My in-laws who are in their late eighties and early nineties make regular trips to their local drug store to pick up their prescription drugs.  My father-in-law who has wet macular degeneration no longer drives and there are no family members who live close by which means my mother-in-law does the driving. A phone conversation might sound like this, “But mom it is 30 below and it’s snowing.  Can’t the prescription wait?”  It can be difficult to time prescription refill pickups with good weather or busy schedules.  The window of getting a monthly prescription refilled can be small and if you go to the pharmacy too “early” insurance won’t cover it.  Prescriptions for chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes require consistency with no interruptions or breaks in medication compliance.

So how can you get your prescriptions filled and in your hands in a timely manner so that you don’t have to drive to the drug store, take public transportation or find someone to take you?

1.  Start by getting your prescription refill dates aligned so that they can all be filled at the same time rather than some the beginning of the month, others the middle of the month and yet another drug the end of the month. Your pharmacy of choice and doctor can help get this coordinated.
2. If you take prescription drugs for a chronic condition find out if your medication is available as a 3 month supply rather than a one month supply.  Ask your doctor to write you a prescription for 3 months for long term medications.
3. Use a mail service pharmacy that’s contracted with your insurance plan.  Call the mail service pharmacy for instructions.  Normally you need to complete an order form, provide the prescription, and make a payment on line or through the mail. Your doctor can also fax the prescription in or e-subscribe it.  Payment can be made with a credit card, debit card or withdrawal from you checking account.  It can take more than a week to get your prescriptions when first starting, so you may also need your doctor to write a prescription for your first month and have it filled at a local pharmacy to fill in the gap.
4.  Local drug stores like CVS, Walgreens or Publix offer medication fulfillment or refills through the mail.  CVS has created an app where you can choose your delivery location.  You can choose to have your drugs delivered to your home, office or if you are traveling, to a temporary address.  Through the app or online website you can track your package.

Some medications may require that you be home for a signature. Skip the drug store run and enjoy the convenience of prescription home delivery.

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com