Prescription prices aren't standardized. The same medication, in the same dose and quantity, can cost noticeably different amounts at a big chain, a grocery store pharmacy, a warehouse club and an independent neighborhood pharmacy. Some warehouse clubs may even let non-members use their pharmacy, so it's worth asking.

Call a few pharmacies with the drug name, strength and quantity, and ask for the price with and without your insurance. Some pharmacies also have their own low-cost generic lists or savings clubs for common medications. Online price comparison tools can give you a quick starting point, though it's best to confirm the price with the pharmacy itself.

Keeping all your prescriptions at one pharmacy has real benefits, since the pharmacist can spot possible interactions between medicines. If you do split prescriptions among stores to save money, keep an updated list of everything you take and share it with each pharmacist and your doctor. That way, someone always has the full picture.