Getting the prescription drugs your loved one needs could get a little easier with Amazon Prime’s new $5 pharmacy subscription service.
The company recently announced a new add-on called RxPass, which allows Prime users to choose from a list of 50 different prescription drugs, used to treat conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, acid reflux and anxiety.
“Over the last decade as a practicing pulmonologist, I have seen patients with chronic diseases struggle to get access to the basic medications they need to live their lives well,” Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer at Amazon Pharmacy, said in a press release announcing RxPass. “Navigating insurance can be a maze and getting to the pharmacy a burden. … New medications don’t get filled, refills don’t get picked up, and patients suffer. Aspects of our health care system make what should be easy, difficult.”
Gupta said that with RxPass, shoppers can get as many eligible medications as they need in a month for a flat fee of $5, with free delivery and no insurance or copays required.
According to Amazon, users can save up to 68% on each medication by using RxPass. Some medications like febuxostat, a generic version of Uloric that helps treat gout, decreased in price from $273 to $25 using the RxPass.
“It’s estimated that more than 150 million Americans take one or more of the medications available through the RxPass monthly subscription,” Gupta said. “RxPass is our latest effort to help patients save time, save money, and stay healthy. It’s available now to customers in most U.S. states.”
Although the subscription service offers generic medications, it does not cover insulin and is not available for those on Medicare or Medicaid.
By visiting the Amazon Pharmacy website, users can search the medications they need and see if RxPass offers them. They can also add Amazon Pharmacy prescriptions and transfer new ones.
Prime members can sign up for the service online and can cancel their subscription anytime.