Amazon enables online price comparison for medications

Amazon Prime members can now easily check whether Amazon Pharmacy or a local drugstore has the best price for a prescription order. 

With the new Amazon Prime prescription savings benefit, members of the Prime paid loyalty program can search for their medication and compare savings at Amazon Pharmacy and the over 60,000 retail pharmacies nationwide where the Prime savings card is accepted. According to Amazon, the Prime prescription savings benefit saves members up to 80% off generic and 40% off brand-name medications when paying without insurance.

In addition, customers shopping from their Amazon Pharmacy account can now check their insurance co-pay price online before ordering a medication, without needing to call a pharmacy or insurance provider. After providing insurance and prescriber information, customers logged in to Amazon Pharmacy can request an expected co-pay directly from the medication information page. 

The Prime prescription savings benefit is administered by Inside Rx. According to Amazon, average savings based on usage and Inside Rx data as compared to cash prices for all generics are 78%; with average 37% savings for select brand medications.

“Together, Amazon Pharmacy and the Prime prescription savings benefit are a step toward more convenience and a better shopping experience for our pharmacy customers,” Amazon said in a corporate blog post.