3 benefits of mail-order pharmacy

Getting the prescription drugs you need shouldn't be a hurdle to your health. If you're having trouble making it to the pharmacy or are trying to watch your budget – there's a solution: mail-order pharmacy programs. 

"When the drugs you depend on come to your home, you're less likely to run out," says Dr. Joseph Albright, associate vice president of Commercial Pharmacy at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC).

There's no doubt that having the drugs you need – when you need them – helps keep you healthy. That's why Blue Cross NC offers a mail-order pharmacy service to most of our health insurance plan members.

With mail-order prescription drugs, you don't have to worry about a trip to the pharmacy. The program can benefit anyone and is especially helpful for those who have busy schedules, need transportation assistance, or live in a pharmacy desert, which is a community that is both low-income and has low access to pharmacies.

Using this service is safe and secure. Even though your drugs will arrive at your home on a delivery truck, they are coming from a pharmacy – not a warehouse. You can still talk to a pharmacist through your mail-order account if you have questions, despite not going to a pharmacy.

To make managing your meds simple, you can choose to have recurring prescriptions refilled and sent to your home automatically.

The mail-order prescription drug benefit is included in the cost of eligible health plans, so there are no additional fees to use it. In fact, participating in this program may lower your drug costs compared to going to an in-network pharmacy.

While you can order 30- and 90-day prescriptions, members generally get better prices with a 90-day supply. Members who have a Health Savings Account (HSA)¹ on specific high-deductible health plans could save even more on preventive drugs for certain chronic conditions.

Visit our Knowledge Center to learn more about prescription drug costs.

It seems obvious that having the medicine you need to be healthy will help your health. But that’s the point of a mail-order drug program: It improves access to the drugs you need, which makes you more likely to take them.

If you’re prescribed a drug for long-term use, consider ordering a 90-day supply. According to Blue Cross NC claims data, patients receiving a 90-day, mail-order prescription are 82% adherent to therapy compared to just 52% when filling 30-day supplies.

It’s important to note that controlled substances – like opiates – and other specialty pharmacy medications cannot be sent through the mail. You’ll need to visit a pharmacy for those prescriptions.

Signing up for the mail-order drug program is simple:

1. Log in to your Blue Connect℠ member services portal
2. Go to the Coverage page
3. Select your Prescription plan
4. Open the Prescriptions by Mail page to get the registration information

If you have questions, contact us for help.