You stand at the pharmacy counter. The cashier rings up your prescriptions. $487. Your stomach drops. You knew medications cost money, but this much?
You’re not alone. Nearly 89 percent of older adults take prescription medications regularly. One in five spends over $1,000 yearly on drugs. Some people skip doses to make bottles last longer. Others don’t fill prescriptions at all.
Here’s what most seniors don’t know. Free discount programs can cut those costs by 50 to 80 percent. You don’t need special insurance. You don’t pay membership fees. You just show a card at the pharmacy.
This guide shows you exactly which programs work best and how to use them starting today.
Why Prescription Costs Keep Rising
Drug prices jumped 33 percent between 2014 and 2020. Healthcare costs in general only went up 19 to 30 percent during the same period. Medications outpaced everything else.
Even with Medicare Part D coverage, costs can shock you. Nearly a quarter of adults 65 and older struggle to afford their prescriptions. The numbers get worse for people ages 50 to 64, where 27 percent report difficulty paying.
Some good news came in 2025. The Inflation Reduction Act capped annual out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 for people with Medicare drug plans. About 11 million people will hit that cap and save an average of $600 this year.
But you can do better than waiting to hit a $2,000 cap. The programs below help you avoid high costs from the start.
Best Free Prescription Discount Cards
Discount cards work like coupons. You show them at the pharmacy instead of using insurance. Sometimes the discount price beats your insurance copay.
GoodRx
GoodRx consistently delivers the lowest prices across most medications. One test found a medication that normally costs $250 dropped to under $8. That’s a 97 percent discount.
The free version works at over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. You search your medication on their website or app. It shows you prices at every nearby pharmacy. Print the coupon or show it on your phone.
GoodRx Gold costs $9.99 monthly but provides even deeper discounts. Worth considering if you take multiple medications regularly.
SingleCare
SingleCare accepts at 35,000 pharmacies and saves users up to 80 percent on prescriptions. Their Drug Basket feature helps people taking multiple medications.
Instead of driving to five different pharmacies for the best price on each drug, Drug Basket finds one pharmacy with good prices on all your medications. This matters when you’re managing several prescriptions.
The card is completely free. No registration required beyond getting the card number.
America’s Pharmacy
This program stands out because one card covers your entire household. Most competitors charge extra for family coverage. America’s Pharmacy lets unlimited household members use a single discount card.
Users save an average of 54 percent on generic medications. Discounts can reach 80 percent on select drugs. The card works at more than 59,000 pharmacies.
You need zero personal information to get started. No forms. No fees. Just request a card and start saving.
WellRx
WellRx operates at 65,000 pharmacy locations and offers free delivery on certain medications. Users save an average of 60 percent on prescriptions.
The mobile app makes price comparisons easy. You can search by medication name or scan the barcode on your prescription bottle.
Optum Perks
If you’re an AARP member, Optum Perks gives you enhanced benefits. The basic card is free for everyone, but AARP members get deeper discounts, home delivery options, and extended dependent coverage.
With 38 million AARP members nationwide, this partnership creates value for a huge number of seniors. AARP membership itself costs just $16 annually and pays for itself quickly through various discounts.
Medicare Extra Help Program
Extra Help is a Medicare program specifically for people with limited income and resources. It helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles, and copayments.
Who Qualifies
You might qualify if your annual income stays below certain limits. These limits increase each year. For 2025, eligibility expanded to people earning up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
If you qualify, you pay no premium when enrolled in a benchmark plan. You have no deductible. Your copayments max out at $4.90 for generic drugs and $12.15 for brand names.
Some people qualify automatically. This includes anyone receiving Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. Others need to apply through Social Security.
How to Apply
You can apply online at the Social Security website. Call 1-800-772-1213 to apply by phone. Visit your local Social Security office to apply in person.
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs provide free help with applications. They’ll walk you through the process and make sure you’re applying for all benefits you qualify for.
Once approved, Medicare automatically enrolls you in a Part D plan if you don’t have one already. You can switch to a different plan if you prefer.
The Real Impact
People with Extra Help who reach the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year. Those in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program pay no more than $4.90 per prescription.
This program changes lives. Medications people couldn’t afford suddenly become accessible.
Manufacturer Assistance Programs
Drug companies run their own assistance programs. These help people who can’t afford specific medications the company makes.
Each program has different income requirements and application processes. Some provide medications completely free. Others offer them at drastically reduced prices.
Check the manufacturer’s website for any expensive medication you take. Look for sections labeled patient assistance, prescription assistance, or savings programs.
Your doctor’s office can also help. Many pharmaceutical representatives visit medical practices and leave information about their assistance programs. Ask if your doctor knows about help for your specific medications.
Pharmacy Savings Clubs
Major pharmacy chains run their own membership programs. These differ from discount cards because you pay an annual fee to join.
Walmart Pharmacy
Walmart offers certain generic medications for $4 per 30-day supply or $10 for 90 days. No membership required. Just ask the pharmacist if your medication qualifies.
This program works especially well for common chronic condition medications. Blood pressure drugs, cholesterol medications, and diabetes treatments often appear on the $4 list.
CVS ExtraCare
CVS’s ExtraCare program is free to join. You earn 2 percent back in ExtraBucks Rewards on everyday purchases. Fill 10 prescriptions and earn $5 ExtraBucks through their Pharmacy & Health Rewards program.
Those rewards add up over time and can offset prescription costs.
Kmart Prescription Savings Club
Kmart charges $15 annually per household or $10 per person. Members get certain generic drugs starting at $5 for 30 days and $10 for 90 days.
