A few weeks ago I was at our vet’s office picking up our dog who was being boarded there. The office was uncharacteristically busy and there were at least ten people in line. I saw an acquaintance and we chatted for a few minutes. She said she had been sitting in the office for almost two hours waiting for a refill on her dog’s medication. Now, I am all for supporting local small businesses, but I don’t have two hours of spare time to sit in a waiting room for my dog’s medication. I told her that many pharmacies in our area fill pet medications too, and she was shocked. I know that I’ve seen a sign for it at the Kroger pharmacy, and after checking the Walgreens website I saw that they also fill pet prescriptions. My guess would be that filling the prescription at these bigger-name pharmacies would also offer some savings on the medication as well (although I don’t know that for sure.)
Normally if my pet needed medication, the vet would issue the medicine at the time of the exam, so I wouldn’t take advantage of the outside prescription. If the medication needed to be refilled, however, I would definitely consider getting it filled at Walgreens or Kroger. What about you? Have you used these services and if so, did you save time or money?
I don’t have pets but I hear the medicines can be extremely expensive. HAD NO IDEA YOU COULD HAVE THESE MEDICINES FILLED AT HUMAN PHARMACIES
On a HUMAN note, a prescription I had filled at walgreens cost $180. Before I paid I called Meijer and they had the SAME EXACT medicine for $53 bucks. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!? HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON PETS AND HUMAN MEDICINES!
Jessica, you have a really good point—if the pharmacy quotes you a high price (even a co-pay) for your meds, ALWAYS know that you can decline to pay. Take a few minutes to check around and see if another pharmacy offers a cheaper alternative, or if your doctor can give you a discount card for the name brand medicine. I’ve also had success with bypassing the insurance company and paying a lower out-of-pocket amount by not using the insurance. It’s worth asking about, even if just saves you a few pennies. But paying $53 instead of $180 is an outrageous savings — so glad you found a way to pay less!
Costco offers quite a substantial discount over its contemporaries mark-up for human medications prescribed to pets. You also do not have to have a membership, but need to get a pass from customer service (I think, not sure, as I’ve always been a member) to access the pharmacy.
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Good to know, Elizabeth — thanks for sharing! I wonder if Sam’s Club has the same program.
Savingsinseconds recently posted…Thrifty Thursday: Save on pet medications
I wish we had Kroger’s or Walgreens!
Check your local pharmacy to see if they offer the same deal! You never know!
My mom has cats and I will pass this along to her. I know medicines for pets can be expensive.
I get our pets medicine filled at Publix.
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Thanks so much for sharing. I don’t have animals but my sister does, so this is useful!
Didn’t hear of this service!