What Is the Canadian Rx Savings Program?
The Canadian Rx Savings program is a cash-pay service that gives US patients access to lower Canadian drug prices. Canadian prescription costs are significantly lower than in the US because the Patented Medicines Prices Review Board (PMPRB) regulates how much pharmaceutical companies can charge, preventing the kind of price inflation seen in the American market.
NowPatient works with Prescription Help, a licensed Canadian partner pharmacy, to provide this service. Prescription Help operates independently of NowPatient and NowPatient acts as an affiliate partner, connecting US patients with this service through the platform.
Important: This is not insurance. All payments are cash-based and treated as out-of-pocket expenses. The program cannot be used in combination with insurance, copay cards, or coupons.
Who Can Use the Canadian Rx Savings Service?
This program is particularly well suited to patients who are:
Uninsured and paying full retail price for medications
Underinsured, with limited prescription coverage
Commercially insured, but unable to afford their copay or coinsurance
Even for insured patients, the Canadian cash price is often lower than the insurance copay which makes it worth comparing before you fill your next prescription.
Is It Legal to Import Medications from Canada?
US government officials have indicated they do not pursue individuals who obtain non-controlled prescription drugs from Canada for personal use, up to a 3-month supply. Hundreds of thousands of Americans already use Canadian pharmacies to access medications at substantial discounts.
For many patients, affordable medication prices make the difference between receiving treatment and going without. If you have questions about your specific situation, we recommend discussing this option with your physician.
Do I Need a Valid Prescription?
Yes. A valid US physician prescription is required for every order. You can upload your prescription during checkout or provide your physician's details so the pharmacy can request it directly. Doctors can also fax prescriptions to +1 512-957-0207.
A Canadian physician may also contact you and/or your US physician to verify the prescription's legitimacy and confirm the medication is clinically appropriate for your condition. For high-risk medications, the Canadian physician may request blood test results or other supporting medical data before approving the order.
Is It Safe to Buy Canadian Medications Online?
Yes. Canadian medications undergo the same rigorous testing as their American counterparts. Health Canada - Canada's equivalent of the US FDA - regulates all drugs for safety, efficacy, and quality. The medications you receive through this program are identical to those dispensed by US pharmacies in appearance and packaging.
NowPatient has carried out thorough due diligence on Prescription Help to ensure the highest standards of safety and service. The following have been independently verified:
Licensed Canadian pharmacy status
Valid prescription required for all orders
Licensed pharmacist available to answer patient questions
Medications identical to US pharmacy equivalents in appearance and packaging
All packaging is undamaged, in English, and carries a valid expiration date
Customers are only charged for products that have been ordered and received
Written protections in place for personal and financial information
Highest data security and compliance standards maintained
Customer information is not sold to third parties
No controlled substances supplied
No products on FDA Import Alert lists
Maximum 3-month supply per international order
Place Your Order
Placing an order through the Canadian Rx Savings program is straightforward. The steps below take you from finding your medication all the way through to delivery.
Search Your Medication
Navigate to the Drug Savings section of the account homepage. Locate the Canadian Rx Savings Service Card. Using the options menu, select ‘Search’. This will bring up a search bar from which you can start typing the first 4 letters of your brand or generic medication name.
Compare Prices
From the search results, you can view the various options including packsizes, strengths and manufacturers, as well as prices.
Add Your Medication to Cart
Select the option that matches your prescription, including the correct strength and quantity. Tap 'Add to Cart' to save the item.
Tip: If you leave before finishing your order, your cart is saved. You can return at any time to pick up where you left off.
How to Complete Your Order After Adding it to Cart
If your clinician prescribes treatment during the consultation, follow these steps to complete your order:
Go to your Cart. Use the account navigation to open your Cart.
Select ‘Checkout’. Proceed from the Cart to the checkout process.
Choose your delivery address. Select or add the address where you would like your medication delivered.
Choose your delivery method. Select from the available delivery options.
Confirm your billing address. Review and confirm your billing details.
