Home delivery of prescription drugs improves access and produces savings

Before choosing Optum Home Delivery, Kristina, a patient managing multiple medications, used to drive to her pharmacy and wait in long lines several times per month for various maintenance medications, which was inconvenient and often led to lapses in treatment. Keeping track of various prescriptions was also challenging. She had to constantly talk with her pharmacy and doctors about prescriptions that needed to be filled, renewed or were on back order.

Since switching to home delivery, Kristina said she no longer worries about these issues. She simply goes to her prescriber appointments, and Optum Home Delivery takes care of the rest. This new method of getting her medication has made her feel cared for and supported, she said, transforming the prescription refill process from a time-consuming, stressful ordeal, to a seamless process.

Most importantly, Kristina said she has noticed a significant improvement in her health from taking her medications on time because they are shipped directly to her home.

“Before switching to Optum Home Delivery, I would lapse and go off my medications for days or weeks at a time, which interfered with my ability to function at work. Getting back on track was exhausting and discouraging, as I would spend more days and weeks catching up,” Kristina said.

Why taking medicine on time matters: Taking medicine as prescribed helps people stay healthy. It can stop sickness from getting worse and helps people feel better faster. It also prevents more serious health problems from developing later.

Compared to retail pharmacies, prescription home delivery is associated with higher medication adherence rates, meaning people are more likely to take their medications as prescribed. Specifically, among those receiving home delivery of 90-day prescriptions, there were up to 38% fewer non-adherent individuals compared to retail.¹

Creating better access
Prescription home delivery can help people more easily get their medications, especially for those who:²

• Lack access to transportation and/or have difficulty leaving their homes

• Live in rural areas and/or live in pharmacy deserts

• Work hourly jobs or shifts during traditional retail pharmacy hours that may limit or restrict access

Two-thirds of U.S. adults report taking prescription drugs to treat a long-term health condition, with one-third taking three or more drugs daily.³ Additionally, more than 15 million people live in pharmacy deserts, which include rural areas with underserved populations.⁴

In addition to their clinical value, home delivery pharmacies generate substantial savings for consumers and employers compared to retail pharmacies.

An estimated 12% of maintenance medications are currently filled at a home delivery pharmacy, predominantly through 90-day prescriptions. As a result, U.S. consumers and employers are already saving an estimated $600 million annually on home delivery of maintenance medications.⁵

If commercially insured adults filled 70% of their maintenance medications as home delivery prescriptions, instead of the current 12%, new potential annual savings for consumers and employers could reach $1.9 billion in the first year and $23 billion over 10 years.⁵

Home delivery offers a cost-effective solution, helping patients afford their medications and maintain their health.

New potential 10-year savings

Expanded use of home delivery of prescription medications can generate substantial new savings over 10 years:

• $7 billion with 30% use of home delivery
• $15 billion with 50% use of home delivery
• $23 billion with 70% use of home delivery