The average American spends $1,200 a year on prescription drugs. That is more than any other country in the world and that figure is only going to increase over the next several years.

More people are turning to online pharmacies outside of the United States to manage the costs of prescription drugs. There are many websites out there that claim to be legitimate pharmacies, but they’re not.

Finding the top online pharmacy that fits your needs might feel like navigating the wild, wild west. It’s a new world, and there are many things to consider. Fortunately, we got your covered in this guide about finding the best online pharmacy.

Keep reading to learn what you need to watch out for in online pharmacies.

Why Is Your Pharmacy Important?

We’ve come a long way from independent pharmacists that doubled as soda shops. These pharmacies were neighborhood gathering spots as much as they were a place to get medicine.

You knew the pharmacist and they knew you and your medical needs. Independent pharmacies were the norm, until the last 20-30 years. Big box pharmacies and grocery stores have taken the place of the neighborhood pharmacy. Only about 35% of retail pharmacies are community pharmacies, and most of these are in rural areas.

Choosing a pharmacist is an important decision, especially online. There are hundreds of instances where people are sent the wrong medication or incorrect dosage. This decision is truly a matter of life or death.

You don’t have the personal relationship or accountability standards that a community pharmacist has. That means you need to do your homework carefully before you choose an online pharmacy.

At the same time, online pharmacies offer lower prices, convenience, and the top online pharmacies have expert pharmacists available to answer your questions.

Here are the top ways you can find legitimate pharmacies from the fraudulent ones.

Look for a License

You want to make sure that if there’s an issue with your pharmacy, you’re able to report them to an organization. In the case of pharmacists, states have a board of pharmacists that oversee the licensing and practices of pharmacies within that jurisdiction.

If you’re looking at Canadian pharmacies to save money, look for a pharmacy that is licensed within their particular province. For example, this online pharmacy in British Columbia has a license with the College of Pharmacists. Find out more about how they encourage people to report issues to the College of Pharmacists.

That type of recourse should give you peace of mind.

They Have an Actual Address

Don’t go with an online pharmacy that only has a PO Box for an address or no address at all. You want to have a pharmacy with an actual physical address. That gives an indication that the pharmacy is a legitimate business instead of a fly by night company.

Look up that address online. Ideally, the address you find is a legitimate pharmacy that operates a physical location along with its online pharmacy.

Look for Certifications

A license to operate within their state is necessary to find a top online pharmacy. There are also other certifications to look for. There are organizations that exist to help you find legitimate pharmacies online.

For example, pharmacies in Canada are vetted by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA). American pharmacies are vetted by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). NABP has a program called Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS), which ensures the highest quality and standards are met by online pharmacies with this designation.

They Have a Privacy Policy

Privacy and security are incredibly important in the healthcare space. Your records are increasingly available online, and healthcare businesses are a prime target for hackers.

They want to access your personal information and payment information so they can sell it online or use that information for fraud. That makes your online pharmacist all the more important.

Look closely at the privacy policy and see how transactions are processed. If your information is stored somewhere, how much is stored, and how is that information accessed? That’s what you need to find out.

They Require a Prescription

There are pharmacies that will give you what you need without a prescription. While that may seem like an added level of convenience, it can open up the door to major issues.

A legitimate pharmacist doesn’t fill a prescription without a doctor’s order. In many states, it’s illegal to do so. If a pharmacy says that they can sell a prescription without a doctor, you should run.

Your Health Insurance Company Approves

Did you know that some health insurance policies have online pharmacies that are in-network? Your health insurer has done a great amount of homework to make sure that a legitimate online pharmacy is allowed to participate in their insurance program.

You can make sure that you have a pharmacy that is online and is covered by insurance by checking with your insurance company.

Customer Service

When you’re dealing with a pharmacy so far away, you’re at the mercy of their customer service. A top online pharmacy has a pharmacy tech or pharmacist available during regular business hours to answer your questions about your prescription.

There should be multiple ways to reach them, whether through an online chat, email, or phone number. They should be prompt and courteous with their responses.

Finding the Top Online Pharmacy

Online pharmacies are great because they can save time from sitting in traffic or waiting in line. At the same time, there are a lot of frauds that you have to sift through to find the top online pharmacy.

You have to take your time and do the research. The pharmacy needs to be vetted and licensed to operate in their state or province. The pharmacy should have excellent customer service and require a prescription from a doctor.

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