Buying Rybelsus From Canada
Rybelsus is a highly effective medication used to treat type II diabetes. There is also significant evidence that it can help patients lose up to 10 pounds when combined with diet and exercise. And unlike other forms of the same drug, semaglutide, Rybelsus is taken orally instead of injected.
It’s no wonder that demand for Rybelsus is rising throughout the country. However, there is a major barrier preventing patients who want Rybelsus from getting it, even if they have obtained a prescription from their doctor: the cost.
A month’s supply of Rybelsus can cost up to $1000. Even those with insurance coverage may only be eligible for $300 in savings.
In general, prescription drugs are much cheaper in Canada. There are ways to take your prescription across the northern border and get your medication filled at less than one-third of the cost you’d pay at home.
Is Rybelsus cheaper in Canada than in the US?
Without insurance, you could easily pay $1,000 or more for a month’s supply of Rybelsus. This is because the United States allows drug manufacturers to set the price of their products without any regulation. Nearly half of Americans are underinsured, and insurance may not cover a medication if they don’t feel it is “medically necessary” or that the patient could experience similar benefits with another medication. During medication shortages, when only certain pharmacies have the medication they need in stock, some patients might find that some pharmacies do not accept their insurance.
Since 1987, Canada has had the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board to prevent pharmaceutical companies from charging consumers exorbitant prices for medications. As a result, Canadians pay only about one-third of what Americans do for the same price. For example, while the out-of-pocket cost for Rybelsus in the US is $1,000, it is less than $300 in Canada.
Is it legal to purchase medications From Canada?
According to its website, “In most circumstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drugs into the United States for personal use. This is because drugs from other countries that are available for purchase by individuals often have not been approved by FDA for use and sale in the United States. For example, if a drug is approved by Health Canada (FDA’s counterpart in Canada) but has not been approved by FDA, it is an unapproved drug in the United States, and therefore, illegal to import.”
As long as the drug has been approved by the FDA (as Rybelsus has), there is no reason for the FDA to object to you buying it in Canada and bringing it back with you. But beyond what the written law says, there is also no evidence that the US Government has ever leveled penalties against a US resident or a Canadian business because the business sold the individual an FDA-approved mediation. While the FDA has conducted several raids of retail pharmacies that connect American buyers to low-cost medications from Canada, they did not stop these businesses from operating.
On the other side of the border, the Canadian Government does not seem to have a problem with their businesses selling medication to Americans. Generally, any medication that requires a prescription in the US will also require a prescription in Canada. Canadian pharmacies do need a prescription from an authorized Canadian practitioner, but this can be achieved relatively easily through a process known as cosigning. How this works is that when your prescription goes to the Canadian pharmacy, it will be reviewed by a Canadian healthcare provider. Once the prescription is approved, the provider reissues a Canadian prescription, and the pharmacy fills the order.
Can I order Rybelsus from Canada online?
In an age where almost everything else can be ordered remotely and delivered straight to your door, the pharmaceutical industry has also gone online. Online pharmacies are becoming more common both in the US and Canada.
Of course, most online pharmacies based in Canada were started to provide Canadians with a more convenient way to get their prescriptions than making the trip to their local brick-and-mortar, especially in more remote areas of the country. However, others are very open about providing Americans with lower-cost medications at home. A spokesperson from Insulin Outlet stated to us in a phone interview: “Many Americans require prescription medications to manage serious health conditions and improve their quality of life. Unfortunately, these same life-saving medications can be costly. It doesn’t have to be that way. Insulin Outlet’s staff believe safe, accessible health care should be available to everyone.”
These online pharmacies that specifically cater to Americans will be able to handle the cosigning process for you. If you are close enough to the Canadian border, you may even be able to skip the cosigning process entirely by seeing if you can schedule an appointment with a Canadian provider. Keep in mind that Canadian pharmacies and doctors won’t take American health insurance, though the out-of-pocket costs may still be lower than what you would pay even with coverage in the United States.
You can also check with your provider to see if they have contacts or agreements with other doctors and pharmacies in Canada. If they do, they can handle the entire ordering process for you.
Is it safe to get Rybelsus from Canada?
Some people might assume—or try to claim—that because the drugs in Canada are cheaper, they are of inferior quality. However, this is not the case. Often, the drugs sold in Canadian pharmacies and American pharmacies are manufactured in the exact same factories. Rybelsus is under patent and has no generic equivalent, so no matter where you buy it, the formula and dosage will be exactly the same. The only difference is that Canada regulates the price of their drugs.
However, there is one caveat: you have to make sure you are actually getting Rybelsus. It is no secret that drug prices are significantly higher in the United States. As a result, scammers might take the opportunity to sell phony or expired products, claiming they are sought-after medications. Before you send a medication order to a Canadian pharmacy, research the business to make sure it is a legitimate pharmacy that will actually send you the medication you ordered. In the best-case scenario, you get a placebo with no active ingredients, but you could also end up taking a pill laced with a dangerous substance.
How do I know if a pharmacy is trustworthy?
When ordering from an online pharmacy in the US, it is best to do your due diligence to ensure that it is a reliable business.
The very first thing to do is ensure they have a licensed pharmacist on staff to answer any questions you might have about your medication or how to take it, just like you would expect at your local neighborhood pharmacy. If the pharmacy does not ask for a prescription for a medication you know should require one, that is also a major red flag. Most trustworthy pharmacies, even ones that do all of their business online, will list a physical address or phone number on their website.
It’s always a good idea to read reviews from other customers. You also want to look for a written guarantee that the website will keep your personal and financial information secure. When it comes to shopping for medication from online pharmacies in Canada, keep in mind that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. In America, drugs usually cost about 2.5 times more than they do in Canada. If the pharmacy you’re looking at is offering a significantly steeper discount, it is unlikely that they are actually going to provide you with the medication you’re looking for.
BuyRybelsus.com can help you take the guesswork out of finding a trustworthy, affordable pharmacy to fill your Rybelsus prescription. We’ve taken the time to research pharmacies in Canada and the US and only added legitimate businesses to our directory. Start searching now to find a retailer that works with your budget.
