Can I get prescriptions filled during a virtual appointment?

Sometimes it may be difficult to get to the doctor’s office for a prescription refill. In those situations, you may be asking: Can I get prescriptions filled during a telehealth visit? Sometimes you can, but not always.

You might see virtual appointments referred to as telehealth or telemedicine appointments. During them, your health care provider can care for you without you having to visit them in person. Instead, you meet with them live over the phone or on a video chat on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

These virtual appointments can help your health care provider monitor your health and any ongoing health issues.

Below, find out what you need to know about filling or refilling prescriptions during telehealth visits.

Interested in exploring plans with telehealth benefits? Call a licensed insurance agent at (800) 827-9990, or browse your options online today.

Can I get prescriptions filled or refilled through telehealth?

If you have a virtual appointment, your doctor may be able to prescribe you medications via telehealth appointments, says Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, M.D. She’s a psychiatrist in New York City. This is particularly true of telehealth visits for behavioral health.

But many times, your doctor may need to see you in person for a medical exam before prescribing a refill. This is particularly true of controlled substances. And it may also be true if you haven’t seen your doctor in person in a while, like 6 months or longer.

Does my pharmacy accept telehealth prescriptions?

You may be wondering whether your local pharmacy accepts telehealth prescriptions. Thankfully, the answer is yes.

“Many states prefer the use of electronic prescriptions because it reduces the risk of errors,” explains Dr. Smalls-Mantey. “It also makes it easier to place refills, because a patient doesn’t have to come for a visit to get a paper prescription and take it to the pharmacy.”

“In light of the opioid epidemic, it also makes it easier to track how many prescriptions a patient is getting for controlled substances, to reduce the likelihood of overprescribing. This is especially true for a potentially addictive or lethal substance,” says Dr. Smalls-Mantey.

What are some advantages of getting a prescription filled via telehealth?

“It helps to ensure that you’ll come to every visit,” Dr. Smalls-Mantey explains. “When we start a patient on a medication, we want to see them more frequently.” That could be as often as every 2 to 4 weeks — and if you had to do it in person, it could be a challenge if you had to miss work or get childcare, for instance. “This way, we can see how they are responding to the drugs. We can also see if they are experiencing any side effects,” she adds.

Plus, telehealth visits offer more privacy. It’s much easier to hop on to the screen from work, or from the privacy of your bedroom at home, for a quick check-in, she adds.

What are some disadvantages of getting a prescription filled via telehealth?

There are going to be times when a virtual visit may be more challenging. This can happen with an older adult, who may not be as technologically savvy. They may have trouble figuring out how to use their computer or phone, says Dr. Smalls-Mantey.

It can also be tricky if someone is tired or sedated, so it becomes harder to engage them. “When you see someone in person, you can do something like tap them on the shoulder to make sure that they’re OK,” she explains. If someone has trouble speaking — for example, a stroke survivor — it may be difficult to do a virtual visit, too.

You also sometimes lose the human connection. “Some people who are depressed are very lonely. They want that physical proximity to another person,” says Dr. Smalls-Mantey. “Or they have a condition such as schizophrenia, which makes it harder for them to connect with other people.” In these cases, patients may benefit from in-person visits.

Does my health insurance cover telehealth?

If you have health insurance, first check your plan to see if you are covered for virtual visits. If so, check how much it will cost. Many plans offer virtual visits, as well as prescription drug coverage. But what kind of coverage you have depends on your health care benefits. (Call a licensed insurance agent at (800) 827-9990 for more information.)

If you don’t have telehealth benefits through your insurance, you may be able to buy them in addition to your regular health insurance plan.

The bottom line: In most cases, you may be able to get a prescription filled or refilled during a virtual appointment. But if your doctor says they want to see you in person before doing so, you’ll likely have to get your prescription the old-fashioned way: in person.

Still have questions about telehealth? Call a licensed insurance agent at (800) 827-9990, or browse your options online today.