How Much Can You Actually Save Using Cost Plus Drugs?

By Sarah Wilczek, PharmD., pharmacist at Network Health
3/4/2026

Some medications have price tags that make you stop and say, “Wait… how much?” It’s not unusual to see a retail price into the thousands of dollars for certain prescriptions. Then you look at Cost Plus Drugs and see the same medication for $67. It feels unreal — but for some medications, those savings are absolutely real.

Of course, not every medication comes with that kind of dramatic price drop, and that’s important to keep in mind. So, we’re going to give you real numbers so you can decide whether Cost Plus Drugs makes sense for your situation.

Cost Plus Drugs Medication Cost Comparison

Here are real examples using pricing from December 12, 2025. These are some of the medications where the savings are, honestly, pretty jaw-dropping.

Why are these savings so huge? In most cases, the retail price reflects the brand-name version, while Cost Plus Drugs sells the generic version using a transparent cost-plus pricing model. That’s where the massive gap comes from.

Saving Money on Generics

Not every medication will save you thousands, of course. Moreover, just because a medication is a generic doesn’t mean it always falls into the lowest-cost category on your health plan. Some generics simply cost more, whether it’s because they are newer, harder to manufacture or just not as widely used.

That’s why you might pay more for certain generics at a retail pharmacy. But Cost Plus Drugs can still save you money on these medications, even if it isn’t in the thousands of dollars.

Medications like bupropion XL or solifenacin are both available as generics, but they’re the kind that tend to cost a bit more under insurance. In technical terms, they might fall into the tier 2 category of medications covered under your health plan. But with Cost Plus Drugs, these medications can be noticeably cheaper. Even smaller savings can add up, especially if it’s something you take every day. A $10–$30 difference each month can easily turn into a few hundred dollars saved over a year.

How Pricing and Savings Are Determined

You may be wondering how these prices are determined, especially when there is such a large gap between the Cost Plus Drugs price and retail price for some medications. It starts with offering generics instead of brand name medications. They’re as effective but lower in cost.

Cost Plus Drugs also avoids working with intermediaries, such as wholesalers or Pharmacy Benefits Managers that may cause the price you pay to be higher. Instead, Cost Plus Drugs negotiates pricing with manufacturers, which helps keep prices lower.

As for your personal savings as Network Health Medicare Advantage plan member, that will depend on a few factors.

• Your current Network Health benefits and copays
• Whether you’ve met your deductible
• Whether your medication has a generic version
• Whether it’s a short-term prescription or something you take all year

If you use Cost Plus Drugs, you’ll pay their listed price until your deductible is met. After that, your Medicare plan will cover part or all of the cost – so if Cost Plus Drugs saves you money at the start of the year, it will likely keep saving you money after your deductible is met too.

Getting Started With Cost Plus Drugs

If you’re thinking about trying Cost Plus Drugs, here’s a simple way to start and get signed up.

1. Look at what you currently pay for your medications.
2. Compare that to the Cost Plus Drugs price. You can sign up on the Cost Plus Drugs website, and if you’re a Network Health Medicare Advantage plan member, you’ll want to enter your plan information and select “request insurance price” when ordering a prescription. Here’s how to do it.
3. Talk to your doctor about sending your prescription to Cost Plus Drugs if you decide it’s the right fit. Here’s how.