Staying healthy is a priority for most people these days. sometimes that may mean taking prescription medications that your doctor recommends. Picking up your prescriptions directly from a pharmacy can be challenging due to social distancing requirements, illness, or other factors. Mail order pharmacies work through health insurance providers to deliver medications directly to your home. If your insurance provider offers prescriptions by mail, this could be a convenient option for you.
what is a mail order pharmacy? how does it work?
A mail-order pharmacy works directly with insurance providers to send members their medications by mail. These are alternatives to local pharmacies that make it much easier for people who can’t or don’t want to stop at their local pharmacy to get the medications they need. patients can have their doctor send their prescription directly to the mail order pharmacy, or they can fill out an online order form and attach their prescription.
advantages
- convenience: The convenience of mail order pharmacies is what most people are attracted to. It’s easy to order eligible prescriptions and prescription refills online, by phone or with a smartphone through a mobile app, and you can even set up continuous refills for multiple medications.
- Cost: Ordering prescriptions through a mail-order pharmacy can also be less expensive than ordering them at a local pharmacy. you can sometimes get a 90-day supply of prescriptions through the mail, which is often cheaper in the long run.
cons
mail order pharmacies may be the most convenient option that will save you money and trips to the pharmacist, but they do have some drawbacks.
- delivery delays: Receiving medications by mail can take longer than picking them up at a local retail pharmacy. It can take three to 14 business days to receive your mail-order medications, and mail-order delivery systems can be unpredictable.
- Damaged packages: Packages containing special medications like insulin may break or medications that need to be refrigerated may not be kept cold enough.
People who need their prescriptions right away or those with special medications should carefully weigh the pros and cons of mail order.
mail order pharmacies vs. online pharmacies
Getting your prescription from a mail order pharmacy is not the same as buying your medicine online. Mail order pharmacies and online pharmacies send prescriptions through the mail, but they don’t work the same way. Mail order pharmacies work directly with your insurance, while online pharmacies may or may not accept insurance.
Not all online pharmacies are legitimate either. some websites will offer people deep discounts but send them counterfeit drugs. Online pharmacies can operate from anywhere and may not be subject to US law. uu. laws and regulations. Mail order pharmacies operate under strict laws and regulations to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your medications.
If you don’t have health insurance, you can still get the prescription drugs you need through an online pharmacy. Be sure to search for valid online pharmacies that are accredited under the VIPPS program. The VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) program accredits pharmacies that sell and dispense medications online.
“When a pharmacy earns the vipps seal, it allows the consumer to be sure that the pharmacy is legitimate,” says jason reed, pharm.d., a pharmacist at atrium medical center in ohio. “many fraudulent internet pharmacies were scamming people in the late 1990s, which led to the need for vipps. people did not know who they could trust and, in some cases, received counterfeit medicines.”
You can check if an online pharmacy is VIPPS accredited in the United States by visiting the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy website.
Which recipes cannot be mailed?
Mail-order pharmacies can ship prescription and over-the-counter medications, but there may be special requirements to ship certain types of medications.
Controlled substances, for example, have special shipping requirements due to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which regulates the manufacture, importation, and distribution of Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V drugs. Mail order pharmacies can ship controlled substances as long as they are labeled according to federal and state regulations. “These controlled substance scripts will have additional tracking and signature requirements upon delivery,” dr. cane says.
“In addition, specialty drugs can also be sent by mail,” he explains. “all the largest specialty pharmacies in the us. uu. today he mails scripts to his patients. these medications may have temperature-sensitive or other shipping restrictions that also require someone to be home when the delivery is made. they are typically very expensive, so delivery is often planned with the patient before the specialty pharmacy ships the medication.”
does insurance cover mail order prescriptions?
mail order pharmacies work with each health insurance company’s pharmacy benefit manager (pbm) to cover mail order prescriptions. A healthcare professional will send their patient’s prescription to a mail order pharmacy, which then processes the prescription through insurance and then ships the correct medication.
Find information about which mail-order pharmacies you can use with your health plan by calling your insurance provider’s member services number. You can also check the websites of insurance providers that offer prescriptions by mail for more information.
If you don’t have insurance, you won’t be able to use mail order pharmacies. You can use a Vipps certified online pharmacy, retail pharmacy delivery services, or Singlecare’s new free home delivery to mail your prescriptions.
can i use singlecare for mail order prescriptions?
singlecare offers savings on prescription drugs through several mail order companies. Contact your mail order pharmacy and show them the information on your one-time care coupon card to find out if they offer a discount on your prescriptions.
singlecare has also partnered with geniusrx to provide free home delivery services. This expansion of services is intended to provide you with easier access to prescriptions amid social distancing and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
how do I mail my prescriptions?
Here’s how to sign up for a mail-order pharmacy program:
through your insurance:
- Contact your health insurance provider to see which mail order pharmacy they partner with. Your insurer’s phone number is on the back of your member ID card.
- Ask your doctor to send your prescription directly to the mail order pharmacy. or fill out an order form on the pharmacy website and attach your prescription.
- get your prescriptions safely and conveniently delivered to your door. they usually come as a 90-day supply.
via singlecare/geniusrx:
- Look up your medication at singlecare.com/prescription-delivery to see if it is eligible for home delivery.
- If your medication is eligible, you will need to provide some basic information to your prescription partner. trusted delivery, geniusrx.
- pay for your prescription with your visa or mastercard.
- Get free shipping on your prescription delivery, available in all 50 states.
If you have any questions about pharmacy delivery, we’re here to help. feel free to call us at our pharmacy delivery hotline at 800-222-2818 or find us on facebook.