Online pharmacies have become a way for many people to get medications. They’re going to continue to grow as making purchases online becomes more normalized.
Is buying medication online for everyone? The main concern is that you’d lose the personal connection that you have with an independent pharmacist.
Read on to learn the top benefits of choosing an online pharmacy and how you can find a pharmacy for your needs.
1. Online Pharmacies are Often Less Expensive
Online pharmacies often don’t have the overhead that brick and mortar pharmacies have. They don’t have to pay for a retail location and the utility costs that come with it. They can also afford to cut back on staff since they don’t need to keep the pharmacy staffed for 12 hours a day.
A pharmacist or pharmacy tech can come in, answer questions, fill prescriptions and go home. What that means for you as a customer is that those cost savings will be passed down to you.
2. They Save You Time
You don’t really have the time to make the trip to pick up your medication. You may have to go to a pharmacy that has limited parking or fight traffic to get there.
If you’re elderly and have a chronic condition, getting to the pharmacist can be a real challenge. You may have to depend on transportation at your retirement community or public transportation to go pick up your medication.
Then, you have to stand in line, pick up your medication, and hope that the prescription is ready and at the correct location.
With an online pharmacy, you just order your prescription in a few clicks and it’s delivered right to your door.
3. Discretion is Part of the Allure
One of the main benefits of using an online pharmacy is that you don’t have to be embarrassed by picking up your prescription.
There’s nothing worse than having to ask your pharmacist very detailed and personal questions with a long queue of people that are probably overhearing your conversation.
This is a great option if you’re dealing with a sensitive issue related to weight loss or sex, like erectile dysfunction.
4. You Still Get Expert Advice
One of the main concerns that people have about using an online pharmacy is that they don’t have a relationship with their pharmacist.
Well, have you ever dealt with a chain pharmacy? Do you have a relationship with that pharmacist? Probably not.
Online pharmacies offer support online. You can ask questions in a discreet manner and get an answer from an expert in the field.
How to Choose an Online Pharmacy
While there are many benefits to using an online pharmacy, there are several downsides. You want to make sure that you’re using the best online pharmacy for your prescription needs. Here’s what you need to look out for when choosing one.
How is the Online Pharmacy Regulated?
The somewhat frightening truth is that online pharmacies aren’t really regulated in the same way a walk-in pharmacy is. You could throw up a website and start to sell prescriptions. There’s a lot of risk in doing that, but it can happen.
You want to look for a reputable pharmacy to work with. Unfortunately, the market is dominated by sites that operate illegally.
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has kept close tabs on sites and keep a running list of sites that you shouldn’t use to get your medications. They also have a verification process, called Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS), which will help consumers like you find a reputable site.
They Have a Network of Pharmacies
Some online pharmacies like this online pharmacy have a wide network of pharmacies that they work with in many countries. They leverage their network to provide medication and support smaller pharmacies in the process.
If they don’t have a wide network of pharmacies, they may have evolved from being a brick and mortar pharmacy that moved its operations online. They recognize that people are increasingly using the internet to make purchases and that’s where the pharmacy is heading.
You can be sure that they are a reputable pharmacist and they jumped through many bureaucratic hoops to open their retail location. At the very least, they should have a physical address listed on their website and not a P.O. Box.
Check Their Licenses
Your online pharmacist still has to abide by state laws and regulations, regardless how they dispense prescriptions.
If you’re working with a local online pharmacy, you can check with your state’s pharmacy board to make sure that they are legally able to fill your prescriptions.
Do They Take Your Insurance?
This is an important step in choosing an online pharmacy. The average cost of prescription medication seems to be increasing, and Americans spend about $1200 a year on medications.
Your insurance can help offset some of those costs, which means that you need to make sure that your online pharmacy accepts your insurance. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck paying out of pocket for medications.
The Benefits of an Online Pharmacy
It’s no secret that Florida leans towards an older population since it’s a great place to retire. For many people who are new to Florida, they have to find a new pharmacist.
What they’re realizing is that there are many benefits to using an online pharmacy. This eliminates a lot of the inconvenience and can lower the costs of prescription medications.
You do want to make sure that you are working with a legal online pharmacy. You want to make sure that they take your insurance and they’re verified as a legitimate pharmacy.
Want to do more online shopping? Check out this article to learn new places to shop online.
