Why go indie?

Independent pharmacies put your health first. No corporate boardroom making decisions about your prescriptions. Here's why more Americans are making the switch.

The problem: your pharmacy and your insurance are the same company

In 2018, CVS Health acquired Aetna insurance for $69 billion. Now the same company that fills your prescriptions also decides what your insurance covers. Think about that.

  • Steering patients: Insurance formularies can push patients toward CVS pharmacies, regardless of whether they offer the best service or price.
  • Higher costs: When your insurance company owns the pharmacy, their incentive is maximizing revenue — yours is minimizing costs. Guess who wins.
  • Reduced choice: Independent pharmacies are often excluded from "preferred networks" or face reimbursement rates that force them to close.

Fact: CVS Health owns 9,900+ pharmacies and the Aetna insurance plan, which covers 22+ million Americans. That's a conflict of interest, plain and simple.

What you get with an indie pharmacy

1. A pharmacist who knows you

At an independent pharmacy, you're a person. Your pharmacist knows your name, your medications, your allergies. That personal relationship catches drug interactions and saves lives. Try getting that at a drive-through window.

2. Zero corporate conflicts

Independent pharmacies are free from insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Their only motivation is taking care of you. Full stop.

3. Your money stays local

When you fill a prescription at an indie pharmacy, those dollars circulate in your community. Local jobs. Little League sponsorships. The pharmacist whose kid goes to school with yours. That's real economic impact.

4. Services chains can't match

Compounding, home delivery, pet meds, medication synchronization, blister packing for elderly patients. Independent pharmacies specialize because they can. Chains standardize because they have to.

5. Competitive pricing (seriously)

Contrary to what big pharma wants you to think, independents often match or beat chain prices. Many offer discount programs, price matching, and will work with you to find affordable alternatives. They want to keep your business.

Questions to ask when choosing a pharmacy

  1. Who owns this pharmacy? Is it independently owned, or part of a chain owned by an insurance company?
  2. Do you accept my insurance? Most independent pharmacies accept all major insurance plans.
  3. Can you price match? Many independents will match chain prices or offer discount programs.
  4. What specialized services do you offer? Ask about compounding, delivery, immunizations, etc.
  5. Will I see the same pharmacist each time? Continuity of care matters for medication safety.

Independent pharmacies are disappearing

This is happening right now. Independent pharmacies are closing at an alarming rate:

  • 21,683 independent pharmacies remain in the US (as of 2023), down from 24,000+ in 2010.
  • 34% market share and declining, as chains consolidate and PBMs squeeze reimbursements.
  • Rural communities hit hardest: Many small towns have lost their only pharmacy.

You can change this. Every prescription you fill at an independent pharmacy is a vote for local healthcare, competition, and freedom from corporate conflicts.

Find your indie pharmacy

Use our directory to find verified independent pharmacies near you. Locally owned. Verified independent. Real pharmacists who care.

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