Competitor Prescription Coupon Policies
Visit the Prescription Coupon Update to see what coupons are currently valid.
Stores vary in their acceptance policies. Many times the coupon has to be for a true competitor in the local area with a pharmacy (i.e. if you don’t have a local Rite Aid, they might not accept a Rite Aid coupon).
- Meijer will honor competitor prescription coupons, but will only offer up to $10.
- Some CVS stores will accept competitor prescription coupons. Plus you earn $1 ECB’s for every 2 prescriptions filled at CVS.
- Kmart will accept competitor coupons – call your local store…some readers are reporting that their local Kmart will not accept competitor coupons.
- Other pharmacies that accept competitor coupons are Osco Drug, Fry’s Food Stores and even some Walgreen’s will do so but they are few and far between. Just remember to call ahead and ask to ensure that they will take your coupon before you fill your prescription. Thanks to Kathy for the tip!
- Shopko will honor local competitors’ prescription coupons and add $2.00. Thanks to Rita for the tip!
- Publix will accept competitor coupons.
- Giant Eagle and some Krogers will also accept competitor coupons.
Dominick’s no longer accepts competitor coupons (as of May 2009). Thanks Couponing for 4 for letting me know!
Other Prescription Info
- Meijer offers free prenatal vitamins and antibiotics – click here for more details . They are also now offering free Metformin Immediate Release in 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1000 mg strengths. Up to 100 tablets per fill.
- Giant Eagle offers free antibiotics – click here for more details.
- Basha’s Food Stores also have the free prenatal vitamin program – thanks Kathy!
- Yoke’s Fresh Markets also have the free prenatal vitamins and free fluoride supplements for kid – thanks Kathleen!
- Publix offers free antibiotics
Have you found any other prescription coupons that I missed? Do you know of any pharmacies that accept competitor coupons that I should add to my list?
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Corrie is a "cents"able wife and stay-at-home mom of 2 boys.
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I was told by a Manager in the Kroger Pharmacy that Kroger’s is NOT allowed to take any competitor’s coupons at all now. Only their own.
That being the case, I did notice in the Sunday paper that Kroger has put out fliers for the pharmacy and they contained a coupon for $20 in groceries which is put on your Kroger card. These are taking 24 hours to be added to the card.
Thanks Mary! I was unable to use a competitor coupon at my Kroger also, but another reader stated that they were able to at theirs. I’ll update the policy.
Their policy also may have changed…my CVS used to accept competitor coupons, but now they no longer do.
CVS in LA area does take competitors coupons. I used 2 Rite aid $25 coupons at CVS and got a gift card loaded with $50!!!
Does WalMart accept pharmacy competitor’s coupons?
No, Walmart does not accept competitor’s coupons. I’m a pharmacy tech there. I wish they would though. Does anybody know where to get/print a current RiteAid transfer coupon??
Saver,
Unfortunately, I don’t believe there are any current Rite Aid coupons out there.
I am also curious to know if Walmart accepts competitors coupons….i would love that!! Also, a little FYI for all of you Giant Eagle shoppers…..Giant Eagle also offers free diabetes medications….. : )
Walmart does NOT accept competitors coupons.. and I find all of the walmart pharmacists to be complete jerks
Publix takes competitors coupons and has free antibiotics.
need a gift card coupon for new prescription good in January 2011. Thanks for any advice.
There are currently no coupons for a new prescription (unless you live near a ShopRite). Here are the current available prescription coupons .
Publix offers free antibiotics:
http://www.publix.com/pharmacy/Free-Antibiotics.do
And free Metformin:
http://www.publix.com/pharmacy/Publix-Pharmacy-Diabetes-Management-System.do
Just called and was told that I could use a $10 gift card coupon for Target (where my Rx is now) to transfer to CVS, she said “As long as it’s not expired.” Thanks for the tip!
Went by CVS yesterday with a large printable version of this coupon from bargainez.com. The CVS pharmacists said they no longer take prescription coupons printed off the internet. I knew the store manager and she helped me out in this case. Anyone else heard this policy?
I think that CVS stores’ competitor prescription coupon policies vary by region (and even possibly by store).
Do you know if Bi lo does the prescription coupon thing? Would they accept a competitors coupon for that?
I don’t live near a Bi Lo, so I don’t know. But, you can call the pharmacy to ask if they accept competitor prescription coupons.
I currently have my prescription at Kmart. Do you think Publix would accept a Kmart coupon even though my prescription is with Kmart right now. I suppose they would but thought I’d ask if anyone here knew.
Great info
kmart in Shawano, wi does not accept accept competitor coupons
The pharmacist at the Kmart in Zion, IL, just told me that they are no longer accepting competitor’s coupons. I don’t know if that is that case at all Kmarts now, or just at that one.
I have heard that Publix has free Metformin for diabetes. I am going to check it out on my next refill.
