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The Future Of Mail-Order Prescriptions

By  Senior Market Advisors  on January 15, 2018

The Future Of Mail-Order Prescriptions

Did you know that most major pharmacies actually offer same-day delivery for your prescriptions? That’s right – a lot of that running around to get to the pharmacy on time may not be necessary.

As a Medicare sales agent, your schedule is probably different every day. The same goes for your clients! Some of them probably have a hard time walking, let alone getting themselves to a pharmacy. Do they know that they can order their prescriptions and have them delivered to their doorstep? Mail-order prescriptions can benefit both you and your clients, and they may be the way of the future.

Pros and Cons

There aren’t a whole lot of cons to mail-order prescriptions. The main concern is that you lose the face-to-face interaction with your pharmacist, but you can call and ask them those questions, or ask your doctor instead. Another concern is that you won’t receive your medication in time or that it will be stolen from your doorstep. Thanks to same-day delivery, you won’t have to worry too much about that, especially if you plan ahead or choose the “auto-refill” option, so you can automatically receive your prescriptions in the mail when they are ready for a refill.

If you’re worried about stolen medications, remember that most prescriptions will be small enough to fit in your mailbox, and won’t be left out in the open on your doorstep. Even if they are, they will likely be in small packages that can’t be seen from the road.

The biggest pro is how much time you can save by not having to make monthly, weekly, or daily trips to the pharmacy. With the click of a button, all you have to do is wait to receive your medications. You won’t have to stand in line or leave work early to make it before closing anymore.

Plus, shipping is usually free. Pharmacies actually save money through mail-order prescriptions, because they save time and labor by sending you prescriptions straight from a warehouse instead of going through the otherwise necessary steps to place it on a store shelf. You are also generally able to receive a larger supply (ex. 90-day instead of 30) by ordering online instead of walking into a store.

Amazon Joining The Game

Amazon has already completely changed the game for brick-and-mortar retailers like bookstores, toyshops, and even grocery stores! Now, they’re looking at getting involved in the health care game. According to USA Today, Amazon has been considering this venture for years! It could be a few more years before Amazon is able to implement this change, but it’s something to think about. It could result in thousands of privately-owned pharmacies shutting down due to lack of business, but quick-stop chains like CVS and Walgreens will likely be around for a long time, mostly thanks to their functionality as a regular brick-and-mortar store as well.

Still, who knows? In ten years, maybe CVS and Walgreens will be obsolete as well. With the click of a button, we could have a box at our door filled with everything we need that day, from cold milk to prescriptions and everything in between.

Next Steps

The ability to order prescriptions online can be a game changer for you. Some of your clients probably have a hard time even getting to their doctor, so having the ability to order prescriptions online may even convince them to buy a different Part D plan. They may be able to cut down on costs by ordering their prescriptions online. The next time you’re trying to convince a client that a prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plan is in their best interest, remind them that they can save some money by using mail-order prescriptions!