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  5. I used Mark Cuban's new pharmacy company to order my medicine, and the prescription was a little cheaper. Here's how it worked.

I used Mark Cuban's new pharmacy company to order my medicine, and the prescription was a little cheaper. Here's how it worked.

I used Mark Cuban's new pharmacy company to order my medicine, and the prescription was a little cheaper. Here's how it worked.
Mark Cuban's new online prescription medicine pharmacy sells generic version of life-saving drugs for a fraction of the retail cost.CostPlus Drug Company
  • Mark Cuban launched an online prescription medication service earlier this year to help patients save money on drugs.
  • I used the service to order my scripts, and found the process simple and relatively quick.

Mark Cuban launched his low-cost prescription drug online pharmacy on January 19, 2022. The service claims to help save consumers up to thousands of dollars on life-saving medication.

Mark Cuban launched his low-cost prescription drug online pharmacy on January 19, 2022. The service claims to help save consumers up to thousands of dollars on life-saving medication.
Jin S. Lee

Patients can save $2,485.40 on a generic version of leukemia medication Imatinib, for instance, and $1,038.50 on generic pills of the HIV treatment Epzicom, according to Cost Plus' website.

Patients can save $2,485.40 on a generic version of leukemia medication Imatinib, for instance, and $1,038.50 on generic pills of the HIV treatment Epzicom, according to Cost Plus
A patient receives dialysis.      Edwin Tan/Getty Images

Through a private label agreement, Cost Plus Drug Company contracts with a third party supplier to get unfinished prescription drugs. The service carries out the final stage of processing and labeling and takes a 15% profit margin to reduce the costs of prescription medication — essentially cutting out pharmacy middlemen.

Through a private label agreement, Cost Plus Drug Company contracts with a third party supplier to get unfinished prescription drugs. The service carries out the final stage of processing and labeling and takes a 15% profit margin to reduce the costs of prescription medication — essentially cutting out pharmacy middlemen.
A worker at Pfizer's manufacturing facility in Freiburg, Germany produces the COVID-19 antiviral pill Paxlovid      Pfizer

Source: Insider

I decided to use Cost Plus Drug Company to order my mental health medication and see how much money I could save.

I decided to use Cost Plus Drug Company to order my mental health medication and see how much money I could save.
Mark Cuban on the set of "Shark Tank" season 13      ABC

The first step to ordering drugs on Cost Plus Drug Company is to set up an account.

The first step to ordering drugs on Cost Plus Drug Company is to set up an account.
CostPlus Drug Company

I spent about 15 minutes creating my account. The process required basic information, as well as details about your medical history.

I spent about 15 minutes creating my account. The process required basic information, as well as details about your medical history.
CostPlus Drug Company

Along with providing my basic information, I had to answer questions about my allergies, health conditions, and medications I'm currently on.

Along with providing my basic information, I had to answer questions about my allergies, health conditions, and medications I
CostPlus Drug Company

I had initially gone to order a prescription for Xanax, but Cost Plus Drug Company does not offer a generic version of that medicine yet. I submitted a request form on the website asking to add Xanax in the future.

I had initially gone to order a prescription for Xanax, but Cost Plus Drug Company does not offer a generic version of that medicine yet. I submitted a request form on the website asking to add Xanax in the future.
CostPlus Drug Company

Luckily, the service did carry my second mental health medication. I found it in a list of medications, organized by category on a drop-down menu.

Luckily, the service did carry my second mental health medication. I found it in a list of medications, organized by category on a drop-down menu.
CostPlus Drug Company

After setting up my account and figuring out which medicine to order from Cost Plus Drug Company, I needed to get my doctor to order in my prescription.

After setting up my account and figuring out which medicine to order from Cost Plus Drug Company, I needed to get my doctor to order in my prescription.
CostPlus Drug Company

The site offered doctors three options to send in scripts: calling a phone number, using an electronic prescription service, or faxing in a request form.

The site offered doctors three options to send in scripts: calling a phone number, using an electronic prescription service, or faxing in a request form.
CostPlus Drug Company

I texted my doctor and had her call in the script using a phone number provided to my account.

I texted my doctor and had her call in the script using a phone number provided to my account.
CostPlus Drug Company

I received an email from Cost Plus Drug Company about 24 hours after my doctor sent in the prescription. I tried emailing the company to ask how long the process would take (as well as to ask for a comment on this story) but could not connect with a representative for an answer.

I received an email from Cost Plus Drug Company about 24 hours after my doctor sent in the prescription. I tried emailing the company to ask how long the process would take (as well as to ask for a comment on this story) but could not connect with a representative for an answer.
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company

When I went to checkout, I was surprised at how inexpensive the drugs were. I saved $18 on the retail price for my medication, and roughly $5 from the co-pay I usually pay for my medication.

When I went to checkout, I was surprised at how inexpensive the drugs were. I saved $18 on the retail price for my medication, and roughly $5 from the co-pay I usually pay for my medication.
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company

Cost Plus Drug Company does not take insurance, but even with insurance my co-pay is typically higher than the cost I paid through Mark Cuban's service.

Cost Plus Drug Company does not take insurance, but even with insurance my co-pay is typically higher than the cost I paid through Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company

I did pay an extra $5 for shipping, a drawback compared to Amazon's online prescription service that does not charge a delivery fee. But I don't typically get my medications delivered as I prefer to pick them up at a CVS.

I did pay an extra $5 for shipping, a drawback compared to Amazon
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company

Source: Insider

I pay about $8 as a co-pay for my medication. Using Cost Plus, I saved $5 on the co-pay since the medicine was so cheap, but I ended up having to spend that money on delivery. I ended up not saving anything after delivery. If I paid without insurance, however, I would have saved $18 on the medication, according to Cost Plus Drug Company's website.

I pay about $8 as a co-pay for my medication. Using Cost Plus, I saved $5 on the co-pay since the medicine was so cheap, but I ended up having to spend that money on delivery. I ended up not saving anything after delivery. If I paid without insurance, however, I would have saved $18 on the medication, according to Cost Plus Drug Company
Tat'yana Malovinski/Shutterstock

I likely won't use Cost Plus again because I am not saving money when I take into account the delivery, but I would highly recommend the service for people whose insurance does not cover their medication, or who pay high co-pays.

I likely won
'Shark Tank' star Mark Cuban      Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images

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