CostThe cost rating is based on the average wholesale price for a drug. The average wholesale price is the suggested selling price for a drug, much like the sticker price on a car. Insurance companies often use this cost as the basis for drug reimbursement. This price does not reflect what you would pay for a drug if covered by your prescription benefit plan. For the ratings system, dollar signs are used to indicate the following price range categories: $ = < $25, $$ = $25 to $49, $$$ = $50 to $99, $$$$ = $100 to $199, and $$$$$ = > $200.