Healthcare platforms for the uninsured
No insurance doesn’t mean sticker price. These platforms sell prescriptions, telehealth, and primary care for cash — often a fraction of retail. Pick one or combine. 0penRX is independent and takes no commission; figures are vendors’ own prices (see Sources) and change often. For a deeper dive, see the Amazon vs Costco vs GoodRx vs Walmart comparison.
Start with your situation
No single platform covers everything. Pick what you need — each routes to the verified options below.
Medications only
| Platform | Cost | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Pharmacy (Prime Rx) | $0 to use; up to 80% off generic / 40% off brand paying without insurance | Comparing per-drug cash prices; 60,000+ pharmacies | Requires Prime for best pricing; savings are “up to” maximums |
| Amazon RxPass pharmacy.amazon.com |
$5/mo flat + Prime ($139/yr) | Prime members wanting flat-fee common generics | 50+ generics only; excludes brand/insulin/controlled; not sent to CA/WA; no Medicaid/CHIP |
| Cost Plus Drugs costplusdrugs.com |
Cost + 15% + $5 pharmacy fee + ~$5.25 shipping (tiered). No membership. | Transparent, low-markup generics by mail | Mostly generics; ~2,000+ meds (not every drug); mail-order only |
| Costco Pharmacy rx.costco.com |
Cash prices, no membership — open to non-members (Costco’s own statement); an optional member program adds discounts | Cash-pay fills in-warehouse or online without joining; Instacart same-day, mail refills, locker pickup | Member-program terms unpublished — ask at the pharmacy; most insurance accepted |
| GoodRx (free card) goodrx.com |
$0 | Lowest local counter price, zero commitment; accepted at 70,000+ pharmacies | Not insurance; savings vary widely by drug/pharmacy; can’t combine with government plans |
| GoodRx Gold | $9.99/mo individual, $19.99/mo family | Regular fillers wanting deeper discounts | Up to 90% off on thousands of meds; not every drug/pharmacy |
| Walmart $4 / $10 list | 30-day from $4, 90-day from $10 for select generics (higher tiers apply) | Cheap staple generics, no signup | About 100 generics; antibiotics, antihistamines, steroids and brand drugs excluded; not in North Dakota; higher prices in some states (incl. CA, MN) |
Four more free discount cards — ScriptSave WellRx, America’s Pharmacy, SingleCare, and Optum Perks — are covered with their codes in our Coupon Guide, alongside Walmart’s no-card $4 program. Full tier, exclusion, and delivery detail lives in the four-way comparison.
Doctor visits (telehealth & in-person)
| Platform | Cost | Care offered | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon On-Demand Care health.amazon.com |
From $29 (message) / $49 (video); no membership; prices vary by condition | One-time virtual visits, 30+ common conditions | A cheap one-off televisit, self-pay only | Insurance not accepted; messaging not in every state |
| GoodRx Care goodrx.com/care |
$39–$70 per visit with no membership; $19 with Companion or Gold | Online visits by text, phone, or video | One-off online visits without any subscription | Online only; price varies by service |
| Sesame Care sesamecare.com |
Visits from ~$37; Sesame Plus $10.99/mo or $99/yr; Costco-member pricing from $29 — see the four-way comparison | Telehealth and in-person marketplace | One-off cash doctor visits, no insurance | Prices vary by provider; membership needed for lowest rates |
| Teladoc via Walmart Better Care Services |
$89 for a first visit without insurance | General medical telehealth | A single virtual visit with no subscription | Per-visit only; no meds included; launched 2026 |
Need in-person care but can’t afford a cash visit? A sliding-scale community health center may cost less — see Low income & public help below.
Medications + care, bundled
| Platform | Cost | What’s included | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoodRx Companion | $14.99/mo (after 7-day free trial) | $19 telehealth (GoodRx Care) + 200+ free generics + dental/vision/lab discounts | All-in-one cash bundle without joining Amazon | New (May 2026); individual-only, no family plan |
| One Medical health.amazon.com |
$99/yr (Prime); +$66/yr per extra member | 24/7 virtual care included; in-person billed separately | Prime members wanting always-on primary care | Requires Prime for that price; in-person visits cost extra |
Low income & public help
If a paid membership is still out of reach, these bill by income — not a flat price.
| Program | Cost | Best for | How to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community health center (FQHC) findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov |
Sliding scale by income; federally funded — some services free. Not insurance. | In-person primary, dental, and behavioral care with no insurance | Enter your ZIP at the HRSA finder to locate a center |
| Patient-assistance programs needymeds.org |
Free or low-cost brand-name meds for those who qualify (income-based) | Brand-name drugs with no generic that you can’t afford | Search your drug at NeedyMeds for its manufacturer’s program |
Sources
Vendor pricing changes frequently — confirm before signup.
- Amazon — RxPass ↗ · Prime Rx pricing ↗ · One Medical ↗ · On-Demand Care ↗
- Cost Plus Drugs — costplusdrugs.com ↗ (bot-blocks automated fetch; formula corroborated via public breakdowns)
- Costco — pharmacy ↗
- FQHC — find a center ↗
- GoodRx — free card & Gold ↗ · Companion ↗ · launch (IR) ↗
- NeedyMeds — patient-assistance directory ↗
- Sesame — membership ↗ · Costco member pricing ↗
- Teladoc (Walmart Better Care) — teladochealth.com ↗
- Walmart — $4 program ↗ · drug list (PDF) ↗
Common questions
Are there free prescription discount cards for the uninsured?
Yes. GoodRx, ScriptSave WellRx, America's Pharmacy, SingleCare, and Optum Perks are free universal discount cards any uninsured person can use with no enrollment.
What is the cheapest way to get generics with no insurance?
Cost Plus Drugs (cost + 15% + fees, mail order), Amazon RxPass ($5/mo flat with Prime), the Walmart $4/$10 list, and free discount cards. The cheapest source varies by drug, so price-check before each fill.
What is an FQHC and who qualifies?
A Federally Qualified Health Center is an HRSA-funded clinic offering income-based sliding-fee care. Eligibility is by income, not insurance status; find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
What is the best all-in-one option for one uninsured adult?
GoodRx Companion ($14.99/mo, 7-day trial) bundles 200+ free generics, $19 telehealth, and dental/vision/lab discounts with no Amazon account.
GoodRx vs SingleCare — which discount card is better?
Both are free universal cash-discount cards anyone can use without insurance — GoodRx at 70,000+ pharmacies, SingleCare at 35,000+, each advertising up to 80% off. Neither is always cheapest: the lowest price varies by drug and pharmacy, so price-check both before filling — they are free.
Amazon Pharmacy vs Cost Plus Drugs — which is cheaper?
They price differently. Cost Plus Drugs charges its acquisition cost + 15% + a $5 pharmacy fee plus shipping, by mail, with no membership. Amazon Pharmacy offers up to 80% off generics with Prime, and RxPass adds a $5/month flat rate for 50+ common generics (Prime required). The cheapest source varies by drug — check both before filling.