be a lot cheaper
There's one clear reason why you should consider getting your medications from Costco's pharmacy: You most likely will save a lot of money by doing so.
A Consumer Reports investigation in which secret shoppers obtained quotes on drug costs, revealed that Costco's prices for five common drugs were $46 less than Sam's Club's for the same medications. They were $413 less than Walmart's and $823 cheaper than the prices at CVS and Target. In fact, Costco had the lowest prices of any major retailer and often by a big margin.
To help you keep even more money in your bank account, Costco also offers a Member Prescription program that provides up to 80% in savings on the cost of popular medications. Many drugs, including Lovastatin and Ritalin, can be bought for just $9.99 for a 90-day supply.
There's really no reason to pay more for drugs than you absolutely have to. Since Costco consistently comes in cheaper, you should always check there first to see if you can save.
2. You can get prescriptions delivered to your door
You don't even have to visit a Costco store to get your medications. That's another great perk that makes buying them there worth it.
You can shop at Costco's Mail Order Pharmacy, order medications 24 hours a day, and have them delivered for free via USPS with six- to 14-day shipping. If you need your meds faster, two-day delivery is also an option, although that will add $13.95 to your bill.
This makes it convenient to use Costco's pharmacy and save money -- even if you don't happen to have a warehouse nearby.
3. Costco offers an auto-refill program
Finally, the last great reason to fill prescriptions at Costco is so you can take advantage of the pharmacy's automatic refill program. When you sign up, you'll get an email before your auto shipment renews. You'll have 72 hours to consent to refilling the prescription.
The automatic refill program helps ensure you never forget to buy drugs before your prescription runs out. And the confirmation process helps you to avoid getting unnecessary meds delivered to your door.
Now, to be fair, some other pharmacies also offer deliveries and automatic refills as well. But some charge more than Costco for these services. Plus, you won't get the benefits of Costco's rock-bottom prices if you get your meds from these other places.
Since Costco drugs are typically cheaper and its pharmacy makes getting your meds convenient, there's really no reason not to purchase your prescriptions from the warehouse club. That's especially true since you don't even have to be a member to do so.
So, next time you're ready to refill your prescription, check out Costco to see if it's the right place for you to get your meds and save money.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Christy Bieber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
