One of the challenges many people may face during the coronavirus pandemic is access to needed prescription and over-the-counter medications. Our tips below offer advice for how to get your medications, as well as find help affording them.
Have refills on hand
You should have at least a one-month supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications that you need to manage ongoing medical conditions. Some public health officials are even recommending a three-month supply since it is uncertain how long the pandemic will last. Fortunately, many insurance plans—including Medicare plans–are relaxing the refill limitations so that you can obtain larger quantities of medications right now. Check with your pharmacy and/or insurance plan to find out what quantities are now allowed. Be sure to request a refill several days in advance of when your current supply runs out and allow extra time for the pharmacy to prepare it.
Avoid the pharmacy, if possible
Due to social distancing, shelter-at-home restrictions, and quarantines, you should avoid going to the pharmacy. This is especially true if you have ongoing health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease that place you at high risk for complications if you become infected with the coronavirus. If you need to consult with your health care team about a refill, give them a call rather than going to their office.
Choose pick-up/delivery options
If you cannot get to your pharmacy to pick up prescriptions, you can:
Ask your pharmacy to deliver your medications to you. During the pandemic, many more pharmacies are offering free or low-cost delivery.
Ask a family member, friend, or neighbor to pick up your prescription. The HIPAA Privacy Rule allows the pharmacist to give the filled prescription to a relative or friend. You do not need to provide the pharmacist with the names of such persons in advance.
Many insurance companies offer a mail-order option. Often, the mail-order company can provide larger quantities of medications, such as a three-month supply, and a lower co-pay . If you have Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D, call your plan to ask about receiving your medications through mail order. Sometimes the cost you pay will change if you choose to order medications by mail; be sure to ask your plan what those costs are and whether the plan has a preferred pharmacy to use for mail-order prescriptions. However, keep in mind that the mail-order option is best for ongoing or maintenance medications and not for medications you need right away to treat acute conditions.