Mail order prescription services conveniently and affordably provide consumers with the medications they need. Most mail order programs operate through insurance companies, which have their own designation pharmacy benefit managers, called PBMs. There are many advantages to using mail order prescription searches, including medications shipped directly to customers, significant discounts on medications, and convenient three-month supplies of certain medications. To make sure there will be a benefit, customers need to compare a pharmacy's prices on specific medications versus the cost of using a mail-order pharmacy. Many insurance companies are beginning to offer the same prices on 90-day prescriptions as mail-order, so consumers can choose what services are right for them. Read on to discover more about mail order prescription services.
For most mail order prescription services, the shipping costs are not charged to customers.
Prescriptions can take up to two weeks to arrive. Doctors can provide two prescriptions when needed: one to fill immediately at a pharmacy and one to submit to the mail-order service.
Brand name or generic medications that are taken regularly for chronic conditions - like high blood pressure or diabetes - can be ordered in a three-month supply for one single copayment. In some cases, there is no copayment required or it is just a few dollars.
While consumers aren't required to use their insurance company's PBM, they may not receive coverage for the medication from their health plans if they opt to go with another mail order service.
While these two terms are easy to confuse, the only thing that mail-order and online pharmacies have in common is that they ship prescription drugs directly to customers. Online pharmacies are more like drugstores and unlikely to accept insurance.
Customers can sign up with their insurers' mail-order forms with their prescriptions, or doctors can phone or fax it in.
These can be ordered by phone, online through the website, or through the company's mobile app.
One of the considerations for customers is that mail order prescription services may not always deliver medications on time. This can be dangerous, especially for individuals who need their medications for life-threatening conditions. Setting refills up to auto-renew can help avoid this situation.