Price of Tamoxifen

Price of Tamoxifen

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited August 2013

    I know a number of us are paying for Tamoxifen out-of-pocket, since we are either underinsured or uninsured. I thought it would be a good idea to have a thread with current prices for Tamoxifen at various pharmacies. I had drug coverage as part of my insurance until the end of July. Even then, it was possible to get a 90-day supply cheaper by paying out-of-pocket than putting it through insurance and making the copay.

    Prices vary widely between pharmacies and prices change as I found when I went to renew my Rx at RiteAid yesterday. Last time, it was $15.99 for a 90-day supply, now it's $200+. When checking online, realized this change is only in CT, elsewhere they still do a 90-day supply for $15.99.

    I'd like to create a list of the main pharmacy chains here and keep it updated with current prices. So if anyone would like to help please let me know recent prices for Tamoxifen (30-day or 90-day). Please include dosage also. I think most commonly people are on either 20mg/day or 10mg/twice daily (there may also be some who are on other dosages such as 30mg/day).

    30-day supply...........30 x 20mg (60 x 10mg)
    Costco.com...............11.04 (10.54)   [1/3/11]
    Costco warehouse..... 8.22 (15.79)   [9/22/10]
    CVS...........................49.99 (49.99)   [9/20/10]
    drugstore.com............21.99 (20.98) [11/14/10]
    KMart ........................xxx (xxx) no low-cost 30-day Rx?
    Kroger .......................9.00 (9.00)
    RiteAid.......................8.99 (8.99) * except CT 10.99
    Target .......................9.00 (9.00) higher in some states [9/20/10]
    Walgreens ................10.99 (10.99) w Rx Savings Club ($20/yr) [9/23/10]
    Walmart....................9.00 (9.00) higher in some states [9/21/10]

    90-day supply...........90 x 20mg (180 x 10mg)
    Costco.com ..............25.98 (22.06 or 19.21 w savings card) [1/28/12]
    Costco warehouse.....20.53 (36.28) [9/22/10]
    CVS..........................24.99 (24.99) w Health Savings Pass ($10/yr)   [9/20/10]
    drugstore.com..........49.97 (51.95) [11/14/10]
    KMart .......................25.00 (25.00) w Rx Savings Club card ($10/yr) [11/14/10]
    Kroger ......................24.00 (24.00)
    RiteAid.....................15.99 (15.99) *except CT [9/20/10]
    Stop and Shop .........29.99 (29.99)
    Target ..................... 24.00 (24.00) higher in some states  [9/20/10]
    Walgreens ................24.97 (24.97) w Rx Savings Club ($20/yr) [9/23/10]
    Walmart....................24.00 (24.00) higher in some states [9/21/10]

    Please let me know what price you are paying out-of-pocket. Thanks.
  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited September 2010

    Seems as though the Rite-Aid price may have been misquoted. $200 vs $15.99 is a big difference!

    I've found it best to check out various pharmacies for Rx prices. When I first started taking Arimidex, Costco's price was $87 more than local drug store prices! Walmart was even higher than CVS and Walgreen's!

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited September 2010

    No, the RiteAid price was correct. In CT, they took Tamoxifen off the 90-day low-cost generic list. Thus uninsured patient now have to pay $200+ if they want to fill a 90-day Rx. They can still choose a 30-day Rx for $10.99. That is higher than the RiteAids in other states where it's $8.99.

    It's definitely worthwhile to call and check prices. 

  • thesuiteshoppe
    thesuiteshoppe Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2010

    So to clarify, are you having to pay $200. for a 90 day supply, Mary??

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited October 2010

    Nope, I had the Rx filled this time at a RiteAid in NY state, where it was $15.99 for a 90-day supply.

  • angicpa
    angicpa Member Posts: 67
    edited January 2011

    I found, online, a prescription drug coupon for those who don't have prescription drug insurance.

    For me, it is cheaper to buy my tamoxifen at Rite Aid for $15.99 for 90 days and not use my insurance.

    This coupon is available at SmartSource(dot com).  According to my printed copy, it expires 01/01/2015 and will give a discount up to 75% on your prescription medication at your favorite pharmacy.  It has some codes for the pharmacist to enter and phone number help lines, one for pharmacist, one for customer. It states that it is a repeat coupon and can be used for any uninsured customer.

    I have another month before I have to refill my tamoxifen. I never go to Rite Aid except for my tamoxifen, but I will report back here what, if any, discount they give me.  If one of our tamox sisters has a chance to try it out before then, please let us know your experience. I hope this helps.

  • imbell
    imbell Member Posts: 659
    edited January 2011

    Tamox is generic. No way anyone should have to pay $200 unless it is a planned rip-off. I pay $18.87 in Canada

  • angicpa
    angicpa Member Posts: 67
    edited February 2011

    Well, I went to Rite-Aid where I usually buy my Tamoxifen, 20mg, 90 pills for 15.99. When I had the pharmacist check the coupon, he told me it would cost $186.xx for the 90 pills. Maybe the coupon will still be helpful for someone, but it wasn't for me.

     Note, I do have to use the Rite-Aid customer loyalty card to get the 15.99 price.  Maybe the misquoted price referred to in the 1st post on this topic has to do with using the card/not using the card and a heck of a marketing budget or kickback from pharm. manufacturers.

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2011

    Angicpa: The RiteAid price of $200+ for a 90-day supply is in CT. This is because RiteAid took Tamoxifen off the 90-day generic list. So if a CT customer wants to fill a 90-day Rx, they have to pay the full retail price. RiteAid customers can either go to NY or MA to get the 90-day generic price or buy it at another drugstore. See:

    (2) In CT, program [Rx Savings Program] is limited to a 30-day supply of select generics for $10.99 (additional discounts such as the 15% discount on brand prescription medications, the 20% discount on generic prescription medications, as well as discounted oral contraceptives and diabetic test strips are not valid in CT). 

    I think I might have originally quoted the $200 price in the OP, but changed once I found that this just applies to CT. For me, RiteAid has the best price and their Rx Savings Card is free unlike some other stores, such as CVS which charges $10 for the card.

  • angicpa
    angicpa Member Posts: 67
    edited February 2011

    Thanks Mary. 

    I was just dumbfounded when the pharmacist told me I'd pay $186 if I didn't use the Rite-Aid card.

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