Many major pharmacies have home delivery services that often cost no more than what you already pay for your medicine.
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Now more than ever it’s essential to stay home, avoid stores and get everything you can delivered to you in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, you can get basically anything you want without stepping into a store — including your prescriptions.
That’s especially important if you are home sick, but you need your medications and you need to get them without having to leave your home or come into contact with anyone else. That’s why prescription delivery services can be a game-changer compared to going the standard pharmacy route where you have to drive through or walk in to get your meds.
Many companies are developing new ways to get your prescriptions to you. And many of the existing pharmacies you already use deliver, too, so you don’t have to worry about changing pharmacies if you like the one you use currently.
Below is an overview of the top services you can try (although not formally tested by CNET), as well as pharmacies that currently offer delivery.
PillPack
PillPack is a medication delivery service owned and operated by Amazon that offers free delivery, and takes most types of health insurance. PillPack accepts most forms of Medicare, and Medicaid programs in New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas, and several specific plans nationwide. The service does not cost anything more than what you pay for medication, which is a great deal considering the extra benefits you get compared to a standard pharmacy service. Once you get your prescriptions set up to be filled through PillPack, you simply pay the copay for your medication, and your medications will be shipped to you every month.
Besides offering free delivery, those extra benefits include organizing and separating your medications for each day. Every day’s pills are placed into a convenient single-serve pack, and the time you are supposed to take them is even printed on the front. This is a huge perk if you take a lot of medications and spend time sorting them out, and also if you have difficulty remembering what time you are supposed to take your pills. If you are a caretaker for someone else, this can also be a huge time saver. Another thing you can do is add supplements, like a multivitamin or probiotic, to your packs so everything you need to take is in one place.
CVS
CVS Pharmacy offers one- to two-day delivery and same day (on-demand) delivery in most cities. Same day delivery is usually fulfilled within hours, which is great for when you need your meds ASAP.
CVS does charge a delivery fee for prescriptions, but some health insurance plans may cover the fee, including Medicare Part D. You can also add other essentials, like tissues or cough drops, to your prescription order and they will be delivered at no extra fee. If you join CVS’ membership program, CarePass for $5 a month, you get free delivery for your prescriptions, plus free one- to two-day delivery for other items.
It’s important to remember that ordering items from CVS.com is not the same service as prescription delivery, so those will take several days or longer to ship. If you use Target’s pharmacy service, CVS Pharmacy at Target, you can get free one- to two-day home delivery as well, since Target partners with CVS to fulfill your prescriptions.
Capsule
Capsule is only available in New York City, but since New York is one of the cities hit the hardest with COVID-19, it’s especially important that New Yorkers stick to delivery services at the moment. Capsule provides free same-day delivery and the service costs no more than what you already pay for your medications. You can get your medications delivered to you within 2 hours, anywhere in the city.
If you are currently set up to use a different pharmacy and want to change to Capsule, the pharmacists can transfer everything in the same day so you get your meds delivered when you need them.
NowRX
NowRX is only available in Northern California and Orange County. NowRX uses technology like artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced software and logistics to help speed up delivery time. Delivery is free, and you can get your medicine the same day if you order it before 5 p.m. Even better, delivery drivers will drop off your medicine at your door in an environmentally friendly car to help offset the impact on the environment of having extra cars on the road.
Now RX has an app to make the entire ordering, delivery and refill process even easier. They also offer a referral program where you get Visa gift cards for every friend you refer that signs up. There are no fees for using NowRx — most major forms of insurance are accepted (except for Kaiser and Medicaid) and your regular copay covers all costs.
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AllianceRx is Walgreens’ combined specialty and home delivery pharmacy. For non-specialty medications, you can get free next-day delivery with Walgreens Express. AllianceRx is what you would request if you have chronic health conditions or specialty medications you know you will need filled for the foreseeable future. Walgreens Express is your best bet for individual or one-time prescriptions you need now.
With AllianceRx, you can get up to 90 days of your prescriptions filled, plus automatic refills. Because it can cover up to three months of medication, the delivery takes about 10 days since it is delivered by standard mail for free.
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Walmart Pharmacy does offer free standard shipping for prescriptions, but you will have to wait around 5-7 days for your medications. If you need your medications faster, you can pay an additional $8 for second-day delivery, or $15 for overnight delivery. Walmart has an app to help make the prescription management and refill process easier and more efficient.
Walmart Pharmacy takes most forms of major insurance as well as Medicare.
ZipDrug
ZipDrug is a home delivery service designed for Medicaid insurance holders. The goal of ZipDrug is to help provide more affordable medications to Medicaid members and improve the rates that they adhere to taking their prescribed medications by offering an easier service alternative to regular pharmacies.
According to ZipDrug, offering free home delivery and better service improves the chance that patients will take their medications as prescribed. They also work with pharmacies to reward them when they ensure patients continue to take their medications.
The company also works with independent pharmacies over big chain pharmacies to help improve customer service. ZipDrug’s delivery service is free and there is no cost for Medicaid holders to use the service. One drawback is that it is only currently available in 24 states.
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.