Amazon Pharmacy: What it is and why you should use it
The rise of online pharmacy services is one of the convenient trends that became increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazon was just one of the company that got in on the action with its Amazon Pharmacy service. Amazon’s prescription delivery servcies provides a way for you to access health care at your doorstep. Since the company acquired PillPack in 2018, Amazon has split pharmaceutical services in two. you may use PillPack to organize dozens of drugs or use Amazon Pharmacy when you don’t have that many prescriptions.
Although there isn’t a native application for Amazon Pharmacy, the website can be accessed from aphone, tablet, or computer. Amazon Pharmacy also features integration withAmazon Assistantfor seamless management of prescriptions. In this post, we explain what Amazon Pharmacy is and how it works.
What is Amazon Pharmacy?
Amazon Pharmacy is an online healthcare service that delivers your medications to your address. Unlike traditional pharmacies, where you need to see your healthcare provider physically, the online pharmacy allows you to fill in your health information virtually. Then pharmacists review and deliver your medication when you order. Signing up for Amazon Pharmacy is free, but you could save up to 90% as anAmazon Prime member.
The Amazon Pharmacy web page has a search function that doesn’t require signing up or a membership plan. The search bar helps you find a drug and view retail prices for it. If you have an account, you may add your prescriber and compare retail and copay prices. Copay is a cost-saving option on Amazon Pharmacy that allows you to split medicine payments between you and your insurance plan. That way, you only pay a part of the retail price. You can also view how much you can save with an Amazon Prime subscription.
Amazon Pharmacy also helps you track your prescription history, as there are menus for viewing every order and its details. If you have concerns or questions about your medication, you can access consultation services via a phone call every day of the week. If you have existing prescriptions with other pharmacies, the online pharmacy offers the option to transfer your prescription to its platform via E-Scribe and continue your medication.
But it’s not all about you. If you care for children or anyone under 18, Amazon Pharmacy lets you add their prescriptions to your account via the dashboard. Currently, Amazon doesn’t support adding members who are 18 years or older since they are adults and can create their own accounts.
What is the difference between Amazon Pharmacy and PillPack?
Amazon Pharmacy is not the same as PillPack. Although Amazon owns both services, PillPack is a sub-service under Amazon Pharmacy. You can use PillPack when you have multiple prescriptions to refill. The pharmacists sort your medications into small white packets and deliver them to you monthly. For example, if you take four or more medications in a day, you will receive four separate PillPack packets containing the dosage you need to take.
PillPack packets have the date and time for your medication printed in bold black fonts so that you don’t forget to take your drugs or take them the wrong way. Meanwhile, Amazon Pharmacy drugs come in bottles and are intended for people who need to fill one or two prescriptions. The bottles also carry helpful information printed on white labels on the body, such as your name, drug dosage, and directions for taking them.
Who is Amazon Pharmacy for?
Amazon Pharmacy is for anyone who is 18 years or older and refills a minimum of one prescription on a recurring basis. The pharmacy service is not suitable for you if you have multiple medications you need to be sorted by date and time and need a one-time drug for a headache or stomach bug. Signing up is free, but you can enjoy more benefits with a Prime membership plan. Registering also enables you to add someone under 18 years to your account and manage their prescriptions. The service is available in all 50 states of the USA.
It’s worth noting that not all conditions can be treated with Amazon Pharmacy. The online pharmacy has almost every medicine in stock, except for Schedule II drugs because they are controlled substances. Controlled substances have a higher potential for abuse than Schedule I medications. Some examples include opiates like morphine, codeine, and hydromorphone. If you use any Schedule II drugs for pain relief, you must fill them at a different pharmacy.
Amazon Pharmacy also prohibits the sale of the following items:
Additionally, Amazon Pharmacy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Though it offers cost-saving options with Prime, it barely makes any difference if you are not a regular shopper. But if you have a Prime membership and regularly refill prescriptions, Amazon Pharmacy is worth looking into.
How does Amazon Pharmacy work?
Just like any other pharmacy, Amazon Pharmacy is staffed with pharmacists. The online pharmacy also supports purchases with your Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. You can compare prices on the website, even without a prescription, and see if Amazon carries a particular medication.
While filling your prescription is similar to a regular pharmacy, there are a few hurdles.
When signing up, you’re able to transfer an existing prescription from your current pharmacy or register with a new account. You must add your insurance information alongside your name, date of birth, and other personal information. From there, Amazon’s pharmacists verify your prescriptions with your doctor. This process usually takes a day. Then, you’ll receive a notification via email that you can buy your medicine.
Once everything is set up, you can pay using your insurance or pay the regular retail price. You’re eligible for a discount if you choose to pay the retail price as an Amazon Prime member. Without Prime membership, there is no reduction. Amazon Pharmacy also supports integrations with Alexa, a feature that’s useful when it’s time to refill your prescriptions. Alexa ensures you stay on track with your medications using notifications and answers simple commands for reordering and providing delivery status updates.
Is Amazon Pharmacy just for Amazon Prime members?
Amazon Pharmacy is free and doesn’t require paying for a subscription plan. Prime and non-Prime customers can access basic pharmacy features like adding a child to their account, copay, and searching for available medication. As a non-Prime customer, you can expect 24/7 consultations by phone, and a six months supply of eligible medications when you don’t have insurance. You only need Prime membership if you want premium features, such as paying $1 or lower monthly for select drugs.
Delivery is also free for two days, and you receive a pharmacy savings card similar to the GoodRx prescriptions discount card. You can use the card in over 60,000 pharmacies near you, including Amazon Pharmacy, CVS, Walgreens, and Fred Meyer.
Enjoy health care without leaving home
Online pharmacy delivery services are not new concepts, but technology keeps improving year after year, and services are becoming more personalized. Soon, more aspects of the healthcare systems you know will be detached from brick-and-mortar models. Google is also following the trend of making healthcare services accessible via the internet. The company wants to make it possible for you tobook your next doctor’s appointment with a Google search.
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