Online Pharmacy: How To Get Your Prescriptions Easier


While you might be used to going to the pharmacy every few months to get a prescription, online pharmacies can save you a trip and help keep your medications organized.

If you haven’t thought about transferring your prescriptions to an online pharmacy, it might be time. A few clicks could mean that there is no longer a need to queue in a brick and mortar location. Switching to an online pharmacy also means more privacy, as no one behind you in the queue will ever hear your conversation with the pharmacist. Most websites will allow you to set your health savings account card as the payment choice and have options to use a co-pay option or pay without insurance.

Be sure to only use approved online pharmacies recommended by the National Association of Pharmacy Boards. Websites with unlicensed pharmacies could sell drugs that are counterfeit, expired, or contain dangerous ingredients. Your personal information could also be at risk because it might not protect it.

After researching numerous online pharmacies, three stand out as solid options for most consumers.

Amazon Pharmacy has a useful price checker to show the cost of any medication and what you’ll spend depending on whether or not you use insurance. Amazon Prime members get the best prices, saving 80% on generic drugs and 40% on brand name drugs when paying without insurance. Prices drop the more you buy, and there’s even a six-month supply option for some of the more commonly prescribed drugs. Pharmacists are available 24/7 to answer questions, but they recommend using your local pharmacy for urgent medications such as antibiotics. Amazon Prime members get free two-day delivery. Non-members can pay $ 5.99 for two-day delivery or receive their medication for free in 4-5 days. Amazon Pharmacy is not available in Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, or Louisiana.

Costco Pharmacy is another option where you don’t need to be a member to use their services, but members definitely get the most benefit from it. If you’re a Costco member and join their Free Member Prescription Program, you’ll save the most money. They ship with the US Postal Service with a standard delivery time of 6-14 days. You can pay $ 10.95 for three-day shipping or $ 13.95 for two-day shipping if you’re in a rush. Be aware that not all insurance companies contract with Costco for mail order sales, so you will need to check with your business. Costco pharmacists are not available for viewing at all times, so you should check the website for hours of availability.

Finally, Walgreens may be a smart choice, especially for those who live within 15 miles of one of their locations. They offer free same-day delivery on qualifying prescriptions to over 8,000 Walgreens stores (Factors such as holidays, weather, and prescription type could make your order ineligible.) The Next Level of Qualifying Drugs Are Delivered in 1-2 business days and the rest will arrive in 5-10 business days. Shipping is currently completely free, but Walgreens says it won’t last forever. Free delivery at all levels is only possible at this time due to the pandemic. Walgreens also has pharmacists available 24/7 via chat for non-urgent questions.

Verification BonRx for one of the most commonly prescribed thyroid medications, levothyroxine (Synthroid / Levoxyl), the uninsured prices for 30 tablets in a 25 mcg dose vary widely. The website says prices can be as high as $ 11.69 at CVS Pharmacy and includes a discount. By comparison, Amazon Pharmacy sells a 30-day prescription for $ 3.80 and it drops to $ 3.20 per month if you order a 90-day prescription. Costco has a slightly higher price of $ 3.26 per month for a 90-day order, and Walgreens costs about double that price.

When you factor in the savings and add the convenience and privacy that online pharmacies offer, it seems obvious to move from one physical pharmacy to another.

When you decide to start ordering your medications online, have your doctor call the online pharmacy of your choice to transfer all the information. Then sit back and relax knowing that your prescriptions will arrive at your doorstep, often for less than you would pay by going to your local pharmacy.