Pharmacies often dislike GoodRx because it reduces their profit margins, sometimes causing them to lose money on prescriptions due to low reimbursement rates and transaction fees. Additionally, processing these coupons increases workload, and the company has faced criticism for sharing user data with third parties.
The FTC claims GoodRx shared information about users' health conditions and prescription drugs with digital advertisers like Facebook and Google without users' permission — and contrary to what it told users in its privacy policy.
The class action alleges that GoodRx violated federal wiretapping statutes, consumer protection laws and privacy rights stemming from the company's use of website tracking technologies and unauthorized sharing of consumers' health information with Meta Platforms, Google and Criteo for ad purposes.
In a very simple example, imagine a patient pays $20 for a drug. The PBM might collect $6 from the pharmacy, leaving the pharmacy with $14 (the pharmacy also incurs dispensing costs). The PBM then splits some of that fee with GoodRx. Independent pharmacies will sometimes make money on the transaction, but not always.
By using GoodRx in place of your insurance, you're paying for the cash price of a medication, rather than the insurance price. While a medication may be cheaper this way, the fact of the matter is you're still not using your insurance—which you already pay for.
The GoodRx Case: A Summary
GoodRx, a widely used platform for comparing prescription drug prices, was accused of sharing user data with third-party advertising platforms such as Facebook and Google. This included sensitive personal and health information, despite promises to protect user privacy.
Increases patient adherence: 88% of providers surveyed say they believe that GoodRx helps patients with patient adherence by helping them start and stay on their medications. Reduces administrative burden: 89% of providers surveyed say GoodRx saves them and their staff time on administrative tasks.
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Insurance & Medicare
You can use a GoodRx discount instead of your prescription insurance or Medicare if the cost is lower. However, GoodRx cannot be combined with your insurance or any federal or state-funded program such as Medicare or Medicaid.
GoodRx is accepted at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide — including major chains like CVS, Walgreens, Costco, VONS, and Albertsons.
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When you use a GoodRx coupon or discount, you're choosing to pay the cash price rather than the insurance price for your medication. Payments with GoodRx are considered “out-of-network” expenses. Some insurers may reimburse you for this cost or apply your payment against your deductible.
GoodRx coupons themselves do not expire; you are able to re-use the coupons as many times as you would like.
Yes, you can use GoodRx with Medicare, but not at the same time for the same prescription; you must choose either your Medicare Part D or the GoodRx discount, whichever offers a lower price, because GoodRx isn't insurance and can't be combined with government programs like Medicare. This strategy is useful when your drug isn't covered by Medicare, you haven't met your deductible, or the GoodRx price beats your copay, but remember that using GoodRx means the cost doesn't count towards your Medicare deductible or donut hole.
The Fundamental Principles of Ethics. Beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice constitute the 4 principles of ethics.
File a complaint with your state's pharmacy board to get sanctions against the pharmacist or pharmacy. Communicate your story to the press. Ask the pharmacy board or legislature in your state to put in place policies that will ensure every consumer's right to access the medicine they need.