Capital Blue Cross partners with Mark Cuban for lower drug costs

According to a September 2021 Gallup poll, 18 million Americans have been unable to afford at least one prescription medication for their household, and 1 in 10 Americans have skipped doses to save money. 

To help combat the problem, Capital Blue Cross will become the first health plan in the nation to collaborate with the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company to help offer lower-cost prescription drugs 

Cuban, a billionaire entrepreneur and television personality, launched Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs with the aim of disrupting the pharmaceutical industry with transparent drug pricing and minimal markups and fees.  

The company charges consumers 15% over what it pays the manufacturer for the drug, plus a $3 per-prescription dispensing fee and shipping. 

Capital Blue Cross said that as a result, customers can receive savings of up to 80% on some of the most commonly prescribed generic drugs.  

For example, atorvastatin, a commonly used cholesterol lowering medication, is around $4 per month through Cost Plus Drugs, which Capital Blue Cross said can cost significantly more at retail. 

Capital Blue Cross President and CEO Todd Shamash said the relationship with Cost Plus Drugs is important to Capital’s members and the communities the insurer serves. 

“Capital’s collaboration with Cost Plus Drugs will help us bring lower-cost medications to members and nonmembers alike across our service area, providing some much-needed relief to those struggling to pay for their vital – and sometimes life-saving – medications,” Shamash said. “We are passionately committed to finding new ways, new relationships that help us improve affordability in healthcare.” 

Alex Oshmyansky, CEO of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, commented on the collaboration. 

 “Our mission at Cost Plus Drugs is to ensure all consumers have access to the medications they need to be healthy – a goal Capital Blue Cross shares,” he said. “Working with a like-minded organization like Capital gives us more momentum to help people get the medications they need at costs they can afford.” 

Later this month, Capital Blue Cross and Cost Plus Drugs will begin sharing information about the collaboration with Capital members and community organizations to explain how they can access the lower-cost drugs