Anyone who has fallen sick in the past would easily understand the need for Antibiotics for treatments of common illnesses such as coughs, sneezing, mild infections, colds, and others. While antibiotics are needed in situations like these, you may find it quite expensive to afford them if you’re without health insurance coverage. On the other hand, you can easily get these antibiotics over the counter if you’re with health insurance. In a bid to analyze the price of antibiotics with and without health insurance, we have a well-arranged analysis stating the prices under each category along with the necessary information you need to grab about the entirety of the subject matter.
Antibiotics are medical pills, either in liquid or solid forms that are ingested to help stop the growth and effect of bacteria in the human or animal system. Antibiotics are often needed because humans and animal systems often come in contact with unhealthy bacteria infections such as viral infections and fungal infections. If these bacteria are not quickly curtailed, they can develop into a more serious illness that may now cost more medical attention and money to get rid of. Here is where the immediate need for antibiotics becomes relevant.
However, without medical insurance, you may only get antibiotics at a very high price. This is not always cool because some bacteria take two to three medications before they may begin to wear off the human or animal body. With insurance, such drugs are sold with discounts making it very affordable for medically-insured patients to get them at much cheaper prices.
Without further ado, let’s begin to educate ourselves about antibiotics and their relationship with insurance.
What Are Antibiotics?
The type of Antibiotics which you need to purchase is quite based on the nature of the illnesses you’re battling. However, it is important to know that antibiotics are not covered by insurance when they are bought directly at pharmaceutical stores. To get drugs at discounted prices, you will need to get a prescription from the doctor, with this, you can fully enjoy discounts if you’re medically insured.
Not all kinds of illnesses need antibiotics for relief. This is why it is important to visit medical practitioners who would run diagnoses and detect what is the nature of the illness one is battling and how best to treat them. If the illness needs an antibiotic for treatments, a prescription would be drafted which will be taken to the pharmacy. Some of the illnesses that need antibiotics are; ear infections, throat infections, sinus infections (sinusitis), UTS (Urinary Tract Infection), Pneumonia And Skin conditions
How Do Antibiotics Work?
Antibiotics are manufactured to help curtail, kill and stop the growth of harmful bacteria inside or outside the body of a living being. However, a set of antibiotics works on a broad scale of diverse bacteria which are called broad-spectrum antibiotics (battling multiple sets of bacteria in the body) while others work on only a targeted number of illnesses in the body. While some bacteria (Bifidobacteria) are helpful to the body, countless others are harmful and need to be terminated when they cause illnesses.
Prices of Antibiotics With Insurance
As has been said severally, Antibiotics bought with insurance are much cheaper compared to ones bought directly from the counter without insurance plans. In the US, antibiotics bought with insurance range between $10 and $20 on a monthly basis. However, the type and brand name of antibiotics bought tend to affect the price at which they are sold with insurance and this makes them very affordable compared to buying them without insurance.
Prices of Antibiotics Without Insurance
No insurance, no problem. The only problem involved is the high price which they will be sold to you over the counter. Note that you can still get antibiotics at a slightly cheaper price when you compare prices at multiple stores, buy from discounted platforms, and more. Below is a list of the 8 most common antibiotics and their prices without insurance.
| PRODUCTS | GENERIC PRICE | BRAND | BRAND PRICE | DOSAGE |
| Doxycycline | $41.23 | Mondoxyne NL | $146.79 | 100 mg |
| Ciprofloxacin | $21.52 | Cipro | $111.13 | 500 mg |
| Amoxicillin | $12.14 | N/A | N/A | 500 mg |
| Clindamycin | $77.75 | Cleocin T | $207.34 | 300 mg |
| Metronidazole | $17.77 | Flagyl | $257 | 500 mg |
| Azithromycin | $31.30 | Zithromax | $152.16 | 250 mg |
| Levofloxacin | $116.01 | Levaquin | $380.63 | 500 mg |
| Cephalexin | $23.64 | Keflex | $297.21 | 500 mg |
Are Expensive Drugs Usually Covered?
