Cost Plus Drugs Shipping: What Happens If Something Goes Wrong?
By Sarah Wilczek, pharmacist at Network Health
4/30/2026
If you’ve always picked up your prescriptions at a local pharmacy, getting medications through the mail can feel like a big leap. Instead of getting your medication from a pharmacist you know, you’re waiting for a package to arrive at your door.
It’s natural to wonder what happens if something goes wrong with the shipping, whether it be a delayed delivery or a package that doesn’t arrive at all. We hear these questions from members considering switching their prescription to Cost Plus Drugs or another mail order pharmacy, and we want to put your mind at ease.
After all, no one wants to feel anxious about something as important as medication. Delays, lost packages or running out of medication are all understandable concerns, and the last thing you should feel is stuck wondering who to call if your prescriptions don’t arrive when expected.
Are the Benefits of Mail Order Pharmacies Like Cost Plus Drugs Worth It?
Saving money on prescriptions shouldn’t mean sacrificing peace of mind, and thankfully, it doesn’t need to. Shipping issues, whether through Cost Plus Drugs or other mail order pharmacy, are rare. In fact, our pharmacy team can’t recall a recent case where members experienced serious shipping problems… That’s how rare it is.
So, with that in mind, the benefits of receiving your medication in the mail far outweigh the very unlikely chance of a serious shipping problem. What are those benefits?
- Increased convenience: No more driving to the pharmacy or risking it in bad weather to get your medication.
- Lower costs: In the case of options like Cost Plus Drugs, you can save money just by getting your prescriptions through them.
- Easier medication adherence: When prescriptions arrive in the mail, it’s easier to stay on top of them. They arrive when needed, you never run out and you don’t have to remember to pick them up.
- Reduced exposure to illness: It’s no secret that a lot of sick people visit pharmacies, so when you get your medicine in the mail, you limit your exposure.
How Cost Plus Drugs Shipping Works
In the case of Cost Plus Drugs, who we have partnered with to offer as an in-network mail-order pharmacy for our Medicare Advantage plan members, shipping is simple and reliable.
Their pharmacists know how to ship medications safely, including using temperature-controlled packaging when a medication requires it. These are the same shipping processes and conditions that pharmacies across the country already use when they receive drugs from manufacturers. While the experience of a mail-order pharmacy might feel new to you, for pharmacies like Cost Plus Drugs, it’s anything but.
What to do if your medication is delayed?
While delays are rare, it’s important to know what to do if your medication doesn’t arrive on time. Like we said, this is not something that happens with any regularity, but it’s smart to plan for the unexpected.
If there is a delay in receiving your medication, we’re here to help. As a Network Health member, we encourage you to call our pharmacy team. Think of us as your safety net in the unlikely event that you don’t receive your medications when expected.
If needed, we can…
- Contact Cost Plus Drugs on your behalf
- Work with your insurance to approve a short-term supply
- Help you fill a temporary prescription at a local pharmacy until your shipment arrives
One phone call can usually solve the problem, and we’re happy to help.
What about emergencies or travel needs?
Of course, sometimes emergency medication needs arise. Perhaps you’re going on vacation and need a refill on your prescription sooner than you would normally.
In that case, it’s important to know that you don’t have to only use Cost Plus Drugs. If you are taking an extended trip where you need that refill before you leave, our pharmacy team or your personal doctor can allow for a vacation override. Medicare members get one of these per year, and they can allow you to get your prescription refilled at a local pharmacy before you leave for your trip.
Rest assured, when you choose mail order pharmacy options like Cost Plus Drugs, you can expect reliable delivery, with Network Health pharmacists always here to help members if needed.
Learn more about your mail order options as a Network Health member
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