With mail-order order prescription drugs online, convenience is your number one benefit. There's no need for slogging out to the pharmacy, queuing in long lines at the counter, and wasting time by idly flipping through celebrity-spotting magazines while a prescription is being filled.

Simply fill out some forms on the Internet and in a few weeks later, the drugs show up at your house. Mail-order prescription drugs online is not only easy, it is also vital for people who don't drive or are too sick to get out.

However, there's more to convenience and low price to consider when ordering online. While they may advertise amazing discounts, some peddle expired or counterfeit medications. Putting your health at risk just to save on a few dollars is not worth the bargain.

Having an insurance coverage opens a lot of different opportunities to avail of mail-order prescription drugs online. Some insurance companies have partnered with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) which process and fill drug claims. This plan may help you get a three-month supply by mail-order for less money than the month's supply that you'd get at a standard pharmacy.

Mail-order prescription drugs online is a convenient and affordable alternative to your pharmacies on the block especially when it is part of a health plan. But for those who do not have insurance coverage, there are some legitimate mail order pharmacies that basically sell drugs at lower price through financial assistance. However, they do have income requirements. For instance, a household of two would have to make less than $32,141 to qualify.

Information about mail-order prescription drugs online can also flood your email Inbox every day. But no matter how tempting the discounts being offered, one must be careful with the links in spam email. You simply can't be sure of what you're getting or where it's coming from.

There's a real risk that you could be buying from bogus online pharmacies. The FDA reports cases of customers getting expired or counterfeit drugs which can cause distressing and potentially grave side effects.

Do not be deceived by slick-looking sites. Be cautious with unfamiliar names. According to the FDA, you should only buy online prescription drugs from a pharmacy if it:

Is located in the U.S.

Is licensed by that state's board of pharmacy (a list is available at www.nabp.com)

Has a licensed pharmacist available to talk with you

Requires a prescription

Gives out contact information and offers customer service

Has the seal of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS)

But meeting all these requirements does not guarantee that an online pharmacy is a legitimate company. When you have doubts, consult your doctor first. It's better to ask for help than to figure out things on your own and make a bad choice.

Another disadvantage of mail-order prescription drugs online is that delivery will take days. Unless you plan ahead in making your online order before you're down to the last pill, you will find yourself in trouble.