Blink Health Review 2020

The average individual in the United States spends 10 percent of their healthcare costs on prescription drugs. The Blink Health mobile or online app enables these individuals to safely and securely purchase prescriptions for the lowest possible price. PMB’s or Pharmacy Benefit Managers negotiate both rebates and discounts for drugs between the insurance companies and the pharmacies. 

Both of these agencies receive a profit from these negotiations. Some of the deals made by PMBs lead to physicians prescribing an alternate medication due to the costs. This medication may not be the best option for the needs of the individual.

Blink Health Review: Bottom Line

Blink Health was established in 2014 and offers discounted prescription prices on 15,000+ medications. You can pay online and pick up your medication at one of their 35,000+ participating pharmacies nationwide, or get your prescription delivered to your home. Online doctor visits are also offered for select conditions.

What is Blink Health?

Blink Health is classified as a discount prescription plan for consumers. The company receives volume discounts for more than 15,000 different medications. These savings are passed to the consumers using the service. Blink Health offers both a website suitable for a laptop or desktop computer and an app for use on a smartphone. According to the Blink Health website, as more and more consumers begin using the service, the discounts available will be even better. 

Matthew and Geoffrey Chaiken founded Blink Health in 2015. The company offers consumers discounts on prescriptions at more than 35,000 pharmacies. Blink Health has established partnerships with these pharmacies to enable consumers to have their prescriptions filled at a discounted rate. The consumer can either have their physician’s office call in a prescription or drop it off right at the pharmacy. The next step is finding the medication on either the Blink Health website or app. 

Once the medication has been located, the consumer makes their payment directly to Blink Health. The consumer is then issued a receipt including a barcode. When the prescription is picked up, the pharmacy scans the barcode. This means no payment is necessary at the actual pharmacy. To ensure home delivery is possible in as many areas within the United States as possible, Blink Health has locations in the following cities. 

• St. Louis, Missouri
• Seattle, Washington
• New York, New York
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Westford, Massachusetts

The Corporate office for Blink Health is located in New York, New York.

How Does Blink Health Work?

Once the consumer has opened an account with Blink Health, prescriptions can be picked up directly from the pharmacy. The consumer can also arrange to have the medication delivered to their home by mail at no additional cost. The consumer checks the pharmacy prices through Blink Health prior to filling their prescription. This is accomplished through the following steps. 

Step 1: Go to the network page of the pharmacy to check for availability by entering a zip code. Both local and national pharmacies are available for picking up the prescription. 

Step 2: The consumer searches either the Blink Health website or app for the medication. Blink Health will display the prices for the pharmacies in the area. The idea is to find the pharmacy offering the lowest price. In some instances, the consumer will need to drive farther to reach the pharmacy or arrange for home delivery.  

Step 3: The consumer selects either pick up including the specific pharmacy or chooses free mail delivery. 

Step 4: The consumer pays for the prescription. This will finalize the order. 

Step 5: The consumer receives either an email or a text with a barcode confirming the order has been paid in full. 

Step 6: The consumer shows the barcode to the pharmacist so the order is processed with Blink Health as the primary payer. In the case of home delivery, the order will be filled and shipped by one of the network pharmacies.

How Much Can You Really Save With Blink Health?

The exact amount saved is dependant on the drug purchased. For an idea of the potential savings, the pricing for several of the drugs available through Blink Health are defined below. 

• The cost of Levothyroxine including Unithroid, Levothroid, Synthroid and Levoxyl is approximately $16.50.

• The cost of Hydrocodone including Xodol, Norco and Vicodin is approximately $10,00.

• The cost of Omeprazole including Prilosec is approximately $9.90.

• The cost of Metformin including Glucophage is approximately $6.86. 

• The cost of Atorvastatin including Lipitor is approximately $9.90.

• The cost of Amlodipine including Norvasc is approximately $5.80. 

• The cost of Losartan including Cozaar is approximately $9.00.

• The cost of Gabapentin including Neurontin is approximately $13.25.

• The cost of Lisinopril including Zestril and Prinivil is approximately $3.70. 

• The cost of Sertraline including Zoloft is approximately $8.50.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Does Blink Health Make Money?

Every time a consumer pays for a prescription, Blink Health makes a profit by taking a percentage of the purchase price. 

Which Pharmacies Accept Blink Health?

Blink Health is currently accepted by over 35,000 pharmacies throughout the United States. The consumer simply chooses the most convenient accepted pharmacy for their specific needs. 

Can You Use Blink Health With Insurance?

No, consumers are unable to use both Blink Health and insurance. 

Can You Use Blink Health With Medicare?

The prescription program offered by Blink Health is unable to be used in conjunction with any state or federally funded program including Medicaid, Medicare or any healthcare benefits or coverage. 

