CarelonRx launched EnsureRx in early 2024 with the goal to make medication more affordable for our members. This innovative solution compares prices for hundreds of generic medications (both covered and non-covered by a member’s benefit) against several cash discount cards and then applies the lowest available price at the pharmacy counter. Since its introduction, the program has significantly grown its impact.
In just one year, EnsureRx helped 3 million+ commercial plan members save more than $94 million on 3.3 million prescriptions filled.1 The success of the program has led to ongoing expansion, including the addition of drugs not covered by members' plans in the EnsureRx price comparisons, further empowering members to save even more money.
Easy access to affordability at the pharmacy
Prescription pricing is often complex, but EnsureRx makes things simple, so members don't have to hunt for coupons, do research, or go off benefit. Taking the guesswork out goes a long way to enable savings – especially considering that six in ten adults are taking at least one prescription drug.
Additionally, the CDC reports that about 9.2 million Americans have skipped medication doses to save money, and IQVIA data shows that 39 percent of commercially insured individuals used a discount card instead of their insurance at the pharmacy.
Automatic lowest cost for plan members
EnsureRx streamlines the discount card process, integrating savings options without any extra steps. Members can simply use their pharmacy ID card at retail pharmacies, including large chains as well as independent pharmacies, and EnsureRx will find and apply the lowest cost for hundreds of select generic medications.
Unique to EnsureRx, we have created a curated network of discount cards from multiple companies, we compare the discount costs to our plan benefit cost, and then automatically apply the lowest price to our members’ medications – a feature not found in many of the leading discount programs. What’s more, members will receive the lowest available cost applied automatically at whichever in-network retail pharmacy they prefer, without needing to visit multiple pharmacies.
Covered drug purchases still count toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, helping to ensure members remain on benefit for enhanced pharmacy care, and adding to the savings overall:
- Members can learn what they will pay in advance when using the Price a Medication feature, which displays a value message when EnsureRx has found the lowest cost under the benefit. This feature has also been expanded to indicate which drugs are not covered by a member’s benefit, making their pharmacy experience simpler and pricing options transparent.
- We provide easy visibility into those cost savings when members are viewing their CarelonRx claims summaries online or via the mobile app.
- By capturing the claim for covered drugs with EnsureRx as part of the benefit plan, versus using a different discount card directly, we’re able to prioritize our whole health approach to safe and effective use of medications.
At CarelonRx, we’re committed to making the pharmacy experience simple and more affordable for our members. We look forward to continuing to support our members' health and financial well-being with ongoing development of programs like EnsureRx.
This program is available to commerical plan members only at this time, and not available to Medicare, Medicaid, or home delivery members.
1 CarelonRx internal data July 2024 – July 2025.
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