Thanks to a combination of consumer demand and technological advances, it’s now possible to have everything from groceries to mattresses, clothing and medications delivered directly to your home. Not only does the increased availability of home-delivered products give consumers access to a wide range of items that they may not find locally, but it can also help seniors and those living with disabilities remain independent in their own homes. 

Prescription delivery services are especially attractive for seniors, given how common prescription medication use is among older adults. About 75% of adults aged 50 to 64 use prescription drugs on a regular basis, while that number jumps to 87%, and an average of 20 prescriptions per year, for those aged 65 to 79. 

Not only do mail-order pharmacies eliminate the need for frequent trips to the local drug store, but these medication delivery companies also offer a number of enhanced services that can make medication management easier and safer for seniors. These services vary among companies and often include:

  • Automatic reordering of refills, so patients no longer need to worry about running out of essential medications
  • Customized pill packaging for multiple prescriptions that can be date and time-stamped, which helps ensure compliance with medication schedules while minimizing missed and double-dosing
  • Distribution of medication delivery devices, such as needles for those who use insulin

In this guide, we provide an overview of how to choose the right prescription delivery service, as well as tips on how to avoid fraudulent online pharmacies. 

What to Look for in a Prescription Delivery Service

When it comes to prescription delivery services, choosing the best one can be a real challenge. While all mail-order pharmacies offer similar services, there are some major differences to be aware of. 

Here are the steps to take when searching for a prescription delivery service: 

1) Consult With Your Insurance Provider

Patients with prescription drug coverage should start their search for a prescription delivery service by contacting their insurance provider. 

Mail-order pharmacies can often offer lower prices because they maintain large purchase orders with pharmaceutical companies. In order to optimize operations, many insurance companies have contracts with specific pharmacy delivery services to dispense medications to beneficiaries. 

Before signing up with a prescription delivery service, be sure to call or email your insurance company to see if there are any restrictions on which mail-order pharmacy you can order medications from. 

2) Use Only U.S.-Based Accredited Prescription Delivery Services

According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, there are about 35,000 online pharmacies, but fewer than 5% of these comply with U.S. pharmacy regulations and laws. In fact, the NABP has found that 89% of the over 30,000 noncompliant pharmacy websites engage in dangerous practices such as dispensing prescription-only medications without requiring a prescription. 

To help protect patients from fraudulent, unlicensed pharmacy websites, the NABP maintains a safe sites search tool. This free search tool makes it easy for consumers to quickly verify which pharmacy websites and prescription delivery services are accredited in accordance with U.S. laws. 

Other questions to ask when using an online pharmacy are:

  • Does the pharmacy have a valid U.S. physical address that you can verify using Google maps or another online mapping tool?
  • Will the pharmacy only dispense prescription medications upon receipt of a verifiable prescription written by a licensed health care provider based in the United States?
  • Is there an in-service phone number listed on the website that you can call to connect with a real person? 
  • Is the pharmacy licensed with its state board of pharmacy? 
  • Can patients call to speak with a licensed pharmacist at any time? 
  • Are the prices typical?

If the answer to any of the above questions is ‘no’, then chances are good that the pharmacy may be unlicensed, operating from a location outside the United States or in a way that could compromise patient safety. 

3) Narrow Down Your Options

Prescription delivery services have grown in popularity over the past few years, and that can make choosing the best mail-order pharmacy challenging. 

After verifying which prescription delivery services are covered by your insurance provider and checking these services on the NABP safe sites search tool, patients may still have an overwhelming number of options to choose from. 

Here are some things to consider when narrowing down which prescription delivery services may be right for you and your family: 

  • Do you want to deal with a prescription delivery service that offers a robust online patient interface, allowing users to monitor their prescriptions and deliveries? 
  • Is your residential address served by all major courier companies and the USPS, or can you only receive deliveries dispensed through specific delivery companies? 
  • Do you want your medications dispensed in a traditional pill bottle, or would you like customized packaging such as single-serve, time-stamped pill packets? 

Other factors to be aware of when picking a prescription medication delivery service include:

  • Most mail-order pharmacies dispense 90 days of medications at once rather than 30 days, and any changes usually need to be submitted well before the next scheduled delivery date. 
  • Same and next-day delivery for on-demand prescriptions, such as short-term antibiotics, are only available through a limited number of prescription delivery services. 
  • The replacement policy regarding lost or stolen prescriptions varies between mail-order pharmacies, so be sure to know what the policy is before choosing a prescription delivery service. 

FAQs


Do prescription delivery services offer over-the-counter medications?



Yes, some mail-order pharmacies also sell a limited selection of over-the-counter medications such as anti-inflammatories, cough and cold treatments and antihistamines.


Are all prescription drugs offered through every prescription delivery service?



No. While most major prescription delivery services stock a wide selection of commonly used medications to treat acute and chronic conditions, availability varies between providers. It’s also important to note that some controlled substances cannot be distributed through mail-order pharmacies.


What happens with temperature-controlled medications?



Prescription medications that need to be stored and transported at a specific temperature, such as insulin, can be safely shipped using cold packs and specialized medical coolers.