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How Does a Prescription Discount Card Work to Lower Medication Costs?
Do You Qualify for Any of March’s Class-Action Settlements?
TaxAct Review 2022: A Frugal Tax Filing Option

How Does a Prescription Discount Card Work to Lower Medication Costs?

Posted: 20 Sep 2019 09:00 AM PDT

Medicine is one of those expenses you usually can't put off. But the cost of prescriptions can make you feel sicker than when you first walked into the pharmacy.

According to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, about 26% of Americans say they have difficulty paying for their prescriptions. The cost keeps some from taking their prescriptions as directed — cutting pills in half or skipping doses to make their supply stretch. Others simply don't fill their prescriptions, or they try to replace them with cheaper, over-the-counter drugs.

This is bad, very bad. But you don't have to settle for high prices at the pharmacy you've been going to for ages. Comparison shopping with a prescription discount card can help you save money on the medicine you need.

"We shop around for televisions, we shop around for cars, but we don't really think to shop around for prescription medications," said Tori Marsh, director of research at GoodRx, a leading prescription discount card provider.

How Do Prescription Discount Cards Work?

Prices for medications can vary widely from one pharmacy to the next. GoodRx — and discounters like it — show you a comparison of your medication's cost at several nearby pharmacies. These companies also negotiate lower prices to benefit consumers.

"[It's] in the pharmacies' best interest because we help get people in the door," Marsh said. "Pharmacists notice a lot of the time that people leave the pharmacy counter just simply because they can't afford their medication."

Generally, prescription discount cards work like this:

You search for your drug in your local area via the prescription discount company's website or mobile app.
Use the price comparison to select which pharmacy you want to fill your prescription. You can do this on your smartphone before leaving your doctor's office.
Print out the discount card or coupon or show the discount code to the pharmacist using the mobile app.
If you have insurance on file, ask the pharmacist to process your order without running it through your insurance company.

Though you can't use a prescription discount card in conjunction with your insurance, you may find a quoted price lower than your insurance copay, Marsh said.

She said according to research in 2019, a GoodRx card will beat an insurance copay about 75 to 80% of the time.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recently launched an online pharmacy that offers 100 common drugs at a small markup. Here's how to see if it could help you get prescription drugs cheaper.

Choosing a Prescription Discount Card

GoodRx is not the only company on the market producing prescription discount cards or coupons. Similar companies include:

Most major pharmacy retail chains accept prescription discount cards. Some independent pharmacies also work with these discount programs.

When trying to decide which card to use, Marsh advised to look at the company holistically to determine whether it's acting in the consumer's best interest.

Ask yourself: Is this company finding me the best price for my medication? Is it asking me to provide personal information, and if so, how is the company using that information? Does the company charge a fee to be part of its program?

While charging a fee doesn't automatically make a company a scam, Marsh said, there are enough free options — like all the ones above — to choose from.

Other Ways to Save on Prescriptions

Here are a few more ways to cut your prescription drug costs:

Join a pharmacy discount program. Most major pharmacy chains also help consumers save money by offering their own discount programs for prescriptions. Instead of comparing costs to other retailers, these programs reward consumers with savings for being loyal customers. At CVS, you can earn points — called ExtraCare Rewards — that add up to a certain dollar amount off future purchases. Walmart has a list of generic prescriptions that cost $4 for a 30-day supply or $10 for a 90-day supply. Walgreens and Rite-Aid have their own savings programs where you can get deals on medications.

Use Amazon Prime. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can save up to 80% on generic drugs and 40% on name-brand medications through Amazon Pharmacy if you're paying without insurance. Most insurance plans are accepted, though. You'll also receive free shipping, which can take up to five days, though you can pay $5.99 to expedite shipping.

Try other mail-order pharmacies. Mail-order pharmacies can often save you money on prescription medications. Because delivery can be slow, this option is best for drugs you take regularly so that you can order them at least two weeks in advance. You can often save even more money by ordering a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply.

Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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Do You Qualify for Any of March’s Class-Action Settlements?

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 05:02 AM PST

Consumers have a lot of opportunities to claim some compensation in March thanks to a number of class action settlements.