Albertson’s stopped taking comp’s coupons quite some time ago
Thanks Gina! I don’t live near an Albertsons, so I wasn’t aware of the change, but I have taken them off the list.
I need coupon/giftcard for new prescriptions, if there are any available.
Does Kroger give anything for new prescripts or just for transferred??
Thanks!
The only prescription “coupon” that I’ve seen is for Kroger in metro Detroit. There is no coupon required; however, it is for transferred prescriptions only.
Kroger offers free diabetes meds (i think 4 dif.)
Schnuck’s grocery stores offer many prescription antibiotics for free.
Sure, transfer coupons are great, and are meant to encourage new patients to try out a particular pharmacy, but they have quickly become the source of endless headaches, risky drug interactions, long wait times, and customer complaints.
A few points in the opinion of a senior pharmacy technician:
1.) Every day I see patients taking multiple medications, even for common health conditions (high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, etc.) who will “flip flop” and alternate scripts between pharmacies every month to get a gift card from two or more pharmacies. Two separate medications filled at two separate pharmacies could have life-threatening interactions, but the two separate pharmacists will have no idea.
You may think your doctor knows best, but you would be surprised. I have seen doctors write extremely dangerous combinations of medications ON THE SAME SCRIPT! Had the pharmacist not spotted it and alerted the doctor, that patient (and many others) would have likely suffered a heart attack, liver failure, or worse, it could be deadly. This is why the line “It’s just X-amount of pills. All you have to do is stick it in a bottle and put a sticker on it” is particularly an eye-roller.
2.) It is AGAINST THE LAW to give coupons/gift cards, etc. to any patient who’s prescriptions are paid for in any part by any state or federally funded insurance plan! This includes Medicaid and all sub-contracted companies thereof, Medicare Part D (hundreds of different supplemental private prescription plans), Government employees and retirees, Armed Forces and their families, and others.
So, when the pharmacist or technician ringing up your prescription won’t let you get the $20 off groceries, it’s not because they are being stingy or discriminating against you or your insurance in any way, it’s because it is considered insurance fraud, and our jobs are on the line. Sure, you may “get them all the time at the CVS down the street” with your Medicaid/Medicare, etc. The technician down the street can risk her job, that doesn’t mean I’m willing to risk mine, nor is it ethical.
3.) People who abuse the coupon programs by transferring their medications all around town on a monthly basis just to get the incentive offers increase wait times for people who just need to get their medicine and get home. I have had patients walk in with a mouth full of bloody gauze from the oral surgeon down the street, who just want to get their antibiotic and pain medication and go home to bed. It’s called “triage” to do our very best to fill these scripts quickly. The same applies for anyone who walks into any pharmacy bleeding, woozy, stitched, swollen, buckling over, holding a miserable sick child, etc.
A patient behind the guy in line with the bloody gauze and swollen face overhears me tell him, “We’re really busy but I’ll do my best to get you home quickly. Give us 15 minutes. Have a seat in the waiting room.” The next patient approaches the counter with a bottle of cholesterol medication (with 4 or 5 days worth still in it) from the CVS down the street, and a coupon, and is offended that they will have to wait more than the 15 minutes quoted to the previous patient for us to transfer and refill their prescription. The same is true when that patient brings in a new prescription, dated a month ago, and “needs it right away!” Have some compassion, please!
Transfer incentives are great high-dollar values, but please, while taking advantage of these offers and hunting bargains, remember the most important thing: You are dealing with prescription medications. Please do not risk your health and safety over 10 or 20 dollars in groceries. Be understanding to the people working in the pharmacy who are simply following rules and laws, and PLEASE be considerate to others.
Harris Teeter accepts competitors’ presceiption transfer (or new) coupons. I found that each store keeps a record of what you transfer. Last year I managed to transfer the same prescription to Kmart, then to Harris Teeter, back to Kmart and then back to Harris Teeter (using the same Harris Teeter), the pharmacist has a notebook with the list handwritten so she knew I had filled the prescription there before and used a coupon so she wouldn’t accept it. But I could have taken it to another HT…
Be advised that each Publix pharmacy location has the ability to see where and when you have used a competitor pharmacy prescription coupon at another Publix pharmacy location.
In addition, some Publix pharmacy locations have been making up (in my opinion) a policy of “one competitor pharmacy prescription coupon per lifetime”, while others state the policy as one every six months. YMMV.
Love it!!! My dad is getting $200 of free groceries for transferring his prescriptions to Harris Teeter, he was able to transfer all 10 at once and get credit for each. Plus, it got him to FINALLY go pick up his medicine! I’m so glad people are blogging their research. I’m a mother of a three month old and don’t get the chance to shuffle through all the junk mail every week… your site is easy to navigate and looks fresh. Nice work.
Thanks Emily! I’m glad to help
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