Although drugstore chains still sell the most drugs, accounting for 42 percent of the market, mail-order pharmacies are gaining ground and now hold about 17 percent of the retail drug market.53 For many patients with chronic conditions, mail-order pharmacies offer the best deals on prescription drugs. This is especially true if consumers are willing to purchase in quantity. Generic medications are especially subject to deep discounts for quantity purchases through mail-order firms. In many cases, ordering quantities of 100 tablets costs only a few dollars more than ordering 30 tablets.

For example, AARP Pharmacy Services has a discount prescription drug card program that provides medications and other health care products to the 35 million members of AARP. According to their chief pharmacy officer, customers save as much as 47 percent on prescription drugs, with an average of 19 percent off regular retail prices.54 Although ordering a prescription by mail may not work for occasional-use drugs, persons with chronic ailments taking medication on a regular basis would undoubtedly benefit from the savings mail-order pharmacies can bring.