Walmart’s same-day pharmacy delivery now offered nationwide

FILE - Shoppers wait in line to be served at the pharmacy of a Walmart Inc. store in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 13, 2018. Photographer: Callaghan O'Hare/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Walmart has expanded its same-day prescription delivery service nationwide.

The world’s biggest retailer last fall launched a pilot program of the service in six states in an effort to better reach customers, including "seniors and those managing chronic conditions who do not have time for multiple trips."

Here’s what to know:

Walmart pharmacy’s same-day delivery goes nationwide

What we know:

Walmart said its same-day pharmacy delivery is now available in 49 U.S. states. The delivery service is available for prescriptions and medication refills, except for controlled substances, those that need refrigeration, and Medicare Part B items, according to the company. 

When a pharmacist fills a customer’s prescription, the customer is notified through their Walmart.com account that their order is ready to be delivered. From there, they can choose between Same-Day Scheduled, On-Demand or Express, the company said. New or existing insurance plans are applied to the transaction as they would when picking up a prescription in-store. A driver will then bring the order to the customer’s location during their selected time window. Walmart said medications are delivered in "tamper-evident packaging" and customers can track their orders in real-time.

Pharmacy deliveries are free for Walmart+ members, while non-members will be charged based on their delivery preference.

By the numbers:

Walmart has nearly 4,600 store locations with pharmacies, the company said.

Dig deeper:

Seven out of eight Americans choose their pharmacy based on how convenient it is for them, according to the retailer, which cited its customer insight research. To make same-day delivery of medications a reality, Walmart utilizes an AI-powered delivery platform called Spark. The platform uses a new geospatial technology to define delivery areas "with greater precision" using customer insights and external data, according to Walmart – rather than traditional metrics such as zip code or distance from the store. 

What they're saying:

"It’s an expectation now that you can have your groceries delivered – you can have everything you need delivered to your home," Bonnie Chandler, a pharmacy manager in North Little Rock, Arkansas, said in a press release. "Your health care should be similar to that as well.

The Source: This story was reported using information published by Walmart on Jan. 30, 2025, regarding its same-day pharmacy delivery program. It was reported from Cincinnati. 

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