Provide Prescription Details. Confirm your doctor’s details. Upload a screen shot of your prescription (optional, but speeds up processing) or confirm that your doctor will fax the prescription. Your doctor can fax a prescription directly to +1 512-957-0207
Review your order. Check the order summary to make sure everything is correct.
Submit payment. Complete payment on our secure banking page. NowPatient never handles your payment details — all payments are processed securely by our banking partner.
Order confirmed. You will see an order confirmation screen and be redirected to your account homepage.
What Happens Behind the Scenes
Once your order is placed, the pharmacy team begins working on it. This includes:
Verifying your prescription (1–2 days)
Confirming your prescriber's details
Preparing your medication with quality checks at every stage (2–3 days)
Arranging shipping (dispatched within 5 days)
How do I reorder my refills from my account?
When you place your first order with NowPatient, your available refills will automatically appear under the Reorder option on your Canadian Rx Savings Service Card — once we’ve received your prescription. After your first dispense, simply select Reorder at any time to request your next refill.
Reordering follows the same checkout process, but you won’t need to upload your prescription again — we already have it on file. Just complete the checkout screen and we’ll take care of the rest.
Please note, if your refills have run out, you will need to provide a new prescription before we can process your reorder. You can upload a new Rx directly through your account or arrange one with your physician and have it sent to us.
Safety and Security
Is the Service Safe?
Yes. The Canadian Rx Savings service is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations for its intended use. It also complies with NHS standards DTAC, DCB 0160, and DCB 0129.
Is the Service Secure?
Yes. NowPatient operates from a HIPAA, DTAC, and Cyber Essentials Plus certified compliant platform. This ensures the highest levels of information security and allows us to safely handle Patient Health Information (PHI). Clinicians access our systems on a zero-trust basis, backed by single sign-on (SSO) technologies.
Medication Advice and Counselling
NowPatient’s pharmacists or our affiliate Prescription Help’s pharmacists can provide medication advice and counselling. If you have any questions about medication prescribed through Canadian Rx Savings, our pharmacists are available to help.
Delivery
Where Do You Deliver?
We deliver to all zipcodes in the United States. Some rural areas may experience slightly longer delivery times.
How Is My Order Packaged?
All orders are shipped in discreet, unmarked packaging, suitable for delivery to your home, workplace, or a neighbour’s address. For temperature-sensitive items, we use cold chain-validated packaging to maintain product quality, safety, and efficacy. You will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.
First order restriction: For your protection, your first order can only be delivered to the address registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, such as your workplace.
Delivery Options and Timescales
We aim to dispatch all orders placed Monday–Friday before 3pm on the same day, from receipt of the Rx from your doctor. Orders placed after 3pm or on weekends are dispatched the next working day. Deliveries are shipped by Royal Mail, which delivers Monday–Saturday.
Royal Mail International Standard Tracked & Signed: 7-21 day delivery
Do You Ship Temperature-Sensitive Products?
Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all temperature-sensitive deliveries to ensure cold chain integrity is maintained at all times.
What If My Order Has Not Arrived?
You can check your tracking details in the ‘Notification Feed’ section of your dashboard at any time after dispatch. If your delivery has not arrived within 21 days of the dispatch notification, please contact us and we will do everything we can to resolve the issue.
Order Status Updates
NowPatient keeps you informed at every stage. You will receive status update notifications through:
Email
In-app notifications
Helpful Tips for a Smooth Order
Upload your prescription during checkout, although this is optional, it can significantly speed up verification and processing time.
Double-check your doctor's details before submitting, to avoid delays in the prescription verification step.
Will I Be Charged with Import Duties?
No. NowPatient handles all US import duties on your behalf. You will not be charged any additional fees when your medication arrives. The price you see at checkout is the total price you pay.
Is the Canadian Rx Savings Program Insurance?
No. The Canadian Rx Savings program is not insurance. All payments are cash-based and are treated as out-of-pocket expenses. The program cannot be used in conjunction with health insurance, copay cards, or coupons.