New on Taking Stock: Rxn transfer tracker...

In response to numerous requests, I am going to start tracking the prescription transfer coupons issued in this market. I will catalog the prescription transfer coupons offered by stores in the Sunday paper or other widely distributed advertisements. It won't be fancy like the coupon database. But it will get the job done.

I will post the actual coupon list in my next post and create a permanent link to it under "other topics of interest" in the left-hand rail of this page. You will always be able to click on that link and see which stores have offered prescription transfer coupons recently.

But, I figured that if I was going to start tracking those coupons, I should post a discussion about how to use them. Click Read More to read all about it.

What are prescription transfer coupons?
Prescription transfer coupons are coupons issued by stores with pharmacies to try to get you to transfer your prescription to them. Usually, there’s an incentive, such as a gift card to that store or a certificate to be spent in the store.

In our market, there are several stores that occasionally offer prescription transfer bonuses, including Target, Kmart, Kroger, Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens. Harris Teeter has also occasionally offered a similar promotion. Most typically the coupons will appear in the regular Sunday sales flier, though there is no set schedule for when the coupons are offered.

Why would I use these?
Especially if you have a monthly prescription that is filled every month, this is an easy way to get a little more bang for your buck. By transferring your prescription from pharmacy to pharmacy, you can pick up a gift card or other store credit with each prescription you fill. Especially if you participate in that store's rebate/instant rebate program, this can be a great way to pay for your rebate purchased without having to spend any money out of pocket, or reducing your amount out of pocket.

Um, Sue… you lost me.
OK, so let's say you have a monthly prescription that is currently at the Target pharmacy. But then Rite Aid issues a coupon good to get a $25 gift card when you transfer your prescription.

1) So you go to Rite Aid and have your prescription transferred (more on how below).

2) You give them your coupon when you check out.

3) You pay for your prescription and then receive both your filled prescription and your $25 gift card.

4) Then you can turn around and use that gift card strategically to buy things that qualify for the Rite Aid Single Check Rebate program. (or CVS Extra Bucks, or Walgreens Register Rewards, etc…)

5) Next month, move your prescription to another pharmacy that has offered a coupon. If you start doing this and are signed up for the stores' loyalty programs, you may even receive one of these transfer offer coupon in the mail asking you to transfer your prescription back.

How do I do it?
Transferring a prescription is easy. Simply take your empty container to the pharmacy to which you want to transfer your prescription. Tell the pharmacist you want to transfer it. They do the rest. Some stores can even take the information over the phone and have your prescription waiting when you come in.

Do make sure to read the coupon carefully. Some are good on a new OR transferred prescription. Some are only good on a transferred prescription.

And of course, make sure your coupon is not expired and that you have at least one refill left on your prescription.

What's the catch?
There's not really a catch. Make sure that your coupons are in date and that you’ve read the fine print carefully. Some stores will say one per XX months or some other thing like that.

Also, I do not recommend this method if you take several medications and are worried about interactions. It is best to keep all of your medications at one pharmacy in that case.

Click here to go to the list of current prescription transfer coupons!