On Tuesday, Amazon
"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." Amazon Pharmacy's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vin Gupta wrote in the company's announcement. "It's why I feel so fortunate to be a part of the change that Amazon Pharmacy is helping to bring to this space."
The program includes more than 50 of "the most common generic medications", Amazon states on its site. Members can check the company's list to learn if their prescription is covered.
"Prime members already get fast, free delivery on prescription medications, and RxPass is one more way to save with Amazon Pharmacy," Vice President of Amazon Pharmacy, John Love, said in a statement. "Any customer who pays more than $10 a month for their eligible medications will see their prescription costs drop by 50% or more, plus they save time by skipping a trip to the pharmacy."
The program is restricted to Prime members and is currently not available for members living in California, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Washington. Members who are insured through Medicare and Medicaid are also ineligible for RxPass.
More than 150 million Americans take one of the 50 medications covered by RxPass, according to Gupta. More than half of U.S. adults take more than two prescriptions per day, and a quarter of adults say they struggle to afford their medications.
"Amazon Pharmacy is tackling these challenges by making medications more accessible, affordable, and convenient," writes Gupta. "RxPass helps patients manage common health conditions-high blood pressure, anxiety, or acid reflux, for example-by providing reliable access to commonly prescribed medications, delivered with the ease and support customers expect from Amazon."
Members have access to free two-day delivery for their scripts, and they can cancel their prescription at any time. Amazon says it has support staff available 24/7 to help with patients' questions and concerns
This announcement represents the most recent in a series of attempts by Amazon to gain footing prescription drug market. Amazon Pharmacy, announced in 2020, already gives Amazon customers access to prescription medications, and Amazon Clinic, launched in 2022, offers telehealth services to address a variety of common conditions.