Companies such as Apple, Kroger, Zoom, Forever 21, and more have agreed to settlements with claim deadlines next month. Read on to find out if you qualify.

The March deadlines for filing claims in these settlements are fast approaching, so read on to find out if you qualify. This month, there are more claim deadlines than usual in the first week.

TikTok Data Privacy $92M Class Action Settlement

U.S. TikTok users may qualify to claim part of a $92 million class action settlement.

The Class is made up of anyone living in the United States who used the TikTok app before Oct. 1, 2021. There is also an Illinois Subclass, made up of Illinois residents who used the app before that date.

The class action lawsuit accused TikTok and related defendants of using and collecting users' personal data without proper notice or consent.

The claim form deadline is March 1, 2022.

Kroger Data Breach $5M Class Action Settlement

Kroger customers whose information may have been compromised during a 2020 data breach may be eligible to claim up to $5,000 under a class action settlement agreement.

The Class is made up of those who received a notice from Kroger that their personal information was compromised as a result of the file transfer appliance (FTA) data breach.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed Kroger failed to protect their personal information, resulting in their being injured by the breach.

Claims must be submitted no later than March 5, 2022.

A branch from a bush is reflected in a phone.

AppleCare Replacement Devices $95M Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

Those who received a replacement device under AppleCare may be eligible to take part in a recent $95 million settlement resolving a class action lawsuit.

The Class is made up of individuals who purchased AppleCare or AppleCare+ for an iPhone or iPad after July 20, 2012, and received a remanufactured Apple replacement device.

The class action lawsuit had alleged Apple did not replace the devices as promised under warranty.

Applications for inclusion in the settlement must be submitted by March 4, 2022.

Zoom-Bombing $85M Class Action Settlement

Zoom video conferencing software users may qualify for a cash payment thanks to an $85 million settlement.

The Class is made up of all U.S. citizens who downloaded, opened, or used the Zoom Meetings Application between March 30, 2016, and July 30, 2021. It does not include those who used Enterprise-Level or Government accounts for Zoom meetings.

The plaintiffs alleged Zoom unlawfully shared users' information with third parties, failed to prevent unwanted disruptions in meetings, and misrepresented the platform's end-to-end encryption services.

Submit your claim by March 5, 2022.

Honda Infotainment Issues Class Action Settlement

Owners and lessees of certain Honda models could get some monetary relief after the carmaker agreed to a class action settlement resolving claims about its infotainment system.

The Class is made up of all current owners and lessees of a 2018 or 2019 Honda Odyssey vehicle (Elite, EX, EX-L, EX-LNR or Touring trim), a 2019 Honda Pilot vehicle (2EX-LNR, 2TRG, 2TRG 7P, 4Elite, 4EX, 4EX-L, 4EX-LNR, 4TRG or 4TRG 7P trim), or a 2019 Honda Passport (2EX-L, 2TRG, 4Elite, 4EX-L, or 4TRG trim) who reside in and who purchased or leased their vehicles (other than for purposes of resale or distribution) in the United States, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories, as well as former owners and lessees of Class Vehicles who submit a claim.

Also included are all U.S. military personnel who purchased a Class Vehicle during their military duty.

Plaintiffs claim to have experienced infotainment system issues such as frequent freezes, crashes, failure to boot or shut down, and failure to connect to devices such as phones.

The last day to file a claim is March 5, 2022.

Cheesecake Factory Receipt Privacy $4.75M Class Action Settlement

A class action lawsuit alleging certain Cheesecake Factory locations printed too many digits on customer receipts has ended in a settlement.

The Class is made up of cardholders who hold the 1 million unique credit or debit card numbers, whose EMV debit or credit card was used to make a purchase at a payment terminal at a Cheesecake Factory owned, operated, or branded restaurant that was programmed to print the first six and last four card numbers on customers' receipts between Nov. 10, 2016, and Feb. 4, 2017.

However, not all Cheesecake Factory locations printed such receipts, so not everyone who received a printed receipt between those dates qualifies as a Class Member.

The restaurants allegedly printed point-of-sale receipts that displayed more than the first six and last four digits of the customer's credit card number at select locations, a violation of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA).

