Prescriptions Delivered

What you should know about mail-order pharmacies.

It used to be just pizza, but these days, you can have pretty much anything you need delivered right to your door. Groceries, dinner, clothes, electronics, furniture, and more can all be brought to your doorstep. With a few clicks on your computer or phone, your purchases can come straight to you without the time and hassle of driving in traffic and waiting in lines. You can even have your prescription medication delivered.

Mail-order pharmacies claim they’ll save you time and money, but do they really? Here are a few things to consider as you decide whether or not to make the switch to ordering prescriptions online.

How Does It Work?

There are a lot of mail-order pharmacies out there, so how do you choose the one that works best for you? Most health insurance companies partner with a specific mail-order pharmacy. If considering a mail-order pharmacy, call you health insurance or visit their website to find out which pharmacy you can use and how to sign up. Prescriptions may not be covered by your insurance if you order from a pharmacy that doesn’t have a partnership with your insurance.

When you’re at your doctor and get a new prescription, have your doctor send your prescription directly to the new pharmacy. You can also order new prescriptions online, by phone, via an app, or by mail if you attach your doctor’s prescription. In most cases, you can order a 90-day supply of your medication, and it typically takes a week or two to be delivered.

Which Prescriptions?

Since it takes time for a prescription to be delivered, mail-order pharmacies aren’t ideal for every medication. Some medications you need as soon as possible, such as an antibiotic or antiviral drug. For these, it’s best to continue going to your neighborhood pharmacy.

Drugs you take regularly (a.k.a. maintenance drugs), however, are perfect for delivery by mail. These include daily medication to lower your blood pressure or a daily birth control pill.

Some medications come with restrictions. As a result, they can’t be delivered by mail. These typically include controlled substances that can be abused or misused.

Mail-Order Vs. Online Pharmacy

Both mail-order pharmacies and online pharmacies ship prescription medications to your mailbox. Mail-order pharmacies are connected with your health insurance plan. Online pharmacies may be located anywhere in the world and may or may not take your insurance. While some are reputable and trustworthy, others are not. They may even sell counterfeit drugs that don’t include the ingredients you need.

A Price Comparison

If you’re more concerned about saving money than convenience, you would do well to shop around and compare prescription prices between your local drugstore and the mail-order pharmacy. Some insurances offer discounts for ordering generic drugs, especially for chronic conditions. Check to make sure you get free shipping.

Downsides to Mail-Order

Before making the switch to a mail-order pharmacy, consider the potential downsides. Unlike your local pharmacy, you can’t walk in and speak to the pharmacist about your questions or concerns. If you like having a relationship with your pharmacist, mail-order pharmacies are not as personal, but staff should be available to answer questions.

Taking several different medications? If you fill prescriptions in two different places, the pharmacist won’t be able to screen easily for possible drug interactions. To avoid this problem, let each pharmacy know of all the drugs you’re taking.

And don’t forget about timing. Dealing with the postal service means you must account for errors or delayed shipping. Prescriptions may not arrive when you need them, get lost in the mail, be stolen, or get damaged.