According to GoodRx research, the following are the five most expensive cities for prescription drugs: 1. New York (24% above the national average); 2. Los Angeles (+13.7%); San Francisco (+13.6%); New Orleans (+ 12.3%) and 5. Milwaukee (11.2%). *

Way to go Milwaukee. On top again!

(In various reports over decades, health care costs in SE Wisconsin have consistently been higher than other areas of the country.)

Possible explanations (again, according to Good Rx):

• The higher overall cost of living in cities like New, York, L.A. and San Francisco. But that’s not the case here.
• Something called the “big box effect;” i.e., stores like Walmart offer generic drugs at low prices; e.g., $4 for a 30-day supply or $9 for 90-day. But don’t we have plenty of big box stores.
• Retail markup can vary dramatically from pharmacy to pharmacy.

I’ll add my two cents.

Consumers could do a much better job of asking prescribing physicians if there are generic alternatives when brand name drugs are prescribed. Also, check the price of drugs on GoodRx. Then, be prepared to change pharmacies if yours consistently charges more.

*Based on 2020 cash prices of the 500 most commonly prescribed medications, but not fills using Good Rx. Data sources, include pharmacies and insurers.