Home delivery of prescriptions: 6 ways to save time & money

Want to skip the trip to the pharmacy, but still need medications? Home delivery of prescriptions can save you time and money.

Most prescription drug plans offer this service. And there’s at least six reasons getting your prescriptions this way makes sense.

Ready to learn more about how home delivery of prescriptions can save you time and money?

Say goodbye to drive time, waiting in line at the pharmacy, higher drug prices, and more.

Home delivery of prescriptions offered by many prescription drug plans can help you, because…

1. Many home delivery of prescription services require less staffing

Here’s how it works…

• You place an online order or connect with an automated call center for your prescription or refill,
• Your request is processed based on prescriptions from your doctor,
• And your medications are packaged and shipped to your home.

You can still talk to someone if you need help, but a person does not manually have to take your information and add it to the system.

In a recent study, 71.4% of consumers said home delivery of prescriptions is more convenient and accessible than going to a pharmacy in person.¹

2. Larger supplies of regular medications cost less 

Oftentimes, getting a 3-month supply of your prescription will cost you less than filling your prescription once per month for 3 months.

For many health plans, your copay may be lower when you sign up to receive a 3-month supply of your maintenance medications through a home delivery pharmacy.²

3. Mail-order and home delivery of prescriptions can save consumers millions of dollars compared to retail pharmacy prices  

One recent study found that home delivery of prescriptions and mail-order pharmacies can save consumers millions of dollars, compared to retail pharmacy prices.³

• Your copay and how much you save will be different for each prescription drug plan.
• Check with your insurance carrier to see how much you could save with home delivery.

4. Home delivery of prescriptions can save you drive-time & wait time 

Did you know approximately 90% of adults in the U.S. live within 5 miles of a pharmacy?⁴ That might sound convenient.

• But what if you don’t drive, don’t have a car or easy access to public transportation?
• Even if you can get to your local pharmacy, how long will you have to wait to get your prescription filled?

If you want to reduce drive time and wait time getting your medications from a pharmacy, home delivery of prescriptions could save you time.

5. You can get automatic refills and renewals for some prescriptions

Ever have a hard time remembering to refill a prescription? Maybe you go to take your meds and realize you’re almost out, but you can’t get to the pharmacy.

In some cases, the effects can be costly and life-threatening. Not taking medications as prescribed (often because of running out), contributes to:^5,6

• A 30-50% increase in chronic disease treatment failure
• An estimated 125,000 preventable deaths per year
• $500 billion in avoidable healthcare costs
• 25% of hospitalizations in the United States

But it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to run out of medication.

• Some prescription home delivery services allow you to sign up for automatic refills and renewals.
• The pharmacy keeps your prescription on file. And it’s automatically renewed, packaged and shipped to your home before you run out.

6. You can still talk to a pharmacist

If you choose home delivery of prescriptions, you won’t need to drive in to your local pharmacy for a consultation just to get a few questions answered. Delivery services often provide access to pharmacists who can answer your medication-related questions and concerns over the phone.

Does your prescription drug plan offer home delivery?

About 25% of drug plans offer home delivery of prescription medications.¹

• Check with your prescription coverage provider or local pharmacy to see if it offers home delivery.
• That’s also a good time to ask what you can expect to save on prescription drugs if you choose home delivery.

17 common types of medications that can be delivered

What types of medications can be delivered?

While availability can differ for each home delivery provider, prescription drug plan, medications that can be delivered may include:

1. Allergy, cold, virus, and flu treatments
2. Antibiotic medications
3. Arthritis and pain treatments
4. Asthma treatments
5. Blood pressure treatments
6. Cholesterol treatments
7. Diabetes treatments
8. Digestive condition treatments
9. Fungal infection treatments
10. Glaucoma (and other eye care) treatments
11. Heart health treatments
12. Men’s health treatments
13. Mental health treatments
14. Skin condition treatments
15. Thyroid condition treatments
16. Vitamins and nutritional health medications
17. Women’s health treatments

Save money with a prescription drug plan

Even if you don’t have drug coverage insurance, many pharmacies and prescription delivery companies will still provide you with their services. However, it is a good idea to consider getting a drug coverage plan.

• Why? Because drug coverage plans can lower the amount you are paying out of pocket for your medications.⁷
• Rather than you covering the full retail price for a medication, you and your drug plan split the cost.
  • If your drug plan uses a coinsurance method, then you will only have to pay for a percentage of the medication’s full cost.
  • If the plan uses a copay method, you will pay a flat rate and your plan will cover the rest of the medication’s cost.
• Depending on your plan, you may have to meet a deductible before your prescriptions are covered. 

Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage

For seniors who are eligible for or enrolled in Medicare, drug coverage plans are known as Medicare Part D plans.⁸

A licensed insurance agent can:

• Explain Medicare Part D coverage,
• Advise you on plans that will cover your regular prescriptions and offer home delivery, and
• Help you find a plan that also suits your budget.

For most individuals and families…

Drug insurance plans will be included in comprehensive health insurance plans. If you need to check your coverage or want advice on how to find a plan with better benefits, you can also contact a licensed insurance agent.

Ready to save money on prescriptions?

Our licensed insurance agents can help you find a prescription drug plan that offers home delivery to save you time and money. Call us at (800) 827-9990 or find an agent in your area to learn more.