The common insurance policy does not immediately cover new and costly medicines. They can easily decide to remove new drugs from the standard package at will. At first, new-fashioned drugs are put on hold by health insurance companies until the Minister steps in to issue an advisory opinion by negotiating a better price with the manufacturer. In the Netherlands for example, the Minister can decide to put some drugs on hold if, using the medicine would cost more than €50,000 per patient yearly. Also, such drugs may cost more than €10 million yearly in the Netherlands. Using the drug for one or more new indications can cost more than €40 million yearly across the Netherlands.
Pharmacies That Issue Free/Almost-free Antibiotics in The (US)
Knowing that some pharmacies offer some antibiotics for free or at almost-free prices makes it great for people without or without insurance to get their hands on needed drugs when they are at their lowest, financially. This goes a long way in keeping most patients in a society free from common bacteria while they are offered drugs such as Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Ciprofloxacin, Penicillin, and more. Below is a list of those pharmacies in the United States.
1. Meijer Pharmacy
Meijer is a family-run company that makes a big deal out of its generosity and involvement in the community. With $650 million in prescription medication distributed since its inception in 2006, the Free Prescription Drug Program has played a significant role in this effort.
2. Super 1 Foods
Super 1 Foods also offers free antibiotics as they focus especially on family wellness and healthy living. All they demand is a prescription, whenever you are sick just get a prescription from a certified medical practitioner and hand it over to the free drugs.
3. Reasor’s Nearly Free Antibiotics
In the northeastern region of Oklahoma, there are 17 stores of small Reasor stores. In 1963, the first Reasor’s store was opened and children under the age of 12 are their main focus. Liquid penicillin and amoxicillin are usually free with a doctor’s prescription.
Refills are also free as long as your doctor orders them. You can profit from this benefit even if you don’t have health insurance.
The age restriction and a prescription from a doctor are the sole criteria. Keep in mind that only liquid forms of amoxicillin and penicillin are covered by this free prescription benefit.
4. Publix
For almost 15 years, Publix provided free antibiotics to customers. In actuality, the supermarket distributed more than 100 million free antibiotic prescriptions. This continued until June 1, 2022. Despite this, Publix continues to make an effort to keep the price of antibiotics low by selling several popular generic antibiotics at a reduced price of $7.50.
5. Winn-Dixie
Since its establishment in 1925, Winn-Dixie has grown to include more than 500 locations in the states of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi. The well-known grocery store offers a large selection of prescription drugs at pricing ranges of $10 and $4. A 30-day supply typically costs $4, and a 90-day supply often costs $10.
6. Giant Food
Historically, Giant Food has provided free antibiotics during the particularly bad flu and cold seasons. That application doesn’t run frequently, though.
Having said that, Giant Food does provide a sizable selection of prescription drugs, including inexpensive antibiotics. Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, and Ciprofloxacin are a few of the antibiotics that Giant Food pharmacies offer at reduced prices.
7. Amazon Pharmacy
The pharmacy department of Amazon provides excellent customer service in addition to prescription drugs. All you have to do is give Amazon the details of your insurance, your doctor, and a list of the current meds you’re taking.
You can get antibiotics with a prescription once you’ve registered with Amazon pharmacy. And the costs are reasonable. A 30-day supply of Amoxicillin was priced at just $1.70 when I ran a price check.
8. Stop & Shop
Prescription drugs are available in Amazon’s pharmacy area, along with excellent customer support. You just need to give Amazon the details of your insurance, your doctor, and a current list of the medications you’re taking currently.
After creating an account with Amazon Pharmacy, you can get antibiotics with a prescription. The costs are also reasonable. I looked up the cost of a 30-day supply of Amoxicillin, and it was only $1.70.
9. Walmart
Over 10,000 Walmart stores can be found in 24 different nations. The 1962-founded store is a mainstay all over the United States. Walmart offers a $4 prescription program as part of its commitment to preserving affordable rates. The list of $4 prescriptions at Walmart does not, however, include any antibiotic drugs.