The membership also includes 10 percent off pet prescriptions and 25 percent off vaccinations.
Smart Ways to Save Even More
Discount programs help, but you can save additional money with a few simple strategies.
Ask for Generic Medications
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as brand names. They work identically. But they cost 80 to 85 percent less on average.
Your doctor prescribes brand names out of habit or because drug reps promote them. Simply ask if a generic version exists. Most doctors will happily switch the prescription.
Buy 90-Day Supplies
Three-month supplies cost less per pill than 30-day prescriptions. You also save on copays. Instead of paying three separate copays for three months of medication, you pay one.
This only works for maintenance medications you take long term. Don’t buy 90 days worth of antibiotics or other short-term drugs.
Compare Prices Between Pharmacies
The same medication costs different amounts at different pharmacies. One pharmacy might charge $150 while another charges $40 for identical pills.
Use discount card apps to check prices before filling prescriptions. Sometimes driving a few extra miles saves you hundreds of dollars.
Split Higher Dose Pills
Some medications cost almost the same whether you get 10mg or 20mg tablets. Your doctor can prescribe the higher dose and you cut pills in half.
This doesn’t work for all medications. Extended release tablets and capsules can’t be split. Ask your pharmacist which pills are safe to cut.
Look for Patient Assistance Through Nonprofits
Organizations like NeedyMeds and RxAssist maintain databases of assistance programs. They’ll help you find programs specific to your medications and situation.
Some disease-specific nonprofits also provide medication assistance. The American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and similar groups often have programs or know where to direct you.
Understanding the 2025 Medicare Changes
Major improvements to Medicare Part D took effect in 2025. These changes help millions of seniors afford their medications better.
The $2,000 Out-of-Pocket Cap
Starting this year, you never pay more than $2,000 out of pocket annually for covered Part D drugs. Once you hit that amount, you pay nothing more for the rest of the year.
About 11 million people will reach this cap in 2025. They’ll save a combined $7.2 billion, averaging $600 per person.
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
Can’t afford a large copayment all at once? The new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread costs over monthly installments from January through December.
This voluntary program works through all Part D plans. It helps most earlier in the year before you reach the $2,000 cap.
The Coverage Gap Elimination
The Part D donut hole disappeared in 2025. You no longer hit a coverage gap where you suddenly pay higher percentages of drug costs.
Your cost-sharing stays consistent throughout the year until you reach the $2,000 cap.
Negotiated Drug Prices
Medicare now negotiates directly with drug manufacturers for lower prices. The first 10 drugs selected for negotiation will have new prices starting in 2026.
An additional 15 drugs were selected for negotiation in 2025. These represented about $41 billion in Part D spending. Combined with the first 10 drugs, negotiated medications account for over a third of total Part D drug costs.
What to Do Right Now
Stop overpaying for prescriptions. Here’s your action plan.
First, download three discount card apps: GoodRx, SingleCare, and WellRx. They’re free. They take five minutes total.
Second, look up every medication you currently take. Check prices at different pharmacies. You might discover you’ve been overpaying for years.
Third, apply for Extra Help if you think you might qualify. Even if you’re not sure, applying costs nothing. The worst they can say is no. The best case saves you thousands annually.
Fourth, talk to your doctor about generics. Make a list of your medications before your next appointment. Ask which ones have generic alternatives.
Fifth, call the manufacturer of any expensive medication you take. Ask about their patient assistance program. Many people never do this and miss out on significant help.
These five steps take maybe two hours total. They could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars every year.
Common Questions About Prescription Savings
Can I use discount cards with Medicare?
Yes, but not at the same time. You can’t combine a discount card with Medicare Part D on the same prescription. But you can compare prices and use whichever costs less.
Sometimes the discount card price beats your Medicare copay. Other times your insurance gives a better deal. Check both before paying.
Do discount cards work at all pharmacies?
Most cards work at major chains like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Kroger. Coverage at independent pharmacies varies. The apps show you exactly which locations accept each card.
Are these programs really free?
The ones listed here are. GoodRx, SingleCare, America’s Pharmacy, and WellRx charge nothing. GoodRx Gold costs $9.99 monthly but the basic version is free.
If a program asks for payment upfront, be skeptical. Plenty of free options exist.
Will using discount cards affect my Medicare coverage?
No. Using discount cards doesn’t change your Medicare benefits or eligibility. You’re just choosing to pay out of pocket instead of through insurance for that particular prescription.
What if I can’t afford any medications at all?
Apply for Extra Help immediately. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for additional assistance programs. Talk to your doctor about your financial situation. They may have samples or know about programs you haven’t tried.
Never just stop taking prescribed medications without talking to your doctor. Sudden stops can be dangerous depending on what you take.
The Bottom Line
Prescription costs shouldn’t force you to choose between medications and groceries. Too many seniors face that choice every month.
The programs in this guide exist specifically to help. Companies compete for your pharmacy business by offering these discounts. Medicare expanded Extra Help specifically because costs got too high.
You’ve worked your whole life. You’ve paid into Medicare. You’ve earned the right to affordable healthcare. These savings programs help ensure you actually get it.
Start with the free discount cards today. Download the apps. Look up your medications. See what you could save. Most people discover they’ve been overpaying significantly.
Then explore the other options. Apply for Extra Help if you might qualify. Contact manufacturers about assistance programs. Switch to generics where possible.
Every dollar you save on prescriptions is a dollar you can spend on grandkids, travel, hobbies, or just living more comfortably in retirement. You deserve that.
