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Costco
Costco by Mike Mozart (CC BY)

Going to the drugstore to pick up prescriptions can be a hassle. There’s usually a line, and if you don’t make it during certain hours, you’re out of luck. So how do you make things a little easier for yourself? If you’re a member of Costco, one option worth considering is the Costco mail order pharmacy. Not sure how it works or if it’s worth it? Here are some things you need to know about the retailer’s mail order pharmacy.

Related: Everything to Know About Costco’s Pharmacy

What Can You Get Through Costco’s Mail Order Pharmacy?

Pill Bottle, Bottle, Prescription Medicine, Medicine, Pill
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The Costco mail order pharmacy fills orders of all medications currently filled at Costco. You can refill an order 24 hours a day online. Customers can also check the status of their prescription anytime online.

Related: Which States Are Cheapest for Prescription Drugs?

What Are Shipping Costs?

An unrecognizable man bends over to pick up packages that were left on his front porch by a delivery driver.
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There are multiple delivery time options for Costco’s mail order pharmacy program. Free shipping could take anywhere from 6 to 14 days to receive a prescription. For 2 to 5 day delivery, cost is $13.95. Prescriptions can be shipped anywhere in the country.

Related: What You Need to Know About Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company

What Prescriptions Can Be Filled?

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Besides prescriptions, the Costco mail order pharmacy can also send out vitamins, herbal supplements, home health monitors, and other similar devices. Customers can peruse the health and beauty section of Costco.com to add products.

What Can’t Be Ordered?

Prescription medications spilled out of open bottles.
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State regulations vary on mail order prescriptions of Schedule II drugs, which includes medications like Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Percodan, Percocet, and Oxycontin. Because of the varied regulations, Costco pharmacy is unable to fill orders on those exact drugs.

Can I Fill a New Prescription Online?

Doctor filling out RX prescription
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Yes, new prescriptions can be filled online. Prescriptions can also be transferred from a warehouse to the pharmacy’s mail order program, saving you the hassle of looking for a parking spot and beating the crowds just to pick up your prescription. 

Costco also makes it easy to get started by offering an online tutorial for creating your new account. If you’re looking for the convenience of avoiding the pharmacy lines, Costco pharmacy’s mail order program is worth it. Just remember to plan refills ahead of time to avoid shipping fees.

Meet the Writer

Jennifer Magid has worked as a writer and editor in publishing and marketing for almost two decades. She has written for outlets ranging from InStyle magazine to Psychology Today and for a number of grocery and personal care brands. Jennifer is frugal by proxy: She is married to a certified cheapskate, which has been good for her wallet but bad for her shoe and handbag collections. These days, she never, ever buys her fashions at full price. Jennifer holds a Master’s in Journalism from New York University. She lives in Connecticut with her family and an admittedly expensive-to-maintain standard poodle — the one anomaly in her cheap lifestyle. Find out more about Jennifer at www.jennifermagid.com. You can reach her at [email protected].