Amazon inks pharmacy deal with Blue Cross plan

Amazon Pharmacy has landed another Blue Cross and Blue Shield customer, Florida Blue announced Tuesday.

Florida Blue will rely solely on Amazon Pharmacy to deliver medications to its more than 2 million commercial and self-insured customers next year.

Seven other Blues plans have inked similar, exclusive home delivery contracts with Amazon Pharmacy: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Blue Cross Blue and Shield of Nebraska, Blue Cross and Blue Shield North Carolina, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, according to policy documents published by the insurers. 

Florida Blue, a nonprofit insurer with nearly 6 million members, did not respond to an interview request. Amazon declined to comment on how many patients it serves through its prescription drug delivery service. 

“This expansion of our work with the Blue plans supports our goal of making access to prescription medications as simple as any other purchase: saving customers time, giving them more control over their purchases and helping them stay healthy,” an Amazon spokesperson wrote in an email. 

The various Blues plans have also partnered with Amazon and its pharmacy benefit manager to integrate a drug discount coupon into members’ benefits. Unlike competing drug discount cards, the amount patients pay through MedsYourWay applies toward their deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. 

This month, Centene’s Wellcare announced that Amazon will be a preferred pharmacy for its 1.5 million Medicare Advantage members next year.