On January 24th, 2023, Amazon Pharmacy rolled out RxPass. The prescription subscription service allows Prime members to order generic medications delivered to their doorstep for a flat monthly fee of $5.
The initial list includes over 50 generic drugs that treat more than 80 common health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and acid reflux.
“Navigating insurance can be a maze and getting to the pharmacy a burden. Sometimes that has led to poor outcomes: New medications don’t get filled, refills don’t get picked up, and patients suffer,” Dr. Vin Gupta, Chief Medical Officer of Amazon Pharmacy and a practicing pulmonologist, wrote in an Amazon article. “Aspects of our health care system make what should be easy, difficult.”
Dr. Gupta continued, ”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.”
But what does this mean for Americans? Simply put, it’s another affordable option to obtain your prescriptions for a fraction of the retail cost. And with more than half (55.7%) of American private-sector workers enrolled in high-deductible health plans, many are looking for ways to save on their medications and avoid hitting those deductibles.
“There are 150 million Americans who take one or more of the medications on this eligible medication list that we’re launching with,” Amazon Pharmacy vice president John Love said in an interview. That could mean many U.S. patients saving on their regular prescriptions.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about Amazon Pharmacy’s RxPass.
How Does RxPass by Amazon Pharmacy Work?
To subscribe to RxPass, you must be an Amazon Prime member. The current annual membership price is $119. Prime members can easily:
- Sign up for RxPass for an additional flat rate of $5 per month.
- Look for meds labeled “Included with RxPass.”
- Add any eligible Amazon Pharmacy prescription to their RxPass subscription, or transfer a new one. RxPass subscriptions can be filled as often as necessary and set up with auto-refill.
While RxPass is not covered by insurance and patients cannot use an HSA or FSA to pay for their subscription, the service could benefit Prime members who:
- Spend more than $5 on all of their medications
- Take a generic medication eligible for RxPass
- Pay out-of-pocket for their prescriptions
That means those without insurance or with insurance that doesn’t cover certain meds can enjoy significant savings! Patients also avoid the hassle of comparing prices between pharmacies or calculating (and stressing about) their insurance copay.
RxPass FAQs
Which medications are eligible?
Currently, RxPass includes access to over 50 generic medications covering many common conditions. Check out the complete list.
Who is not eligible for an RxPass subscription?
Certain insurance and state restrictions apply. Patients with government-funded health plans like Medicare and Medicaid are not eligible to sign up for RxPass at this time.
RxPass cannot currently send medications to the following states:
- California
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Washington
However, Amazon Pharmacy is available in all 50 states.
How does payment work?
You will be charged for your RxPass to your selected payment method on the first of each month. Note that you’ll pay a prorated amount for your first month and then be charged on the first day of the next month.
What if I need to cancel?
You can cancel RxPass anytime and use your subscription for the rest of the month you’ve paid for. You will not be charged again. If you cancel your Prime membership, your RxPass will also be canceled.
If you purchase medicine through RxPass, your subscription will remain active for the entire time covered by your chosen supply amount. For example, buying a 90-day supply of medication commits you to three months of an RxPass subscription. Your cancellation would go into effect at the end of those 90 days.
Stay Ahead of Health Care Updates
As individuals nationwide search for ways to save on healthcare costs, Amazon Pharmacy’s RxPass may be a welcome option for many. And knowing the tech giant, we’re intrigued to see how the subscription program performs and continues to expand in order to provide access to affordable medications to more people.
Employers should also be attuned to their employees’ primary stressors and concerns, with healthcare at the top of the list as insurance costs continue to increase. Share this new resource and educate your team on RxPass to provide them with a more cost-effective option. In doing so, you could help reduce some of their external stress, boosting employee productivity and engagement.
What do you think of the latest Amazon service? Let us know in the comments! If you have any questions about this or any other health care or HR matter, contact us at info@bluelionllc.com or 603-818-4131 today.
The information on this website, including its newsletters, is not, nor is it intended to be legal advice. You should contact an attorney or HR specialist for advice on your individual situation.
