How to Buy From a Mail Order Pharmacy
Mail order pharmacies abound, and you can save a lot of money on prescriptions by using a mail order pharmacy. However, not all mail order pharmacies are legitimate, so you need to do your homework to make sure you get products that are of the highest quality and that meet federal regulation standards.
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Instructions
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Understand that there are tons of mail order pharmacies. Most sell via the Internet and mail you your over-the-counter and prescription medicines via the postal service. Some are legitimate and others are not. To learn more about how to make wise choices when using a mail order pharmacy, read the U.S. Federal Drug Administration's publication "Buying Prescription Medication Online: A Consumer Safety Guide."
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Shop for over-the-counter medications and prescription medications at reliable websites of the big box pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens or Wal-Mart. The big box stores all are adding mail order prescription service using websites as another way to meet their customers' needs.
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Order prescription medications through your insurance company's mail order pharmacy. More and more health insurance companies offer mail order and Internet pharmacy services to their customers as a means of controlling prescription drug coverage costs. Contact your health insurer or your employer's benefits office to find out if you have access to a mail order or Internet-based pharmacy service.
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Avoid pharmacies that sell prescription drugs without requiring a valid, current prescription. While some drugs sold as prescription drugs in the U.S. are marketed as over-the-counter drugs in other countries, be suspicious of any mail order pharmacy that touts the fact that it sells prescription drugs without a prescription. Chances are you are getting fake medications that in the best case will fail to treat your condition or worse, could harm you. You may also reveal your personal financial and contact information to scammers.
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Tips & Warnings
Most bricks and sticks pharmacies will only fill your prescription with up to a 30-day supply. However, many mail order pharmacies will provide you with a 90-day supply for the same out-of-pocket cost as a 30-day supply. If you are on maintenance medications for conditions such as hypertension, asthma or depression and your pharmacy will do this, ask your doctor to write your prescription so that the pharmacist can dispense a 90-day supply at each refill. This will save you tons of money on out-of-pocket prescription expenses.
