Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban returned to the Pittsburgh area Wednesday to announce a new partnership between his Cost Plus Drugs company and Giant Eagle aimed at lowering the price of prescription medications.
Standing alongside Giant Eagle CEO Bill Artman, Cuban described a model built on price transparency: negotiate directly with drug manufacturers, eliminate hidden fees and the role of traditional pharmacy benefit managers, and limit the company’s markup to 15%. According to Cuban, that structure helps push prices below what many customers are used to paying.
Giant Eagle said the agreement will bring the Cost Plus Drugs program to customers across its five-state footprint, marking the company’s first major expansion into the Pittsburgh region beyond its existing relationships with independent pharmacies. The timing follows Giant Eagle’s recent influx of thousands of new customers from Rite Aid locations that closed, as the chain continues to onboard new team members and patients.
With this move, Giant Eagle joins other large grocery chains, including Kroger and Albertsons, that work with Cost Plus Drugs.
How customers can use it: present a Team Cuban Card (printed or on your phone) at a Giant Eagle pharmacy. Not all medications are eligible, and the card does not replace insurance. An online tool is available to find participating pharmacies that accept the card. The focus, Artman said, is making the process as easy and convenient as possible. Cuban added that having a real impact on the health care system would be the best reward.
Additional context and what it means for customers:
– The program’s fixed, transparent markup can offer substantial savings on some prescriptions, while others may still be cheaper through an insurance copay. It’s smart to compare the Team Cuban Card price to your insurance price at the counter.
– Because eligibility varies by medication, calling ahead or checking the online tool can help avoid surprises.
– For patients who recently transferred to Giant Eagle from closed Rite Aid stores, the added pricing option may smooth the transition and expand access to lower-cost prescriptions.
– Partnerships like this increase competitive pressure on prices and could encourage broader transparency across the industry.
Summary: Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs is partnering with Giant Eagle to bring a transparent, low-markup prescription pricing option to the grocer’s five-state network. Customers can show a Team Cuban Card at Giant Eagle pharmacies for eligible medications, with prices based on direct negotiation and a 15% markup. The move follows Giant Eagle’s absorption of thousands of former Rite Aid customers and aligns with similar partnerships at other supermarket chains.