Medicare allows drug price comparisons

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. seniors can compare drug prices by using the Medicare Web site or by calling the agency's toll-free line, officials said Wednesday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said Medicare wants to help seniors who use the program's discount drug cards to find the lowest possible price for the medications they routinely use -- such as for blood pressure or high cholesterol.

"We are creating greater competition among drug companies and making the price of prescription drugs more transparent -- giving seniors more power to compare prices and choose the lowest-cost medicine that's right for them," Thompson said.

The "Lower Cost Rx Comparison Tool" is found at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE and will help seniors compare similar drugs by category.

The drug cards generally provide a 20 percent savings off the retail price of medications.

Using the comparison tool, for example, shoppers will find Zocor, used to treat high cholesterol, costs an average of $89 per month but another brand name drug for the same purpose, Altoprev, costs $57 per month.