Amazon is adding a prescription drug discount program to its growing health care business.

The retail giant said Tuesday that it will launch RxPass, a subscription service for customers who have Prime memberships. Amazon said people will pay $5 a month to fill as many prescriptions as they need from a list of about 50 generic medications, which are generally cheaper versions of brand-name drugs.

The company said the flat fee could cover a list of medications like the antibiotic amoxicillin and the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen.

Sildenafil also made the list. It’s used to treat erectile dysfunction under the brand name Viagra and also treats a form of high blood pressure.

Amazon sells a range of generic drugs through its pharmacy service. Some already cost as liitle as $1 for a 30-day supply, so the benefit of this new program will vary by customer.

The program doesn’t use insurance, and people with government-funded Medicaid or Medicare coverage are not eligible. It will be available in 42 states and Washington, D.C. at launch.

Any program that gets low-cost generic drugs to more patients “is a good thing,” said Karen Van Nuys, an economist who studies drug pricing at the University of Southern California. But she added that she wasn’t sure how much of an impact RxPass will have.

She noted that the program is limited to Amazon Prime customers. Other options like the Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug Co. sell more generic drugs, many for under $5.

“I just don’t know that it’s expanding access to a new set of patients,” Van Nuys said.

Still, the move could help the company take up some more space in the health care market, even though it has not always been successful in its aim. Last year, the company shuttered its hybrid virtual, in-home care service called Amazon Care after it failed to get traction from employers. And Haven, a company Amazon created in collaboration with JPMorgan and Berkshire Hathaway to improve health costs, dissolved a year earlier than that.

Amazon has said its online drug store Amazon Pharmacy is a key part of its health care plan, along with primary care organization One Medical, which the online giant is seeking to acquire for $3.9 billion. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating the proposed buyout.

In November, the company also said it would begin offering “Amazon Clinic,” a messaging service that connects patients with doctors for about two dozen common conditions, such as allergies and hair loss.

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But once you provide your card information and place your order, you’ve signed yourself up for a monthly or recurring fee buried in the fine print. “It’s always important to evaluate why something seems too good to be true,” said Joseph Grant, operations group manager for Card Loss Prevention at PNC’s Customer Care Center. “In some cases these merchants are counting on the fact that consumers aren’t paying enough attention to the fine print or their bank statements to know they’re racking up recurring charges based on a one-time purchase.” Grant said the issue is more common than people might expect, prompting thousands of calls into PNC’s Customer Care Center phone lines each month.

Confused customers often ask for help identifying the unexpected charges or refunding the fees. In early 2020, Visa updated its rules for merchants offering free trials or subscription services in an attempt to provide transparency and control for purchasers. “This practice isn’t illegal, it’s just unfortunately often deceptive,” Grant said. “There’s no guarantee that money spent can be recouped, which can lead to a lot of extra time spent in the dispute process with a merchant.” Instead, Grant encourages consumers to be vigilant when making online purchases, especially when something comes at a price too good to be true. Consider these tips to help you avoid or identify trials that could turn into a recurring charge.

• Research what you are buying and who you are buying from. An internet search will likely reveal if others have had negative experiences with a merchant.

• Read the fine print on all purchases before finalizing your order. Be on the lookout for any language about recurring or subscription fees.

• Watch for check boxes that may enroll you in subscription services or additional marketing.

• Save any emails confirming your order, which will likely note any important dates or upcoming charges.

• Keep tabs on email for any notifications about an upcoming subscription charge.

• Investigate the merchant’s customer service practices. If it’s not easy to get in touch with them, they’re likely not someone you want to do business with.

• Find out how easy it is to cancel or unsubscribe from a service before you make a purchase.

• Monitor your bank statements and review account activity.

• Contact the merchant quickly to help prevent additional charges if you discover that you have incurred a subscription-related charge and would like to cancel.

“The biggest key is just to be aware, both of what you’re signing up for as well as what is happening with money in your account on an ongoing basis,” Grant said. “When all parties are transparent, it makes for a better experience for everyone.”

StatePoint • Contributed

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