Amazon Pharmacy announced the launch of the prescription drug discount card to Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance customers. This card is available in five states: New Jersey, Alabama, Nebraska, Kansas, and Florida.
Nworah Ayogu, the chief medical officer for Amazon Pharmacy, confirmed the great news at this week's health technology conference.
Amazon Pharmacy Offers Prescription Drug Discount Card
The partnership between Amazon Pharmacy and Blue Cross Blue Shield lets customers from the five states get discounts via the MedsYourWay card when they use Amazon Pharmacy to purchase their medications.
Usually, people with prescription discount cards have to choose between purchasing a drug out-of-pocket with the discount but not having the cost of the drug go to their deductible or purchasing a drug via their insurance but without any discount. The program can fix that dilemma, according to The Verge.
Ayogu said at the health conference that customers could be free to select whatever drug is cheapest and not have to worry about what applies to their out-of-pocket maximum or the deductible because both of the options apply.
MedsYourWay is offered via Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefit manager owned by more than a dozen Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans.
Prime Therapeutics began offering home delivery to some customers via Amazon Pharmacy in 2021.
However, MedsYourWay cards are only applicable at Amazon Pharmacy, while most prescription discount cards are applicable at a network of pharmacies, according to MedCity News.
How Amazon Pharmacy Works
Amazon launched Amazon Pharmacy in 2020, just two years after purchasing the drug delivery startup PillPack. The company continues to expand its healthcare department.
Currently, Amazon has a telehealth program called Amazon Care, which has integrated Alexa into healthcare settings, and a fitness band.
Customers can sign up to Amazon Pharmacy by creating a secure pharmacy profile with the option of adding information about their health insurance, any medical issues, and any regular prescriptions you are currently taking.
Amazon Pharmacy will offer you a range of generic and brand-name drugs, according to CNBC. This includes commonly prescribed drugs like triamcinolone steroid creams, insulin, metformin for blood sugar control, and sumatriptan for migraines.
The pharmacy will not sell Schedule II medications, which include several common opioids like Oxycontin.
Amazon Prime members will get a lot of advantages compared to regular customers. These perks include free, 2-day delivery on orders and discounts on medication.
Amazon stated that Prime members would save up to 80% off generic and 40% off branded medications when paying without insurance, according to Fortune.
Amazon Prime members will also save on medication bought in person from more than 50,000 pharmacies across the United States, including CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.
Amazon Pharmacy is available in 45 states. The states that do not have the service yet are Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Louisiana, though Amazon plans to expand to those areas in the future.
Amazon stated that it is working on expanding the insurance plans that it accepts, and it will give customers the option of talking to a pharmacist for advice.
In 2018, Amazon tackled healthcare with JPMorgan Chase and Warren Buffet.
In 2019, Amazon offered virtual healthcare services to its employees.
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Written by Sophie Webster
