Where Should Grandma get her Generic Drugs? Consumer Reports shows CVS has Highest Prices, Costco has Lowest

If you're uncertain of where to get your prescription drugs for the lowest prices, a recent analysis by Consumer Reports shows that many medications, now sold in generic forms at lower prices, are available for the lowest price at Costco and the highest price at CVS Caremark.

According to Reuters, generic Lipitor, a drug commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol or generic Plavix, used to thin the blood, could cost consumers $100 more per month or more, depending on the drug.

Consumers may find good deals at local independent pharmacies, Consumer Reports said.

According to the report, One of the big takeaway messages from the analysis is that the customer must ask the pharmacist for the best price.

"Especially for the independent pharmacies, if they want to retain your business and loyalty, they will help you get the best price," Lisa Gill, an editor at Consumer Reports, said.

"It really comes down to a store's business model. For example, big box stores tend to use their pharmacies as a way to get consumers through the door with the expectation that they'll buy other things," she added.

Consumer Reports conducted its analysis by using "secret shoppers" who called more than 200 pharmacies throughout the United States to get retail prices, without using insurance, on a month's supply of five blockbuster drugs that have recently become available as generics.

The drugs were diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone); antidepressant Lexapro (escitalopram); cholesterol fighter Lipitor (atorvastatin); blood thinner Plavix (clopidogrel); and asthma drug Singulair (montelukast).

There was a difference of $749 between the highest and lowest priced stores.

The article will be available in the May issue of Consumer Reports.