Amazon is now adding a subscription service including more than 50 generic prescriptions. Amazon
In-store prices are going up and the bottom line seems to keep getting higher every time we shop. It’s reached an ever-moving boiling point, and we’re stuck in the heat in the meantime. Homes across the US are struggling with rising food costs, with little money left for other necessities like prescriptions, with eight in 10 adults saying the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable.
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In response, Amazon has now launched RxPass as part of its pharmacy services. It’s an exclusive subscription model for Prime members that costs a flat $5 per month, with no insurance required. The program includes more than 50 of the most common generic drugs that are prescribed to treat more than 80 medical conditions.
This sounds great, right? So, what’s the point? The downside to this service is that not all common medications are available, so it’s important to check that your prescriptions are included by searching through All RxPass medications before registering to subscribe.
How to sign up for Amazon RxPass
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If the Pharmacy option is not on your homepage as a tab at the top, go to the menu on the left and scroll down until you find Amazon Pharmacy under Programs and Features.
When you find the RxPass logo, you can click learn more, Which will take you to a page with more information about the subscription programme. Click Get started with RxPass to sign up.
Next, you will be asked a few questions to confirm your eligibility for RxPass.
Unfortunately, RxPass is not available to everyone who might want to sign up. There are restrictions on who can use state insurance and it is only available in 42 states.
I didn’t have an Amazon Pharmacy account, so I was asked to create one to sign up for RxPass.
Filling out this information will give Amazon access to your prescriber to fill your prescriptions, as well as any potential health conditions and drug interactions that your pharmacist should know about.
This method will be used to charge you a $5 monthly subscription fee for RxPass. Choose one of the payment methods saved to your Amazon account, or add a new method and billing address.
Finish filling out your health information so the pharmacy can have any medications and health conditions on file. This includes adding your medications to your prescription list so you can begin the process of transferring them to RxPass.
Once you find your medication, check that it is included in your RxPass. This will determine whether or not it is worth paying the monthly subscription fee.
If your medication is included with the RxPass, click the Transfer Rx to Amazon Pharmacy button. If it’s not included in your RxPass and you transfer your prescription anyway, you’ll have the option to add your insurance to pay for the medication or pay out of pocket.
Next, you’ll confirm your prescription, add the pharmacy you currently get your prescriptions from, and then submit your transfer request.
Amazon can contact your local pharmacy to transfer your prescription to their service instead, and provided you confirm all the information, you will get your prescription.
Confirm your prescription, find your current pharmacy, and submit your prescription transfer request. Maria Diaz | ZDNET | D-E
Instructions
Can you pay for RxPass with an FSA/HSA?
Since the $5 monthly payment for RxPass technically goes toward the subscription service and not directly to prescriptions, it doesn’t qualify for the FSA or HSA. RxPass subscription fees are also not eligible to be billed to your insurance. It is not an insurance plan and is not a substitute for an insurance plan.
Why am I not eligible for RxPass?
RxPass only works in 42 states and is not available to Medicare, Medicaid, or any other customers who are enrolled in government health care. RxPass is not available in California, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.
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If you have a state healthcare program or live in one of these states, you can still get your prescriptions using Amazon Pharmacy.
Are RxPass prescriptions cheaper than using insurance?
Whether or not a subscription service is worth it to customers depends largely on the individual needs of the subscriber. Personally, only one of my prescriptions is included in the RxPass service, and I get both for $5 a month through my insurance, so I wouldn’t keep my RxPass subscription.
But if you find your medications among the generic prescriptions available on RxPass and they currently cost you more than $5, it’s probably worth using the subscription while you’re on those medications. It’s also worth noting that RxPass medications are delivered directly to your home, so the convenience of not having to drive to the pharmacy may also make it worth it.