Prescriptions
How to pay less for blood pressure and cholesterol medicine
If you take a pill every day for blood pressure or cholesterol, small savings on each fill add up over a year. Here’s how generics work and what to ask, so you can pay less without changing your care on your own.
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Don’t stop or switch medicines on your own. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you change a drug, dose or how often you take it to save money.
Start with the generic question
Generics work the same way
The FDA says approved generics have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route as the brand, and provide the same clinical benefit and risks.
Source: FDA
They usually cost less
Generic makers don’t repeat the brand’s clinical trials, and competition among several generics typically lowers prices.
Not every drug has one
You can look up your medicine in the FDA’s Orange Book to see whether a generic is available.
Source: FDA, Orange Book
Compare your price before you fill
Look up your blood pressure or cholesterol medicine with the free RxGo card and compare that price with your copay and other pharmacies.
MegaSavings may earn a small fee when you use the RxGo card, at no cost to you. Discount cards aren’t insurance, and prices vary by pharmacy.
Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist
- Is there a generic, or a lower-cost drug that would work for me? Medicare.gov suggests asking your doctor about a generic or a cheaper brand-name drug (Medicare.gov).
- Would mail order be cheaper? Medicare.gov says sometimes it is (Medicare.gov).
- Would a longer supply cost less per month with my plan? Ask the pharmacist to price it both ways.
- What’s the cash price with a discount card, and what’s my copay? Pay whichever is lower for that fill.
“My pill looks different. Is that OK?”
Generic pills can look different from the brand, for example in color. The FDA says these minor differences don’t affect how the medicine works (FDA). Your pharmacy may also switch between generic makers. If you notice a side effect or think a medicine isn’t working, talk to your doctor or pharmacist (FDA).
Worried about recalls?
Some blood pressure drugs, including losartan, valsartan and other ARBs, have been part of FDA reviews of nitrosamine impurities. The FDA says patients taking medicines with potential nitrosamine impurities should not stop taking them, and should talk to their health care professional about concerns and other options (FDA).
If you have Medicare
- Out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs are capped at $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 (Medicare.gov). Discount card purchases don’t count toward that limit (Medicare.gov).
- Extra Help: if you qualify, in 2027 you’ll pay no more than $5.80 for each generic and $14.40 for each brand-name drug at participating pharmacies (Medicare.gov). Apply through Social Security.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan can spread your out-of-pocket costs across the year.
- During open enrollment, check that your medicines are on your plan’s list. See our Medicare open enrollment guide.
If you’re uninsured or your copay is high
- Compare cash prices at more than one pharmacy with a free discount card. See how discount cards work.
- HRSA-funded health centers offer sliding fees based on income. Find one near you.
- Search the Medicine Assistance Tool for assistance programs tied to your drug.
- Illinois open enrollment for 2027 plans runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 at Get Covered Illinois.
Check prices at pharmacies near you
The RxGo card is free. Show it at the counter, or print a coupon, and compare the price with your copay.
MegaSavings may earn a small fee when you use the RxGo card, at no cost to you. Discount cards aren’t insurance, and prices vary by pharmacy.
Common questions
Are generic blood pressure and cholesterol drugs as good as brand-name?
The FDA says approved generics work the same way and provide the same clinical benefit and risks as their brand-name versions.
Why does my generic look different from last time?
Generics from different makers can differ in color or shape. The FDA says these minor differences don’t affect how the medicine works. Ask your pharmacist if you’re unsure.
Is there a generic for my medicine?
Ask your pharmacist, or look up the drug in the FDA’s Orange Book.
Can I use a discount card if I have Medicare?
Yes, but Medicare.gov says purchases with a discount card instead of your plan don’t count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket limit.
Does MegaSavings get paid?
MegaSavings may earn a small fee when you use the RxGo card, at no cost to you. It doesn’t change the tips on this page.
Sources
- FDA: Generic Drug Facts
- FDA: Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers
- FDA: Orange Book (Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations)
- FDA: Information about Nitrosamine Impurities in Medications
- Medicare.gov: Help with drug costs
- Medicare.gov: Costs for Medicare drug coverage
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
- Social Security: Apply for Extra Help with Medicare Part D
- HRSA: Find a Health Center
- PhRMA: Medicine Assistance Tool
- Get Covered Illinois: Open Enrollment
More guides: Prescriptions · Prescription discount cards · Prescriptions without insurance · Medicare open enrollment
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Last reviewed: October 28, 2026