The deadline to file a claim is March 31, 2022.

Nissan Defective CVT Transmission $277.7M Class Action Settlement

Certain Nissan owners and lessees may be eligible to claim up to $5,000 thanks to a class action settlement.

The settlement agreement benefits U.S. owners and lessees of 2014 to 2018 Nissan Rogues, 2015 to 2018 Nissan Pathfinders, and 2015 to 2018 Infiniti QX60s.

Plaintiffs argued their vehicle's continuously variable transmission, or CVT, was defective and caused poor transmission performance, shuddering, shaking, or even transmission failure.

They also alleged Nissan failed to warn consumers about the CVT issues or to fix the problem.

The last day to submit a claim is March 22, 2022.

Forever 21 Data Breach Class Action Settlement

If you made a purchase at certain Forever 21 stores, you may be eligible to claim some cash.

Any U.S. resident who used a payment card to make a point-of-sale purchase at an affected Forever 21 store while payment card data at the store was at risk is considered a Class Member.

The company was responsible for a data breach that took place between April and October 2017, according to a class action lawsuit.

The claim deadline is March 21, 2022.

Two men put solar panels on a person's roof.

SunPower Defective Solar Panels $4.75M Class Action Settlement

Those with SunPower solar panels may qualify to file a claim in a class action lawsuit settlement.

The settlement benefits individuals who bought one or more SunPower solar modules, or panels, equipped with defective microinverters and/or own a house where these modules are installed.

The allegedly defective microinverters were installed in the panels between July 2015 and December 2016 and carry serial numbers beginning with 4140515xxxx and 4140516xxxx. The following panel model numbers are affected:

SPR-E20-327-C-AC
SPR-E19-320-C-AC
SPR-E18-305-C-AC
SPR-X22-360-C-AC
SPR-X21-350-BLK-C-AC
SPR-X21-345-C-AC
SPR-X21-335-C-AC
SPR-X21-335-BLK-C-AC
SPR-X20-327-BLK-C-AC

Plaintiffs claim SunPower sold these panels that were allegedly made using a defective component from a third party; this component causes parts to degrade prematurely, generate less power, or stop working.

File your claim by March 10, 2022.

Cellco Partnership, Verizon Pre-Recorded Debt-Collection Calls $3.95M Class Action Settlement

Individuals who received a pre-recorded call from Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon, may be eligible to take part in a recent class action settlement.

The Class is made up of anyone whose phone number was listed as "can be contacted" on a Verizon account, who received a pre-recorded debt collection call from Verizon, pressed the button to indicate a wrong number while on the call, but received another prerecorded debt collection call afterwards, all within the last four years.

According to the plaintiff in the class action lawsuit, these calls violated the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

Class Members must file their claim by March 7, 2022.

Wells Fargo Bankruptcy Credit Reporting $3M Class Action Settlement

Some Wells Fargo customers may be eligible to collect a cash payment after the bank allegedly incorrectly handled bankruptcy credit reporting.

The Class is made up of individuals who had a credit card account, direct auto account, home equity line of credit account, or personal line account with Wells Fargo that was charged off — meaning the grantor wrote the account off their receivables as a loss, and the account is closed to future charges, according to Experian — by Wells Fargo and sold to a third-party debt buyer on or after Jan. 1, 2009, and were discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy after the debt was sold but before March 16, 2020.

A class action lawsuit alleged Wells Fargo reported previous debts as being sold, charged off, and having a $0 balance instead of reflecting the true nature of the debt. The plaintiffs say the bank should have indicated in its reports that the debts had been included in bankruptcy proceedings.

Claim forms must be submitted no later than March 21, 2022.

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TaxAct Review 2022: A Frugal Tax Filing Option

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 05:00 AM PST

Even with the possibility of a refund dangling in front of us, most of us hate to do our taxes.

Online tax prep and filing services significantly ease the burden without paying personal-accountant-level dollars. But of the many available tax preparation companies, which is the best?

In this review, we'll cover TaxAct, one of the lesser-known income-tax filing programs — but a frugal filing option you'll want to check out.

