Example: Imatinib is listed anywhere between $3k and $19k retail depending on the store you buy it (source: GoodRX). With insurance, you would never pay this amount. Without insurance you can use a coupon provider like GoodRX to reduce the retail price to as low as $120. I am told, but have no proof, that if you have no insurance and no coupon, the store will provide a “cash purchase value” that matches or is very close to the coupon price.
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It’s all a game of exploiting the insurance company who is exploiting the pharmacy. Pharmacy jacks up the listed price because the insurance often pays less than what it costs us to buy the drugs. If they price it too low, the insurance just pays that. If they price it too high they price out cash patients. It’s illegal to charge a cash patient less than list price. Enter goodrx and other discount cards. They let us lower the cash price without lowering the list price so these games can continue. Because you have to profit on the drugs you can, otherwise you’ll go under. There’s so many fees anymore that Insurance claws back anything they have paid fairly quickly and profits are way down. It’s why your local pharmacy isn’t really a thing anymore and CVS and Walgreens are everywhere.
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