Prescriptions

Depends, all the copays are the same but if you have a high deductible then the prices differ.

around here it depends on the pharmacy.

The smaller local ones cost more than a major pharmacy chain.

I have an HSA and HDHP at work and they were telling us to "shop around" for our prescriptions. Apparently, there are different negotiated rates at pharmacies for various prescriptions based on your insurance carrier. And, of course, the price varies if a generic is used. . .
What we were told to do is call a few pharmacies, tell them your prescription and your insurance and find out the price and choose from there.
Hope that helps a bit. I never really have had to do this yet, but my coworker does with her BC and said it is less when she goes through online mail-order pharmacy through the insurance company than, say, a CVS.

Every pharmacy charges a little bit different for their prescriptions.... BIG chains (like Walmart) have mass buying power, so they can negotiate lower prices. Around here, Walmart and CVS are pretty competitive, and Walgreens (despite it being a national chain) is more expensive, and I haven't checked the price of private chains.

Ultimately, the price for anything (merchandise, services, prescriptions) depends largely on their overhead expenses... (labor, building, electricity, insurance, everything that goes into running a business).

However, if you have insurance that covers prescriptions, you will still just pay your co-pay that you normally charge.

So... if you are looking at having a prescription filled, and don't have insurance (or don't have very good insurance), it may pay to call around and see what the cost is at different places.

Pharmacies set their own prices so it pays to shop around. If you have a set co-pay for your drugs, you will pay the same co-pay where ever you choose to shop. If you pay a percentage of the drug cost or have no coverage for prescriptions, it will really save you some money if you shop around by calling and asking specifics. Get the name of the pharmacy person who gives you the pricing information. Sometimes the pharmacies will also match competitive prices at other local stores.
Some pharmacy benefit companies encourage you to use mail order services for maintenance or chronic disease meds. They will sometimes give you a 3 month supply at a reduced co-pay (ie-pay 2 copays instead of 3) If you are on a name brand drug, check the website. Many times there are discount coupons or loyalty cards that can be used to reduce your co-pay amounts. These are usually not available on Medicare or Medicaid covered prescriptions.