Here's what you need to know about TaxAct.

How Does TaxAct Work?

TaxAct offers DIY online tax software that helps you file your tax returns neatly, completely and accurately. Even if you're a tax whiz, having a guide streamlines the process and could save you time and money. These services scan hundreds of credits and deductions to ensure you get the biggest refund (or lowest tax bill) possible.

Compared with the better-known e-filing products, like H&R Block and TurboTax, TaxAct is pretty scaled down — and thus, more affordable.

Rather than inundating you with options, tools and features, this program is all about getting down to business and getting your taxes done, as quickly and cheaply as possible.

TaxAct offers four pricing tiers based on your tax situation: free, Deluxe, Premier and Self-Employed. Here's everything you need to know about each (current as of February 2022 and subject to change).

Free

If you're a "simple filer," you can take advantage of free preparation for federal and state returns with TaxAct's basic product.

This tier covers W-2 income; tax breaks for dependent deductions, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and child tax credits, education expenses for current students, and retirement income.

Cost: Free to file a federal return, plus $39.95 per state tax return.

Deluxe

TaxAct Deluxe offers everything you get with the free version as well as coverage for itemized deductions, mortgage interest, real estate taxes, student loan interest, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and adoption credits.

Cost: Starts at $24.95, plus $44.95 per state return.

Premier

TaxAct Premier covers all the basics from the Deluxe version, plus options for investors, people earning royalties or K-1 income, rental property owners and foreign bank account holders.

Cost: $34.95, plus $44.95 per state return.

Self Employed

If you're a freelancer or small business owner, you already know you're going to be paying more in taxes, and have access to more complex deductions and credits — and that may mean you need more support to fill out your return accurately.

TaxAct Self Employed customers get everything at the Premier level, as well as the ability to calculate personalized business deductions, calculate depreciation and access year-round planning resources.

Cost: $64.95, plus $44.95 per state return.

Weighing your options for filing taxes? We've got you covered with an overview of all the best tax software.

Features

All TaxAct customers get access to its suite of basic features, guarantees and goodies. Those include:

Tax Pro Assistance

Through Xpert Assist, all filers — even free filers! — get access to help from a live professional over the phone, in case you need a little more personalized guidance about your tax situation. Unlike most competitors, TaxAct charges no additional fee for this feature.

If you want a tax pro to take all the work off your hands, you can opt for Xpert Full Service. You'll upload your documents online, the expert will fill out the paperwork, and you'll review it together before they file it for you. Full Service costs are tiered just like the DIY versions:

Basic: $99.95 including a state return.
Deluxe: $169.95, plus $44.95 per state.
Premier: $249.95, plus $44.95 per state.
Self-Employed: $279.95, plus $44.95 per state.

Easy Import

No matter who did your taxes last year, TaxAct makes it easy to import your information— including data coming directly from H&R Block or TurboTax.

FAFSA Guidance

While TaxAct might be simpler than its more expensive cousins in most ways, it's the only one of the three that offers a FAFSA guidance worksheet.

Accuracy Guarantee

TaxAct is confident in its ability to meet your tax needs, and it backs up that confidence with its $100k Accuracy and Maximum Refund Guarantee.

If an error means you get a smaller refund or larger tax bill than you should have, the company will reimburse you for additional taxes and penalties owed due to its mistakeup to $100,000, as well as refund your TaxAct fees.

Compared with the better-known e-filing products, like H&R Block and TurboTax, TaxAct is pretty scaled down — and thus, more affordable.

This $100,000 guarantee extends to those who are audited after filing with TaxAct. You can submit "reasonable," documented, audit-related expenses, and the company will reimburse you, again, up to $100,000.

Finally, if you're not totally satisfied with your TaxAct product for any reason, you can discontinue using it before completing your return and paying the fee. You can't get a refund after you've printed or e-filed your return.

Mobile App for Apple and Android

TaxAct offers mobile apps for Android and iOS, though they're not as highly rated as the sleek versions from H&R Block and TurboTax.

Pay-With-My-Refund Option

Eligible filers can pay their TaxAct filing fees with a portion of their refunds to avoid an out-of-pocket cost.

