By The Daily Caller (U.S.) | Created at 2026-09-29 18:46:43 | Updated at 2026-09-29 21:22:21
4 hours ago
Online pharmacies — including one from an e-commerce giant — are on the rise as health insurance premiums and prices skyrocket.
Amazon Corporation appears to be tapping into a shifting market as individuals increasingly abandon traditional health insurance for more cost-effective alternatives. RxPass — a benefit of Amazon Pharmacy — and other online platforms offering prescription subscription services are increasing in popularity, Reuters reported.
“Since we launched RxPass in 2023, the number of customers using the program has grown nearly threefold, and more than 70% fill three or more different medications with us,” John Love, vice president at Amazon Pharmacy, told the outlet. “That tells us RxPass is reaching people with ongoing health needs, where consistent access to affordable refills really matters.”
RxPass offers prescription plans for $5 per month at Amazon. Another separate online company, GoodRx offers a $14.99 monthly plan called ‘Companion’ that offers discounts and free access to over 250 generic drugs, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Amazon Slams The Door On Meta’s AI Shopper Over Security Concerns)
Representatives from Amazon did not provide a comment on the record by the time of publication. GoodRx did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs have risen dramatically, and millions of Americans have dropped individual plans offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Reuters reported.
In 2026, ACA premiums increased by more than 20%, research from The Commonwealth Fund found. Additionally, a paper published in April from the Wakely Consulting Group, estimated costs would rise up to 26% this year, based on data from Wakely National Risk Adjustment Reporting (WNRAR).
Costs for employers who sponsor most private insurance plans will rise up to 11% in 2027, according to a study from WTW.
Small businesses and an increasing number of healthcare workers are struggling to afford insurance costs and going to alternative payment methods.
“Sky-high and rapidly escalating health plan costs are a major problem for small businesses, which often run on razor-thin margins,” Job Creators Network Foundation president Elaine Parker told the DCNF on Sept. 7.
“An increase in the number of independent and small practice providers foregoing health insurance has the potential to put more strain on the larger healthcare system if they forego preventive care, get sick and cannot afford treatment or need to step back from the workforce,” a spokesperson from Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare told the DCNF on Saturday.
