How to Get 90-Day Fills to Lower Prescription Costs

Getting a 90-day supply of your medication isn’t just about buying more pills at once-it’s one of the simplest ways to cut your monthly drug costs without changing your treatment. If you’re taking medication for a long-term condition like high blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol, you could be paying the same copay for three months’ worth of pills as you do for just one month. That’s not a trick. It’s standard practice-and most people don’t even know they can ask for it.

Why 90-Day Fills Save Money

Most insurance plans charge a flat copay for each prescription fill, no matter how many pills are in the bottle. So if your copay is $5 for a 30-day supply, you’re paying $15 a month for the same medication. But if you get a 90-day fill, you still pay $5-just once. That means you get three months of medication for the price of one. Over a year, that’s $39.20 saved on just one drug. Multiply that across three or four medications, and you’re looking at hundreds in annual savings.

Mail-order pharmacies often offer the best deals, but many retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens now give you the same 90-day option right at the counter. The key is that your insurance plan treats the 90-day supply as one fill, not three. You’re not getting a discount on the drug itself-you’re getting a discount on the number of times you pay the copay.

Who Qualifies for a 90-Day Prescription

Not every medication qualifies. These programs are designed for maintenance medications-drugs you take daily for chronic conditions. Common examples include:

• High blood pressure pills (like lisinopril or amlodipine)
• Cholesterol meds (like atorvastatin or simvastatin)
• Diabetes medications (like metformin or glimepiride)
• Thyroid meds (like levothyroxine)
• Antidepressants (like sertraline or escitalopram)

You also need to have taken the medication for at least one cycle already. Insurance companies want to make sure you’re tolerating it well before approving a longer supply. If you just started a new drug, you’ll likely need to stick with 30-day fills for now.

How to Get a 90-Day Prescription

Getting a 90-day supply is easier than most people think. Here’s how to do it in three steps:

1. Check your prescription label. Look at how many refills are left. If you have at least two or three refills remaining, your pharmacist can often fill a 90-day supply even if the original prescription was written for 30 days. Just ask.
2. Ask your doctor. If you don’t have enough refills, call your doctor’s office. Say: “I’d like to switch to a 90-day prescription for my [medication name] to save on copays and reduce pharmacy visits.” Most doctors will approve it right away if it’s a maintenance drug.
3. Choose your pharmacy. You can get 90-day fills at your local pharmacy or through mail-order services. Mail-order options like CVS Caremark or Postal Prescription Services deliver directly to your door-often with free shipping-and sometimes at even lower prices.

Pro tip: Don’t assume your pharmacy will bring it up. Most pharmacists won’t mention it unless you ask. Be direct. Say: “Can I get a 90-day supply of this with my insurance?”

Mail-Order vs. Retail: Which Is Better?

There are two main ways to get a 90-day supply: through your local pharmacy or through mail-order.

Mail-order pharmacies (like those run by CVS Caremark, UnitedHealthcare, or Humana) are designed for long-term medications. They typically only fill 90-day supplies and ship them every three months. You’ll get your meds delivered to your home, and you won’t need to leave the house. Some plans even offer free shipping and automatic refills. The downside? You have to plan ahead-ordering too late could mean running out.

Retail pharmacies (like Walgreens, Rite Aid, or local independents) now offer 90-day fills in-store too. This is great if you prefer to pick up your meds yourself or need to talk to a pharmacist in person. Some people find it easier to manage refills this way, especially if they already visit the pharmacy for other things like flu shots or over-the-counter meds.

Cost-wise, mail-order often wins. But retail can be just as cheap-and way more convenient if you’re already nearby. Always compare prices using tools like GoodRx before deciding.

What to Watch Out For

Not every plan allows 90-day fills for every drug. Some insurance companies require prior authorization, especially for newer or more expensive medications. Others may only offer 90-day options through their preferred mail-order service.

Here’s how to avoid surprises:

• Call your insurance company before asking your doctor. Ask: “Does my plan cover 90-day fills for [medication name]?”
• Ask if there’s a preferred mail-order pharmacy-and whether you’re required to use it.
• Confirm your copay amount for a 90-day supply. Sometimes it’s lower than the 30-day copay.

If your plan says no, ask if you can switch to a different plan during open enrollment. Many Medicare Part D and Medicaid plans now make 90-day fills standard.

Extra Benefits Beyond Savings

Saving money is the big win-but there are other perks:

• Fewer trips to the pharmacy. Instead of going every month, you’re going every three months. That’s eight fewer visits a year.
• Better adherence. Studies show people who get 90-day supplies are more likely to keep taking their meds. Missing doses is less likely when you’re not running out every 30 days.
• Less stress. No more last-minute calls to the doctor when you’re out of pills. You’ve got a buffer.

One patient told me they used to forget refills during busy work weeks. After switching to 90-day fills, they didn’t miss a single dose in over a year.

What If Your Pharmacy Says No?

Sometimes, especially at smaller local pharmacies, staff might say they can’t fill a 90-day supply. That’s usually not true. It’s often because:

• They’re not trained on how to process it
• They’re worried about losing dispensing fees
• They’re assuming you need a new prescription

If they say no, ask to speak to the pharmacist on duty. Say: “My insurance allows 90-day fills for this medication. Can you check if my prescription has enough refills?” If they still say no, ask if they can transfer your prescription to CVS, Walgreens, or a mail-order service. Most pharmacies will do it.

And if your doctor’s office says they can’t write a 90-day script? Ask them to send a new prescription for 90 days with three refills. That’s the standard way to do it.

Bottom Line: It’s Simple, It’s Legal, It’s Worth It

You don’t need a special form, a doctor’s note, or a complicated process. If you’re on long-term medication, you’re eligible. All you need to do is ask.

Start with your next refill. Call your pharmacy and say: “Can I get a 90-day supply of my [medication name]?” If they say yes, you’re saving money right away. If they say no, call your doctor. In most cases, you’ll get a yes within 24 hours.

This isn’t a loophole. It’s a benefit built into your insurance plan. Millions of Americans use it. You should too.