Despite this, Walmart continues to strive to provide affordable prices for prescription medications, including antibiotics. You might be able to purchase an antibiotic supply for less than $10 for a 30-day supply, depending on the retail location you choose to buy at and the cost of prescription drugs at the time.
10. Sam’s Club
To shop at Sam’s Club, you normally need a membership. However, even if you don’t have a membership, you can purchase prescription medications at a Sam’s Club pharmacy.
However, since Sam’s Club offers the lowest pricing on antibiotics for members, you might discover an advantage in joining. A 21-day supply of amoxicillin cost about $2.80 when I looked up Sam’s member rates and entered a club located close to me.
Tips To Buy Antibiotics Cheaper Without Insurance
Drugs are naturally expensive without insurance, but there are a few methods you can adopt to buy them at a cheaper rate. If you follow these outlined processes, they won’t be quite as expensive as they ought to be when bought without insurance.
Compare Prices at Different Pharmacy
You may get drugs that are very expensive at one pharmacy and get them cheaper at another. This is why you should take this as an advantage and patiently check different physical pharmacies to understand their price tags for a particular drug and compare it to another. This is quite beneficial to most patients who don’t have health insurance plans
Go for Generic/Widely Available brands
When you’re prescribed an antibiotic by your doctor, going for the widely-available brand tends to reduce the price they are being sold. The truth is, the generic type is almost as effective as the brand name itself. However, they are cheaper and affordable to purchase.
Buy With Discount Programs
Some pharmacies have discount programs that can be very helpful for those who need drugs such as antibiotics. This program allows patients to get the original brand of antibiotics for cheaper prices compared to their normal rates if they have a membership with such companies. Some pharmacies that offer these discounts are; Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Price Chopper, Wegmans, Publix, and others.
Can I Buy Antibiotics Online?
Yes, you can. In fact, one of the easiest and cheapest methods of buying Antibiotics is by ordering them on the internet. While doing this, ensure that you’re purchasing them from well-respected and verified online marketplaces. First, check their website to enquire if they sell the particular antibiotics which you require. It is also important to buy from pharmacies that offer very little or no delivery fee in your locality. Online stores such as Drugstore.com, and Amazon will do very well in giving you the needed antibiotics at a cheaper rate. Just ensure that the products they offer comply with all safety requirements demanded by drug regulatory agencies like FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Once this is settled, you can enjoy the benefit of getting such drugs for a cheap rate.
Platforms That Sell Antibiotics With Discounts
You can also give websites like RxSaver a trial. RxSaver is a free prescription online platform that allows customers to easily find coupons on common antibiotics at a cheaper rate when they get to buy from them.
Medications on RxSaver
| ANTIBIOTICS | CHEAPEST PRICES |
| Azithromycin | $7.49 |
| Doxycycline | $223.01 |
| Amoxicillin | $5.03 |
| Cephalexin | $8.20 |
| Levofloxacin | $16.88 |
| Amoxicillin/Clavulanate | $11.90 |
CVS
CVS is another well-known pharmacy that offers antibiotics at a discount rate. The CVS pharmacy has a program called “Savings Catcher”. The idea behind Saving Catcher is to sell drugs to customers and give them 10% rewards of the selling price when they make use of coupons or reward cards from participating companies.
Walgreens
Walgreens also offers discounted prices for whoever bought certain drug supplements from them by using cash-back rewards from retailers like Walmart which offers $10 off drug items when customers purchase $100 worth of drugs within a year. Amazon Prime is also included. They offer 5% off from purchases with its brand, such as products like (Tylenol)Are They Healthy?
Conclusion
Since antibiotics are very necessary for the eradication of common infections, it is advisable to get insurance for them for optimal healthy living. While everyone may not be privileged to have insurance coverage, you can pick on the already mentioned factors to get antibiotics on the counter for a cheaper price. Recall that these options include, visiting the out-listed pharmacies that sell, buying from lower prices, buying from RxSaver, discount programs and more.