The Internet has transformed the medical industry, making more services and products more accessible to consumers. As with almost any other product, prescription medicines are available online. You can order virtually any brand and type of medication you need for your condition. However, with the convenience of online shopping also comes the risk of safety and health issues and security risks and scams.
Not all pharmacies are approved by the FDA or licensed by the state. Therefore, you can never be assured that the drugs you are purchasing are safe to use. However, online pharmaceutical shopping is still growing rapidly, particularly since the spread of COVID-19 over a year ago. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of buying prescription medicine online. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Insurance Enterprise.
What Are the Possible Risks of Online Prescriptions?
The greatest overall risk to online prescriptions is a lack of accountability. You do not always know where your prescriptions are coming from, what is in them, or who is manufacturing them. This presents an inherent risk. For instance, you may run into problems with online websites such as:
- Not U.S. state-licensed pharmacies or aren’t pharmacies at all
- A diagnosis that is not correct
- medicine that is not appropriate for you or your condition
- No protection for personal information
Also, you may experience problems with medication, including
- Fake or counterfeit products
- Incorrect dosage
- Dangerous ingredients not advertised
- Expired or out-of-date medicine
- Products that are not FDA-approved
- Products that are incompatible with other products
- Medicines made using unsafe methods
- Prescriptions that are not labeled, stored, or shipped properly
Tips for Buying Medicines Online
Although buying prescription medicine online does present some risks, you can take some precautions to ensure that your purchasing experience is safe and does not compromise your personal information.
Talk to Your Doctor or Health Insurance Broker
Talk with your doctor or your health insurance broker and have a physical exam before getting any new medicine for the first time. Use only medicine that has been prescribed by your doctor or another trusted professional who is licensed in the U.S. to write prescriptions for medicine. Ask your doctor if there are any special steps you need to take to fill your prescription online
Know Your Prescription Source
Know your source to make sure it’s safe. Make sure a website is a state-licensed pharmacy located in the United States. A state’s pharmacy board licenses pharmacies and pharmacists in the United States. Your state’s pharmacy board can tell you if a website is a state-licensed pharmacy, is in good standing, and is in the United States.
Find a list of state boards of pharmacy on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) website. The NABP is a professional association of the state boards of pharmacy. It has a program to help you find some of the pharmacies licensed to sell medicine online. Internet websites that display the seal of this program have been checked to make sure they meet state and federal rules.
Choose Online Companies that Practice Safe Measures
An online company should have a set of safety standards and practices that ensure a quality product that is safe to use. Look for a company in the U.S., has a staff of licensed pharmacists, works with medical professionals such as your doctor, and offers exceptional customer service. You should be able to talk to someone on the phone or in a video chat who can answer your questions.
Protect Your Privacy and Financial Information
Look for privacy and protection policies on the website. They should be easy to find. Do not provide personal information until you have researched the website and have verified its credentials. Make sure the website does not sell your personal information without your written permission. Last, make sure that all financial transactions are safe and hack-free.
Contact Insurance Enterprise for Premier Health Insurance
If you have questions about group or individual or group health insurance and need a health insurance quote, contact Insurance Enterprise at 888-350-6605. Speak to a licensed health insurance broker to find out more about how you can get an affordable health insurance plan.