Always confirm costs with your healthcare facility and/or insurance coverage
Cost Plus Drugs, spearheaded by Mark Cuban, claims to disrupt Big Pharma by offering generic medications at wholesale prices plus a transparent markup. The pitch is simple: no PBMs, no insurance gatekeeping, just straight-up pricing that makes sense. So… does it actually deliver?
🧪 What Is Cost Plus Drugs?
Cost Plus Drugs is an online pharmacy selling generic medications directly to consumers. They claim to offer:
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Wholesale drug pricing
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A fixed 15% markup
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A $5 pharmacy fee
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A $5 shipping fee
Unlike your local CVS or Walgreens, where prices are inflated and impossible to decode, Cost Plus breaks everything down on the product page.
💵 Real Savings — or Marketing Gimmick?
Let’s be blunt: the savings are real — for the right drugs.
For example, imatinib (a leukemia drug) can cost over $10,000/month at a retail pharmacy. Cost Plus sells it for under $50. That’s not a typo. For common generics like atorvastatin or lisinopril, it might beat your local price, but it’s not always the lowest. GoodRx coupons still win in some cases.
Bottom line: it’s not the cheapest across the board, but for high-cost generics, it wipes the floor with traditional pricing.
📋 Ordering Experience
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You need a prescription. Either have your provider send it to Cost Plus or transfer it from an existing pharmacy.
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The platform doesn’t handle controlled substances or all name-brand meds.
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Partnered with Truepill, the fulfillment side is generally solid, but you won’t get the same immediate fill-and-go experience as a local pharmacy.
🤔 Who Should Use It?
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Uninsured or underinsured patients
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People paying cash for meds
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Anyone with high-deductible plans
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Those tired of playing “coupon roulette” at the pharmacy
It’s not ideal for:
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Meds that require real-time pharmacy consultation
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People needing instant prescriptions filled the same day
Final Verdict
Cost Plus Drugs isn’t perfect, but it’s a massive leap in the right direction for U.S. prescription pricing. It won’t replace your entire pharmacy experience (yet), but it should absolutely be in your toolkit for price-checking, especially on high-cost generics.
