When it comes to picking the right pharmacy in the U.S. island territory of Guam, there are several things that you have to take into account. If you don’t know where to begin, don’t worry. Read on for a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when comparing different pharmacies in Guam:
Confirm If They Accept Your Insurance
One of the first things you should determine is whether or not a pharmacy accepts your insurance coverage. This will help you minimize your medical expenses each time you refill your prescription.
Take the time to call up or drop by the pharmacy to ask what insurance plans they accept. Don’t forget to review your insurance benefits beforehand, as certain plans may not cover the entire cost of your medications.
Also, you’ll want to make sure that they accept most insurance plans available in your area. This will save you from having to change pharmacies in case your insurance coverage changes.
Look for One That’s Near You
Due to Guam’s limited transportation options, you’ll want to choose a pharmacy that is easy to get to. Otherwise, a long travel distance may cause you to spend a lot of money to cover your commuting expenses.
You might also waste a lot of time in traffic if you can only go to the pharmacy during peak hours. This problem can be exacerbated if you suffer from a chronic condition, which typically requires you to regularly refill your prescription.
So try to pick one that’s relatively close to where you live or work. This will ensure that you don’t have to trek too far to get your medications, especially if you’re already feeling sick and sluggish.
Check Their Operating Hours
Though it’s important to find a pharmacy in an accessible location, it should also have convenient operating hours.
While you may not necessarily need one that’s open 24/7, it should at least be open long enough to work for your personal schedule.
By finding a provider with reasonable operating hours, you can avoid the stress of rushing to pick up your medicine before they close for the day.
Ask If They Do Deliveries
If you tend to have an incredibly busy schedule, you’ll want to look for a pharmacy that lets you place your order by phone or online.
That way, you can save time and effort by having your medications delivered straight to your doorstep. Certain pharmacies even provide a service where they can auto-fill your prescription, if desired.
Indeed, delivery services can be especially useful in situations when you absolutely cannot leave your home, such as the current lockdown imposed on the island due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Check Their Product Catalog
There may be instances when you need to get other products in addition to your prescription. So, for your convenience, your ideal pharmacy should carry a wide range of health products and medical supplies. This way, you can conveniently buy everything in one place.
For instance, your pharmacist may recommend over-the-counter medications to go along with your prescription.
By choosing a store with a good selection of items, you won’t have to waste time going all the way to a different store just to get everything else you need.
Observe The Staff’s Attitudes
Since prescriptions can be hard to understand, you’ll want to find pharmacists that you can trust.
That said, the best way to assess a pharmacy’s staff is to give them an in-store visit. This is because you won’t be able to see visual cues such as facial expressions and gestures that could give you a hint as to what they’re thinking or feeling. By seeing the staff members in person, you’ll get a better feel for their personality.
Generally speaking, you should feel comfortable when talking to your pharmacists. They should be courteous, patient, and willing to answer any questions you may have.
If you ever feel like you’re being disrespected or that your concerns aren’t being taken seriously, you’ll want to look for a different pharmacy.
Evaluate Their Customer Service
Picking up your prescriptions can be quite a chore, so you want to make sure the experience is as painless as possible. Thus, the perfect pharmacy should be able to provide you with consistent and excellent customer service.
This means that your prescriptions should always be filled quickly and accurately. Additionally, the pharmacy should be dependable when it comes to preparing your prescriptions at agreed-upon dates and times.
If a pharmacy constantly gets your prescriptions wrong, never seems to provide it on time, or makes you wait a long time for service, we recommend finding a new one.
In Conclusion
Because there are so many factors to consider, choosing the perfect pharmacy in Guam can be quite challenging. But as long as you carefully weigh the pros and cons, you’ll be sure to find one that meets all of your needs.
About The Author:
Briana Jones is a digital marketer from the Philippines. She is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and finding ways to achieve modern comforts in a sustainable manner. In her free time, you can find her prepping meals in the kitchen or exploring new running routes in the neighborhood. She also loves traveling.
