With the increasing numbers of online pharmacies and changes in health insurance health coverage, an increasing number of individuals are now resulting to buy prescription medications online. Online pharmacies can be safe, efficient, reliable, easy, and a private way to buy medication, as opposed to buying them over the counter.
However, it can be tricky to know if your choice of online medication supplier is legit. Before you buy prescription medications online, you’ll want to find out whether it has the right licenses for operation. An organization such as the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) evaluate online pharmacies, meaning that you can consult with them before making a final choice.
There a couple of potential problems that you risk facing when you choose to buy prescription medicine online. Some of these dangers could include:
- Medications could be counterfeit.
- Medications may be unapproved.
- Wrong prescriptions may get sold.
- Sensitive information may be unprotected, including financial information.
Choosing to buy prescription medication online calls for extra caution.
-
Check with your health insurance provider.
If your health insurance provider offers prescription coverage, like them of all approved online pharmacies they can recommend. Health insurance companies vet pharmacies before they can choose to work with them, meaning that you can trust a company that is on their approved list to buy your medication.
It is crucial to note that if an online pharmacy is not approved by your health insurance, this does not mean that it’s illegitimate. It could mean that they have not done any business together, or the online pharmacy has not been vetted by the insurance company yet.
-
The company must ask for a doctor’s prescription.
If the online pharmacy permits you to call in to buy prescription medications online without going to a doctor, this should serve as a red flag. The online pharmacy should ask to see a valid doctor’s prescription since they care about your wellbeing and safety.
Also, if they offer to prescribe you without carrying a comprehensive exam, it means that you should not consult or buy prescription medications online from their pharmacy.
-
Unusual prices
If you are paying the prescription yourself, you’ll want to consider an online pharmacy that does not charge exceedingly high prices for their online prescription drugs. You will save a few bucks, although cheap can be expensive. Watch out for online companies that charge ridiculously low for their medication. It could mean that their medication is substandard or not up to the task.
-
Ensure the pharmacy has a physical address
Last but not least, before you buy a prescription online, ensure that the company you choose to settle for has a physical address. If the online pharmacy claims to be in Canada, confirm that it has a physical address in that Canada. A post office box address is an indication that the online pharmacy is not located in the country or area its purported to be.