The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends keeping several weeks’ worth of your prescriptions on hand in case you end up having to stay home. It’s especially important for groups at higher risk for severe complications from the coronavirus (COVID-19). Remember, if you’re one of these people at higher risk for severe complications from the coronavirus (COVID-19), please stay at home as much as possible and practice social distancing. If you do have to go out please wear some sort of cloth mask and remember to always wash your hands. If you’re unable to wash your hands, please use hand sanitizer made with at least 60 percent alcohol and wash your hands whenever possible.
Who needs to stock up on Rx?
We recommend that you have enough important medications and medical supplies on hand to last four to six weeks. If you need refills, please contact your primary care provider. This is especially important for groups at higher risk for severe complications from the coronavirus (COVID-19) including people who have COPD, heart disease, liver disease, cancer, immunosuppression and/or are on dialysis.
What prescriptions should I stock up on?
If you have COPD or lung disease, make sure you have supplies like inhalers and nebulizers needed to keep you safe. If you have heart, liver or kidney diseases, please make sure you have enough diuretics on hand. You should also monitor your weight daily and report a gain of more than three pounds to your primary care provider. Above all, if you feel sick or experience a fever, cough, or other symptoms, call your primary care provider immediately. If you are short of breath or experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.
How can I refill prescriptions in advance?
You should call your primary care provider first about refiling your prescriptions in advance. If you ever needed to stock up on your prescription medications in the past, you might know it can be difficult process. For most prescriptions, you can only get a 30- or 90-day supply at one time, and you often need to wait until you’re at least three-quarters of the way through that 30 or 90 day period to pick up your next round. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most insurers are temporarily adjusting their policies to waive refill limits and allow patients to stock-up on their prescriptions. You can always opt to pay cash for your prescription and not run it through your insurance, but we don’t advise unless it’s necessary as it can be very expensive.
Can someone else pick up my prescription for me?
The short answer is yes. If you have a caregiver or are currently self-quarantining, you can have someone pick up your prescription. Again, we advise that you call your primary care provider first to work through these logistics. You might need to call your local pharmacy as well to inform them that someone else well be picking up your medications. The person picking up the prescription will need to provide the person’s full name, date of birth, address, and the names of the medications they’re picking up. Sometimes, they’ll need to show their driver’s license.
What are my prescription delivery options?
There’s a lot of options for prescription delivery services especially since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Again, we suggest that you call your primary care provider first and your local pharmacy which probably has delivery options already and are encouraging prescription deliveries. Here are some delivery services to consider:
CVS
Now through May 1, CVS prescription delivery is free, and you can get one to two-day delivery once your prescription is ready for pickup.
Learn more > CVS
Walgreens
Walgreens is also doing free prescription delivery on all eligible medicines, and free standard shipping on walgreens.com orders with no minimum, until further notice.
Learn more > Walgreens
Walmart
Walmart always offers free standard shipping, 2nd-day delivery for $8, and overnight delivery for $15 on mail-order prescriptions.
Learn more > Walmart
Rite Aid
Some Rite Aid stores also offer prescription delivery.
Learn more > Rite Aid
Amazon
Depending on your insurance, some online prescription delivery services might be covered, too. Express Scripts and Amazon’s PillPack offer free standard shipping.
Learn more > Amazon
Costco
Costco prescription delivery is now available from nearly 200 Costco pharmacies via Instacart, with plans to expand the service nationally in the coming months. Enter your zip code on Instacart.com or the mobile app to see if prescription delivery is available from a Costco pharmacy location near you.
Learn more > Costco
