It’s no secret that pet medications can be expensive. But do you know if you’re overpaying for your furry friend’s prescription? Before heading to the local pharmacy, there’s an online tool you should check first for better deals. Keep reading to know exactly how you can save money without compromising the treatment of a pet’s health condition.

What Is GoodRx?

GoodRx is a popular online tool that lets you compare the prices of prescription medications across different pharmacies. Because drug prices aren’t regulated in the United States, each pharmacy can sell its products at drastically different prices. GoodRx ensures you’re not overspending.

While GoodRx was first only used for human medication, it quickly expanded to include pet medications too. You can now find drugs used to treat all kinds of problems, from ear infections and flea infestations to muscle pain.

You’re free to use GoodRx at a number of locations, including Walmart, Wegmans, Kroger, Costco (even if you’re not a member). As well as at Rite Aid, Shop Rite, CVS, Target, and more.

Can I Use GoodRx with Insurance?

While GoodRx was initially designed for uninsured patients (and their pets), you can still use it if you have pet health insurance. If your copay is higher than the price GoodRx shows, then it might be worth using the coupon instead.

Do keep in mind that this will be considered an out-of-pocket expense. In other words, if the insurance program has a deductible, what you spend through GoodRx won’t count towards that amount.

How to Use GoodRx for Pet Medication in 5 Steps

Filling your pet’s prescriptions is a breeze with GoodRx. 

Step 1: Visit GoodRx’s Website or App

To get the medication you need, you first need to access the GoodRx website or app. Don’t worry, you don’t need to sign up or create an account to fill prescriptions.

Step 2: Choose Your Pet’s Medication

Then, you’ll see a bunch of pet medications listed under six different categories: pain, seizures, diabetes, anxiety, heartworm, and fleas and ticks. Select the one your vet ordered. If the drug you need isn’t available on the list, you can always use the search bar to find it.

Step 3: Select the Best Offer

Next, you’ll find a list of pharmacies—both retail and mail-order—that offer that prescription at lower prices. You can click on the offers to see if there are additional perks (free shipping, a discount when medications are bought in bulk, and so on).

It’s also worth checking out if there are rebates offered by the drug company making your dog or cat medicine. If you scroll past the pharmacy offers, you may see a manufacturer coupon giving you even more savings options. For instance, if you buy 12 doses of Heartgard Plus, the manufacturer will give you a $15 rebate.

Do the math and choose the best program for your dog or cat.

Step 4: Print or Download the Coupon

Once you decide on an offer, you can print or download the coupon to show at the pharmacy. This is how you will get the discount.

Alternatively, if you are buying your prescription from a mail-order pharmacy, all you have to do is click “Buy now.” The discount is automatically added to your order.

Step 5: Buy the Discounted Prescription

The last step in buying discounted pet medication is making the purchase. If you’ve chosen a retail pharmacy, you won’t need to have your veterinarian sign the coupon. Rather, you will need to know what their DEA number is. This unique number is what allows you to buy meds for dogs and cats. The pharmacy can call your vet to ask for their number, or you can do it in advance.

If you’re buying pet medication online, then the mail-order pharmacy will likely contact your vet for you. Enter their contact information at check-out, your shipping address, and pay. It’s that simple.

How Much Money Can I Save?

You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year on prescription medications. This is a discount opportunity you won’t find anywhere else—not even by walking into participating pharmacies.

Don’t believe us? Let’s look at an example.

Imagine your 10-pound dog or cat doesn’t have health insurance. One day, the vet diagnoses them with a muscle spasm disorder and prescribes 5mg of diazepam to be taken every eight hours every day.

That would cost you $18 for a seven-and-a-half-day supply at CVS. But if you use a GoodRx coupon, the cost gets cut down to $7.69. If your dog or cat is on the medication for a month, you end up saving $41.24. It might not seem like a lot, but it adds up when lumped with all the other expenses you have with your pet.

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