Can I Use My FSA or HSA with Blink Health?

Yes, the pharmacy receipts are provided on the Blink Health website. The consumer can use this receipt for either an (HSA) Health Savings Account or an (FSA) Flexible Spending Account. 

Can You Use Blink Health if You Don’t Have a Prescription?

No, a prescription is required to fill all prescription medications.

Where Are Pharmaceuticals Sold Through Blink Health Manufactured?

When a consumer uses the Blink Health network, the medication is filled by the pharmacist. The same manufacturer is used for both traditional and Blink Health customers. Every drug has been approved by the FDA. There is no difference whether the consumer pays using insurance, Blink Health or cash.

Blink Health Pros and Cons

The Pros

• Blink Health Provides an App and a Website: The consumer has two options to make using the service easier. The app can be downloaded directly to a mobile phone. This enables the consumer to make a purchase immediately. Once the consumer has printed out their card, the medication can be picked up directly from the pharmacy. 
• Lower Prices: The key advantage of using Blink Health is saving money. Medications are often extremely expensive, and numerous consumers require multiple medications. Due to the negotiations achieved by Blink Health, the consumer saves money when filling prescriptions. 
• The Convenience: Blink Health has eliminated the need to pay exorbitant prices for numerous medications. Once the consumer has the Blink Health printout, they can simply pick up their prescription at the most convenient pharmacy provided Blink Health is accepted. 
• No Fees: Blink Health does not charge the consumer any fees. This means there are no charges for using Blink Health. The consumer does not have to make a commitment. The choice as to whether or not to use Blink Health is completely up to the consumer. 
• More than 35,000 Pharmacies: There are over 35,000 pharmacies the consumer can choose from that are accepted by Blink Health. There are no regulations as to which pharmacy the consumer can choose. The consumer simply selects the most convenient pharmacy for their individual needs. 
• Online Payments: The consumer can make their payment online. Blink Health offers different payment methods. This is the most frequently used payment mode for numerous consumers. 
• More than 15,000 Medications are Covered: In most instances, the medication required by the consumer is available through Blink Health.
• Delivery Options: If the consumer is short on time, feeling ill or unable to travel, mail delivery is available at no extra cost. This eliminates the need to go to the pharmacy. 
• Fast and Simple Process: The process is easy. The consumer searches Blink Health for the medication, makes an online payment, and picks up the prescription at the most convenient pharmacy.

The Cons

• Limited Coverage for Medications: The number of medications covered is limited. Although the majority of medications are covered, there are still a lot of medications that have not been included. 
• Confusion Between Pharmacies and Blink Health: There are numerous user reviews stating there is confusion between Blink Health and the pharmacies. This has led to payment issues. 
• Poor Customer Support: Many of the user’s reviews state customer support is not responsive to issues and complaints. Some of the users stated they spoke with numerous customer service representatives without receiving the help they needed. 
• Higher Prices: Blink Health may charge higher prices for certain medications. The best option is for consumers to confirm the price with the pharmacy prior to paying for the prescription through Blink Health. The consumer may discover the price charged by Blink Health is higher than purchasing the prescription directly from the pharmacy. 
• Paying for Unavailable Drugs: Some consumers have paid for their medication only to find out it was unavailable through the pharmacy. Blink Health is not confirming if the medications are actually available through the pharmacy. Numerous consumers have paid for a prescription, only to discover it was not available when they tried to pick it up. 
• Online Medical Evaluations: Some consumers have to pay for a medical evaluation online. Not only does this increase the cost of the process, but it can also be extremely frustrating. 
• No Refunds: Blink Health will not issue any refunds. This means even if the medication is unavailable at the pharmacy, the consumer may not receive a refund.

Is Blink Health a Legitimate Company?

Yes, Blink Health is completely legitimate. The company offers consumers lower prices for medications through contracts established with the pharmacies. The broker used is MedImpact. The network for MedImpact includes more than 60,000 pharmacies. When the consumer fills a prescription, the price offered is locked in for the purchase.

Should You Use Blink Health?

The model used by Blink Health is unique, and beneficial for the majority of consumers. Consumers generally receive the lowest price for both brand name and generic drugs. Most consumers within the United States live near at least one of the network pharmacies. If a pharmacy is not nearby, mail delivery is a free option. The mobile app and website are simple and easy to use. Blink Health is a good option for decreasing the cost of medications. For these reasons, many consumers will benefit from using Blink Health. 

How Do You Sign Up for Blink Health?

Consumers can create an account with Blink Health for free at the official website or by calling (833) 844-9621. It is important to use a valid email when signing up for the service. This is because all tracking information and receipts will be sent electronically. All personal information including the date of birth and name must be an exact match with the prescription issued by the physician.