You'll pay an additional fee for this service: $17.99 if you're receiving your refund payment by direct deposit or $9.99 if you're receiving it on a PayPower card.

Protection Plus Audit Defense

For TaxAct Professional users (tax pros filing taxes for clients), TaxAct works with Protection Plus to provide audit assistance and tax debt relief services for clients, regardless of where you filed. This service isn't available if you sign up to file your own taxes with TaxAct.

Price Lock Guarantee

Most years, TaxAct offers an option to auto-enroll your return before the tax season starts to lock in the lowest price of the season — because prices fluctuate throughout the season and tend to be highest closest to Tax Day.

You can also nab that low price by paying for the product early in the season, even if you're not ready to file yet.

Fees

TaxAct pricing is somewhat simpler than competitors', which means you're less likely to be surprised — but you have less choice to customize. To prepare and file your tax returns through TaxAct, you'll pay a fee for the filing program, plus additional fees for state filing.

Unlike H&R Block and TurboTax, you don't have to pay to upgrade to live tax pro help. Expert help is included with every tier, and you can upgrade to Full Assist if you want a TaxAct pro to handle the entire return for you.

Product fee: Free to $64.95, depending on tier.
State filing fees: $39.95 or $44.95 per state return, depending on tier.
Xpert Full Assist: $99.95 to $279.95, depending on tier.

TaxAct: Pros and Cons

What makes TaxAct stand out — in good and bad ways? Here are some of its benefits and drawbacks:

Pros

Affordable: For filers with more complicated taxes, TaxAct is less expensive than most competitors, including for live help from a tax pro.
Ease of use: TaxAct's website is easy to navigate, and a clickable questionnaire makes it easy to figure out which product is right for you based on your tax information.
FAFSA help: TaxAct offers a useful FAFSA guidance worksheet to make tax time a little less stressful for students.

Cons

No personalized audit support: TaxAct offers less robust, personalized audit support than TurboTax or H&R Block, though you are covered for mistakes by its $100,000 guarantee.
No refund advance: You'll have to wait to receive your refund on the government's schedule.
State filing is pricy: For most filers, TaxAct's state filing fees are higher than competitors', and it doesn't let you file state taxes for free through its free tier, as most competi

Remember, you can always file federal taxes for free, if you're eligible, through the IRS Free File portal. This service is available to filers who earned $73,000 or less (for tax year 2021), and the page also links to free fillable tax forms for earners at all levels.

Still comparison shopping? We've reviewed these other popular online tax programs:TurboTax and H&R Block.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about TaxAct

We've rounded up answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about TaxAct.

Who is TaxAct Best For?

If you're after the very best bang for your buck, TaxAct is a hard act to beat. It's the most affordable of the popular online options, and you even get access to live help for no added cost. If you're looking for a tax filing platform that's easy to navigate while still offering all you need to get the job done, TaxAct may just be the pared-down prep program you're looking for.

Is TaxAct Legitimate?

Yes! TaxAct is the tax prep product of the Iowa-based software company TaxAct Holdings, Inc., which has been producing the product since 1998. TaxAct is a member of the Free File Alliance, a public-private partnership with the IRS to offer free tax filing to millions of U.S. taxpayers.

Is TaxAct Really Free?

You can get free tax filing through TaxAct in two ways: Access its Free File program through the IRS landing page and meet the qualifications, or sign on through TaxAct's home page and use its Free version to file a simple return. Like its competitors, TaxAct offers several tiers for filers based on various tax situations, but you're entitled to free federal filing if you use the IRS Free File option and meet the requirements. You'll still pay a $44.95 fee to file a state return.

How Accurate Is TaxAct?

Like its competitors, TaxAct offers an accuracy guarantee to ensure your return includes all required information and all possible deductions and credits. If you calculate a bigger refund or lower tax bill with another service, it'll reimburse you up to $100,000.

Which Is Better TaxAct or TaxSlayer?

TaxAct and TaxSlayer offer comparable services for simple tax filers. TaxSlayer's fees are significantly lower, but it's lighter on features than TaxAct.

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