5 Things to Consider Before Using a Mail-Order Pharmacy - GoodRx (2024)

Hoping to save a few bucks on your prescription? Trying to avoid a trip to the drugstore? If so, maybe you’ve considered getting your meds through your insurance company’s mail-order pharmacy. But while mail order prescriptions can be a good option for some, it can also be a hassle, and savings aren’t guaranteed. GoodRx sat down with Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs to discuss when mail order makes the most sense.

How do mail order pharmacies work?

Best Buy Drugs: Most mail order pharmacies operate through your insurer’s pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM. If you use a mail order service that doesn’t have an agreement with your insurer’s PBM, you may not receive coverage from your health plan.

You can sign up for mail order by sending in your insurer’s mail order form with your prescription. Another option is to have your healthcare provider phone or fax it in. You can usually submit refills online, over the phone or through a mobile app.

Since it can take up to two weeks to receive your pharmacy mail order, you may want to ask your doctor for two prescriptions. One to be filled right away at your local pharmacy and one for your mail-order supply.

How do I know if a mail order pharmacy is right for me?

BBD: If you’d like your prescriptions delivered to you rather than having to pick them up at the drugstore, mail order may seem like a no-brainer.

Depending on your insurer, discounts can also be significant—particularly when it comes to certain generic medications that you take regularly for chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. For those meds, you may be able to order a three-month supply of some drugs for a co-payment of just a few dollars—or even $0, including free shipping, in some cases.

But before signing up, you’ll want to make sure you’ll benefit. That means comparing what your insurer’s mail order pharmacy will charge (including shipping) with your local pharmacy’s prices.

Many insurance companies are now offering 90-day fills at local pharmacies for similar prices to mail order pharmacies. For example, if Caremark is your PBM, you can purchase a 90-day fill at a CVS for the same price as a mail order fill. Check with your individual health plan to see where you can get 90-day fills at the best rates.

How is my insurance plan’s mail order pharmacy different from an online pharmacy?

BBD: It’s easy to confuse mail order pharmacies and online pharmacies, but the only similarity is that both ship medicines directly to your home. Mail order pharmacies operate through your health plan and require that you have one particular kind of insurance, while online pharmacies tend to operate like an online drugstore and may or may not accept your insurance.

In somecases, your health plan will only provide coverage if you use their mail order pharmacy.

When should I stick to my local retail pharmacy?

BBD: If your medications are reasonably priced at your local retail pharmacy, you have a good relationship with the pharmacist there, and you are happy with the pharmacy’s service, there may be no need to change.

Chain and big-box stores may offer generics at deeply discounted prices without insurance. Walmart, for example, offers a 90-day supply of dozens of generics for only $10.

Since mail order programs typically ship a 90-day supply of meds at a time and it takes about two weeks to be delivered, mail order may not be for you if you need a prescription immediately or have a prescription that only require a few doses (for example, a prescription for medications post-surgery or antibiotics for an infection).

Finally, mail order pharmacies have pharmacists on staff ready to assist you and answer questions, but if you prefer a more personal, face-to-face relationship with a pharmacist, stick with a walk-in pharmacy.

What are the downsides to using a mail order pharmacy?

BBD: First and foremost, errors in communication.

For instance, mail order prescriptions may not always arrive on time, which can be dangerous for people who rely on lifesaving drugs. To avoid delays, make sure you set up orders online or over the phone at least two weeks before you’ll run out of your meds if you don’t have automatic refills.

The opposite problem can happen too. Mail order pharmacies might auto-renew your prescriptions without confirming if you’re still taking a drug or whether your dosage has changed. Luckily, Medicare Part D drug plans require mail order pharmacies to get the okay from a patient or caregiver before shipping a new prescription or refill.

Also, with any type of delivery service, there’s also the chance your package could be lost, stolen or damaged in the mail. Mail order programs will try to prevent that by using protective packaging, but in the event that your medications are damaged or lost, call your pharmacy’s 1-800 number immediately for a replacement.

And a final safety note: If you get some of your medications via mail order and others at a walk-in pharmacy, be sure to let each pharmacy know about all of the medications you’re taking and update them regularly about any changes, so your pharmacist can alert you to potentially dangerous drug interactions.

Does GoodRx do mail order?

Yes. With GoodRx Gold you can get prescriptions mailed straight to your doorstep, while also saving on prescription costs. Around 300 of the medications are priced at less than $10 and you can even get a free trial for 30 days.

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is a public education project dedicated to helping you talk to your doctor about prescription drugs and helping you find the most effective and safest drugs for the best price.