What You Should Know:
– Amazon Pharmacy announced two significant enhancements designed to make medication management simpler, more accessible, and more convenient for millions of customers across the U.S..
– The company has introduced a new feature allowing caregivers to help manage medications for family members or loved ones, and has expanded access to its PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy service to customers with Medicare insurance.
These updates aim to remove common barriers in managing prescriptions, whether for oneself or for others requiring assistance. “These updates deliver what our customers have been asking for—simpler medication management for themselves and their loved ones,” said John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy. “Whether you’re a caregiver juggling multiple prescriptions for an aging parent, or a customer who could benefit from the convenience of pre-sorted packets delivered reliably each month, we’re removing barriers and making pharmacy work better for you”.
Simplified Support for Caregivers
Recognizing that one in five adults in the U.S.—an estimated 53 million people—are caring for an aging family member, and that medication management is often the most complex task, Amazon Pharmacy has introduced its new caregiver feature. This allows customers to securely invite trusted individuals—be it a family member, friend, or healthcare professional—who, once verified, can manage medications on behalf of their loved ones through their own Amazon Pharmacy accounts.
“Caregiving comes with enormous responsibilities, and managing multiple medications is one of the most challenging aspects,” said Tess Carey, senior pharmacist at Amazon Pharmacy. “Amazon Pharmacy’s new caregiver feature provides a secure, streamlined way for trusted individuals to help manage prescriptions and place orders 24/7, when and where convenient for them—all through their own Amazon accounts. This ensures medications arrive on time, giving both caregivers and patients greater peace of mind”.
To set up caregiver support, customers can log into their Amazon Pharmacy account and send an invitation to their chosen caregiver using their mobile phone number. The caregiver receives a secure link via SMS and, after confirming a few details like the customer’s date of birth, can begin managing medications through their own Amazon account.
PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy Now Accessible to Medicare Customers
PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy, a service that simplifies medication management for individuals with two or more recurring prescriptions, is now available to Medicare customers. This expansion means over 50 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries who manage multiple daily medications are now eligible to use their insurance for this service.
PillPack provides monthly shipments of personalized, pre-sorted medication packets, clearly labeled with the date and time, eliminating the need to manage multiple pill bottles and making it easier for customers to adhere to their prescribed routines. The PillPack service itself is free for Amazon Pharmacy customers, who only pay for their medications (30-day copays or out-of-pocket expenses if applicable). It works with most health insurance plans, including Medicare Part D and Medicaid (depending on state restrictions on automatic refills), as well as HSA/FSA accounts, RxPass, and eligible manufacturer coupons.
How to Enroll
To enroll, customers can log into their Amazon Pharmacy account, click “Sign up for PillPack,” select their eligible medications, and review insurance and delivery details. Amazon Pharmacy coordinates refill schedules to ensure multiple medications are delivered together each month. Most pill-form prescriptions can be included, though some exclusions apply (e.g., controlled substances, refrigerated items), which can be ordered separately.
Looking ahead, Amazon Pharmacy plans to further enhance the PillPack service by allowing customers to add a curated selection of commonly taken vitamins and over-the-counter medications to their packets in the coming months.
