Copay Cards vs. Advocacy Programs: Which Saves You More?

You walk into the pharmacy, and the pharmacist hands you a "manufacturer coupon card." They tell you it will lower your Ozempic or Eliquis from $900 down to $25. You feel like you just won the lottery. But three months later, you go back, and suddenly the card is "maxed out," and the price is back to $900.

I’ve seen this heartbreaking scenario play out a thousand times. You need to know the difference between a temporary "teaser rate" and actual advocacy.

The Trap of the Copay Card

Copay cards (manufactured coupons) are a marketing tool used by drug companies. They are designed to get you started on an expensive drug so your insurance company has to pay the rest.

The problem? They have "caps." Once the drug company has spent a certain amount on your behalf, the coupon stops working. It is a pharmaceutical strategy meant to build "brand loyalty," not to provide long-term affordability.

The Stability of Advocacy

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) are different. These are clinical and financial programs that provide the medication for the long term. When you work with an advocate like Healthy Hope, your price is $40 a month—period. There are no "annual caps" or "teaser rates."

We don't just give you a coupon; we enroll you in the program that provides the actual medicine for next to nothing.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you only need a drug for one month, a coupon is fine. But if you have a chronic condition like diabetes, heart disease, or an autoimmune disorder, you need a permanent solution. Don't let a "maxed out" coupon card leave you stranded. Join an advocacy program that ensures you never have to pay full price again.

Skip the temporary coupons. Get your meds for $40/mo for good.