Optum Rx Review 2023: What Is Optum Rx and Who Is It For?
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Optum Store and Austra Health are owned by RVO Health. However, Optum Rx is not owned by RVO Health or affiliated with Austra Health.
Most people spend plenty of time online for work and leisure, and with the rise of telehealth, they’re now getting healthcare virtually, too. So, whether you’re a recent virtual telehealth convert or you prefer to meet with a doctor in person, getting your prescriptions online is easier than ever.
Americans see their primary care doctors less often than they did a decade ago. Adults under 65 made nearly 25% fewer visits to primary care providers in 2016 than they did in 2018, according to National Public Radio. In the same time period, the number of adults who went at least a year without visiting a primary care provider increased from 38% to 46%.
Many online pharmacies also offer convenient delivery services and the ability to manage your medications from an app or online dashboard.
Online pharmacies, like Optum Rx, do all that, but without the typical costs of brick-and-mortar operations, they’re able to cut costs and pass them onto you, the consumer.
But with so many online medication services out there, it can be tough to figure out which one to put your trust in, though. Below, we take a closer look at the online pharmacy Optum Rx to give you an idea of what to expect when going virtual.
Optum Rx was founded in 2011 and is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, a healthcare and health insurance company founded in 1977.
Optum Rx is the prescription drug administrator for several insurance plans, but it isn’t easy to pin down a complete list of insurers that work with the virtual pharmacy company. For people without insurance, people looking to purchase health-related items not typically covered by insurance, or people looking to use their FSA/HSA card, Optum Store is also an option.
Optum Rx calls itself a “pharmacy care services company.” In addition to helping clients manage prescription medication benefits, it also fills prescriptions via an extensive network of pharmacies and provides home delivery services. Standard shipping for home delivery is free.
Optum Rx also has a specialty pharmacy for supporting folks with complex medication needs and in-person infusion facilities for people requiring infusion therapies.
However, it is worth noting that in December 2022, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning letter was issued to Optum’s infusion services branch regarding dirty conditions in an Arizona-based infusion site.
Recently, the brand launched a Price Edge tool designed to automatically apply the best available prescription drug pricing for consumers. This comes on the heels of a 2022 Ohio settlement regarding overcharging claims that ultimately resulted in Optum Rx agreeing to pay out $15 million.
How it works
To use Optum Rx services, you’ll need a compatible insurance plan — typically, this will be a plan with your employer or school — and a member ID card from your insurance company. Users will then have the option to sign up as individuals or caregivers. If you sign up as a caregiver for a family member, you can easily manage their prescriptions via the online portal.
