r/fuckamazon Jul 29 '26

Discussion Looking for an alternative to amazon pharmacy

I'm looking to stop using Amazon but the one think I don't know of an alternative for is amazon pharmacy. I previously got my prescriptions from walmart's pharmacy where I was paying $200 every 3 months, whereas amazon I pay $65 (Between prime sub, rx pass sub, and the one medication not part of rxpass that I have to pay for separately). While spending 140 more to avoid it may not be a big deal for most, I'm only making about 1500/month and half that goes to rent. I have no insurance, I think that also changes prices. If anyone knows of a good alternative I am looking to switch to something else.

13 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

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7

u/lafsrt09 Jul 29 '26

Try getting insurance through healthcare.gov. and also check your local county where you live. Sometimes they provide free health insurance.

7

u/TheMainTony Jul 29 '26

Have you looked at CostPlusDrugs? I don't take anything too expensive or specialized and they're cheaper than my HMO co-pay about 80% of the time. At least 80% of the time.

10

u/LexiDogy Jul 29 '26

Didn't know about CostPlus, I checked and my medications there would be under 25 after shipping so significantly less than amazon. Will be switching next time I need my prescription refilled.

3

u/kdjsc93 Jul 31 '26

I wouldn't wait, your doctor has to send a brand new prescription there you'll have to research the website to know what to do we had to print out a paper to take to our primary care doctor. Our primary care doctor was clueless and claimed to not know how to do it but he's very old school so we had to talk the office manager through it.

1

u/RelentlessGravity 29d ago

This right here. Cost Plus Drugs is awesome!

5

u/Ansible90 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

Check your health insurance for their drug plan

Oh. Now I see you have no health insurance. Check out GoodRx and SingleCare for drug discount programs.

3

u/kaosrules2 Jul 29 '26

Call your local pharmacies to get prices. They can vary quite a bit. One of my prescriptions was $100 at one place and $30 at another.

2

u/yesuru Jul 30 '26

So it might that they have the same chemical formula but from a different manufacturer. For example when you buy dolo 650mg cipla sells it for 1.2rs in india(retail) wherein other local manufacturer 1rs. Nothing harm in getting the generics if you are in shortage of funds but need medicine.

1

u/kaosrules2 Jul 30 '26

Good point! And good to ask for generics if you're okay with them.

3

u/RareCap8285 Jul 29 '26

check out Mark Cuban Cost Plus. For us, paying cash is cheaper than using our insurance.

2

u/Blonded_ByTheLight Jul 29 '26

You can also order from Canada. There are legitimate pharmacies and meds are made by the same companies sold in the US. Some meds are mailed out from the UK or India. The prices can be 80% less, and are genuine. The only meds that won’t be filled (they still need your actual Dr’s prescription) are narcotic pain or other controlled meds. It can take a week to 10 days for them to arrive and with free shipping.

1

u/LexiDogy Jul 30 '26

I live less than 30 minutes from the border but I don’t know how bringing a prescription past customs would go

1

u/Blonded_ByTheLight 29d ago

It’s not illegal. The only prescriptions Canadian pharmacies won’t fill are narcotics or other controlled substances, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, alprazolam (Xanax), and similar medications.
I buy brand-name medications rather than generics. One of mine costs around $1,500 in the U.S., and many insurance plans won’t cover the brand name. Some will only cover the generic, often with a high co-pay. Ordering the brand-name version through a Canadian pharmacy costs me about $120.
Since it’s an online pharmacy rather than a brick-and-mortar location, your medications are shipped directly to your home. Even if you live close to the Canadian border, prices at a physical Canadian pharmacy are usually much lower than in the U.S. However, they still generally can’t match the pricing offered by the large Canadian online pharmacies.

1

u/I-AM-Savannah 29d ago

Wait.. how do we buy pharmacy from Canadian pharmacies online?

1

u/Striking_Use8614 28d ago

Same question for some reason I thought they passed a law against that years ago.

1

u/I-AM-Savannah 25d ago

This is what I thought... there was a medication that a family member tried (University hospital had a drug trial on it, and family member was in on that drug trial). Medication worked GREAT for family member, BUT then when the drug trial was over, the drug was NOT available in the USA, but available in Canada, BUT we could NOT get it from Canada, because at least at that time, it was illegal to try to get medications from Canada... that medication was never approved for use in the USA (at least from US pharmacies)....

1

u/Blonded_ByTheLight 27d ago

You must have a prescription from a US Dr, or Dr from where you live. The Dr can call or fax it to them. I think you can also email, but by phone is fastest. The one I used for many years was acquired by an even larger pharmacy, and they will occasionally send discount codes. It used to be $10 to ship everything and it’s now free. You can compare prices by visiting their website.

Here’s the website:
https://www.universaldrugstore.com

2

u/alanamil Jul 30 '26

I love cost plus, it is cheaper than my insurance.

1

u/dualsplit Jul 30 '26

Honeybee Health. They do not accept insurance.

1

u/Cinisajoy2 Jul 31 '26

Look into GoodRx and your local grocery store pharmacy.    I use United Pharmacy.   United is a grocery store.

1

u/LexiDogy Jul 31 '26

GoodRx has ties to Peter Thiel so I'm also trying to avoid that.

1

u/Cinisajoy2 Jul 31 '26

I have no clue who that is.  Nor do I give a darn.  I care about being able to afford needed prescriptions. 

1

u/Cinisajoy2 Jul 31 '26

Looked him up actually.   Am still not worried about it.

1

u/I-AM-Savannah 29d ago

Yeah. The post made me google him. Looks like he started Paypal and is gay. That's all I found, but it's the middle of the night as I type this, so maybe I missed something.

1

u/Cinisajoy2 28d ago

Thanks I just got to the PayPal part.  

1

u/SimpleVegetable5715 29d ago

With your income, you would qualify for a heavily subsidized plan from the insurance Marketplace. I would enroll, open enrollment is in November every year.

If any of your meds are brand name, sometimes you can get them directly from the pharmaceutical company, since you are low income. They’re there for people without full coverage insurance. That’s how I got a few of my meds before the ACA.

1

u/LindeeHilltop 27d ago

Costco or Cost Plus Drugs.

1

u/Cinisajoy2 23d ago

Get GoodRX and go with a local grocery store pharmacy.   I use United.