Amazon wants to be your pharmacy now — and it’s coming to 4,500 cities

Same-day prescriptions reach new states

Amazon Pharmacy announced on Feb. 11 that it will bring same-day prescription delivery to nearly 4,500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026.

The expansion adds about 2,000 new communities to its existing network, with states like Idaho and Massachusetts getting same-day service for the first time. The service is free for eligible customers.

The push comes as millions of Americans face growing gaps in pharmacy access across the country.

Pharmacy deserts affect 50 million people

Pharmacy closures, staffing shortages, and transportation barriers have made it harder for millions of Americans to fill their prescriptions.

About one in seven Americans, nearly 50 million people, now live in so-called “pharmacy deserts,” areas with limited access to a local pharmacy.

In some rural communities, the nearest pharmacy sits 45 to 60 minutes away by car. Traditional mail-order prescriptions can take five to 10 days to reach underserved areas.

A third of U.S. pharmacies closed since 2010

The pharmacy landscape has changed fast. About a third of all U.S. pharmacies closed between 2010 and 2021, according to a study by Ohio State University.

Rite Aid shut down all of its remaining locations in 2025 after filing for bankruptcy. Walgreens plans to close roughly 1,200 stores through 2027, and CVS closed about 270 locations in 2025.

More than 326 pharmacy storefronts closed in fewer than 10 weeks after Congress failed to pass pharmacy benefit manager reform in late 2024.

Amazon entered pharmacy market in 2018

Amazon got into the pharmacy business in 2018 when it bought PillPack, an online prescription delivery service, for about $753 million. Two years later, it launched Amazon Pharmacy with two-day delivery as the standard.

Then in 2023, Amazon completed its $3.9 billion purchase of One Medical, a primary care provider with brick-and-mortar clinics across the country.

The company has steadily expanded delivery speed and reach since then.

Prescriptions ship from delivery warehouses

Amazon Pharmacy pharmacies sit inside the company’s same-day delivery warehouses, so prescriptions ship alongside regular packages. A licensed pharmacist reviews and verifies every prescription before it goes out.

In dense cities like Manhattan, medications arrive by e-bike. In suburban areas like Chesterbrook, Pa., electric vehicles handle the deliveries.

The setup lets Amazon use its existing logistics network to move medications quickly without building separate facilities.

Remote towns already get deliveries

Amazon’s delivery network already reaches some of the country’s most remote communities, including towns in Alaska and Navajo Nation areas like Fort Defiance and Keams Canyon.

On Mackinac Island, Mich., where motor vehicles are banned, prescriptions arrive by ferry and horse-drawn carriage. Many customers in these areas get their medications the next day or within two to three days.

Amazon says it improved delivery speeds across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in 2025.

Prescription kiosks launch at clinics

Amazon started placing prescription vending machines, called Amazon Pharmacy Kiosks, at One Medical clinics in late 2024.

In Los Angeles, patients at select clinics can pick up their medications within minutes of finishing a doctor’s appointment. The company plans to expand kiosk access to more One Medical locations in 2026.

One Medical operates on a $199 per year membership model, so the kiosks give existing members a faster path from diagnosis to medication.

RxPass covers 50 generics for $5 a month

RxPass is a $5 per month subscription for Amazon Prime members that covers more than 50 commonly prescribed generic medications. Amazon launched it in January 2023, and it now reaches 48 states.

The program covers medications for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and heart disease.

Members can fill as many eligible prescriptions as they need for the flat monthly fee, which makes it especially useful for people managing multiple conditions.

Two states still lack RxPass access

RxPass expanded to Texas in September 2025, bringing coverage to 48 states. California and Washington are the only two states still excluded due to regulatory issues.

People with Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program cannot use the program. Medicare beneficiaries, though, can sign up.

The two-state gap means millions of Americans on the West Coast still cannot access the discount program.

Savings topped $150 million in 2025

Amazon offers other ways to cut prescription costs.

Prime Rx gives Prime members without insurance discounts of up to 80 percent on generic drugs and 40 percent on brand-name drugs at no extra cost.

Amazon says it helped customers save more than $150 million in 2025 by automatically applying manufacturer-sponsored coupons. The largest savings categories were insulin and GLP-1 medications.

Amazon Pharmacy also offers the oral version of Wegovy, an FDA-approved weight management medication.

Chronic conditions could benefit most

The expansion could serve as a lifeline for people in pharmacy deserts who struggle to access medications. Customers managing chronic conditions stand to benefit most from faster, more reliable delivery.

Amazon Pharmacy offers around-the-clock access to licensed pharmacists for questions about medications.

PillPack, Amazon’s service for people taking multiple daily prescriptions, sorts medications by dose and time into individual packets.

Online pharmacy has its limits

Amazon Pharmacy is not a walk-in pharmacy and does not offer in-person services like vaccinations or health screenings at most locations. Controlled substances may need a signature upon delivery.

The service cannot ship to P.O. boxes, military addresses, or Amazon Lockers.

Some patients and experts have raised concerns about losing the personal relationships with local pharmacists that come with the shift to online pharmacy.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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