Refilling a prescription without insurance can be straightforward when the medication is stable and non-controlled. Bidwell Health uses a $45 online bridge-refill visit with no insurance billing and no required subscription. Medication cost is paid separately at the pharmacy, where final price depends on the medication, pharmacy, quantity, insurance, and discount-card pricing.
Bridge-refill fit: See Bidwell's online bridge refill page for eligible stable medications, exclusions, and how the $45 visit works before you start.
TL;DR — Real cash-pay pricing
$45 online visit — no insurance billing, no required subscription, clinician review 7 days a week
Medication separate — paid directly at the pharmacy; final price varies by pharmacy and medication
Eligible stable medications — bridge refills for stable, non-controlled chronic medications when clinically appropriate
Clinician review 7 days a week: prescriptions are sent to your chosen pharmacy when clinically appropriate
Limit: stable, non-controlled chronic medications only — not for controlled substances or new diagnoses
When cash-pay may cost less than insurance
Compare the visit charge and pharmacy charge separately. An insured visit can be cheaper if your copay is low; a $45 self-pay visit may be useful when you have no coverage or face a larger deductible. Medication savings depend on the exact drug, strength, quantity and pharmacy.
Check both pharmacy prices. Ask for your insurance price, if you have coverage, and the cash or discount-card price for the same prescription.
A coupon is an alternative payment route.GoodRx discounts are used instead of insurance, not to reduce an insurance copay further. Ask your insurer how a cash purchase affects your deductible.
Keep the visit fee separate. Bidwell charges $45 for the clinical visit. Pharmacy prices, shipping and any separate testing are not included.
Cash-pay is not always the cheaper option. Compare a complete bill rather than a low advertised medication price alone.
What the cash-pay Bidwell visit includes — and what it doesn't
Included in your visit fee:
Online intake reviewed by a licensed U.S. clinician (Bidwell Cranage or Ashley Cranage, APRN, FNP-C)
A prescription for up to 90 days sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice, if clinically appropriate
Secure follow-up messaging with the provider for clinical questions about your script
Not included:
The medication itself — you pay the pharmacy directly at pickup
Lab work (we don't order labs as part of a bridge refill visit)
New diagnoses or medication changes — you need a traditional primary-care visit for those
Your actual total cost: visit + pharmacy
Total if prescribed = $45 visit fee + your pharmacy's charge. Compare the same medication, strength, dosage form and quantity. A 90-day supply is not always 90 tablets, and an inhaler or liquid needs its own quantity check.
Example, not a quote: if your prescribed medication and quantity qualify for a pharmacy's $10 fill, the combined visit and medication cost would be $55 before any separate delivery charge. This does not mean every medication or every 90-day fill costs $10.
Selected program prices checked October 15, 2026. Walmart notes state, manufacturer and stock restrictions. Confirm the current charge with the dispensing pharmacy before relying on a price.
How we compare to the alternatives
For a stable non-controlled medication, the decision usually comes down to speed, convenience, insurance billing, and whether you already have a primary-care appointment lined up.
Option
Visit cost
Medication payment
Best fit
Urgent care
Ask the clinic about self-pay or insurance costs
Separate pharmacy cost or insurance copay
New symptoms, exam needs, or urgent in-person issues
Primary care
Depends on insurance, deductible, and appointment availability
Separate pharmacy cost or insurance copay
Ongoing management, labs, dose changes, complex care
Emergency room
Charges depend on the evaluation and coverage
Separate pharmacy cost or discharge medication process
True medical emergencies only
Subscription telehealth
Often bundled into recurring plans
Often bundled, shipped, or plan-based
Patients who want recurring shipped-medication programs
Bidwell Health cash-pay
$45 online visit
Paid separately at your chosen pharmacy
Eligible stable non-controlled bridge refills
For an eligible stable refill, Bidwell Health keeps the visit fee clear: $45 online visit, no insurance billing, no required subscription, and medication paid separately at your chosen pharmacy.
A clinician may consider a bridge refill when the published criteria are met:
You're currently in one of our 11 licensed states (Florida, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Utah)
The medication is established — Bidwell excludes medications started within the last six months
Your dose has been stable for at least 3 months
You can send a photo of your current pill bottle with the label visible
The medication is within our stable, non-controlled bridge-refill scope, with current monitoring information when required
Respiratory medicines: albuterol inhalers, inhaled fluticasone, and fluticasone/salmeterol combinations; nasal fluticasone is a different dosage form
Birth control: most generic combined oral contraceptives
GERD: omeprazole, pantoprazole
ED medications such as sildenafil or tadalafil use the separate ED visit, not the bridge-refill visit.
Hair loss: finasteride, topical minoxidil
Who doesn't qualify
Cash-pay telehealth bridge refills are not appropriate for:
Medications outside Bidwell's scope — controlled substances such as opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, controlled sleep medicines and pregabalin (federal Schedule V), plus gabapentin and Fioricet. These medications are outside our service scope. Legal classifications and telehealth prescribing requirements vary by medication and state.
New diagnoses — if you've never taken the medication before, you need a primary-care visit that can order labs, physical exam, and appropriate workup.
Recent dose changes — if your prescriber just changed your dose in the last 3 months, the follow-up belongs with them.
Complex or unstable conditions — uncontrolled diabetes with rising A1c, poorly controlled blood pressure, acute mental health concerns, etc.
Medications we don't cover — specialty drugs, biologics, injectables, chemo, controlled substance combinations, compounded formulations, etc.
One honest caveat: a bridge refill is a short-term solution so you don't run out while establishing or re-establishing ongoing primary care. It is not a substitute for a primary-care relationship. If you've been without a PCP for over a year, start one soon — bridge refills are a bridge, not a destination.
Step-by-step: how to get a cash-pay refill
Confirm you're in one of our 11 states. Florida, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, or Utah.
Take a photo of your current pill bottle. Label visible — drug name, dose, prescriber, last fill date. This helps verify the medication and dose; it does not guarantee approval.
Go to the intake form. Answer the short clinical questions — takes about 3 minutes.
Pay the $45 visit fee. Flat, one-time, no required subscription.
Wait for clinician review. A licensed clinician reviews your intake 7 days a week, including weekends. You'll get an email when your prescription has been sent to your pharmacy.
Pick up at your pharmacy. Confirm the cash, coupon or insurance price with the pharmacist before paying. If you chose delivery, confirm its cost and arrival time.
How to compare your pharmacy options
Compare before pickup. Use the exact strength, dosage form and quantity, then ask the pharmacy to confirm the quote.
Longer fills can reduce pharmacy friction. When clinically appropriate, a longer bridge can mean fewer pharmacy trips while you arrange ongoing care.
Compare more than one pharmacy. A grocery-store, warehouse, independent or chain pharmacy may offer a different price. Ask about any membership requirements for the particular discount, rather than assuming all offers are identical.
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs is a mail-order option for many chronic generics. Check current pricing and availability directly before relying on it.
Confirm the payment method. Tell the pharmacist which quote you want to use; do not change refill arrangements without making sure your next supply is covered.
Ask the pharmacist about any pharmacy cash program and compare its final price with the other options.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really skip insurance and still save money?
Sometimes. Compare the $45 visit plus your pharmacy's confirmed charge with your insured visit and medication costs. A cash or coupon price may be lower, but insurance can also be the better option. Use the same drug, strength and quantity in both comparisons.
What if I need a refill for a medication that's not on your list?
Read the bridge-refill scope before starting. A medication appearing on an example list does not establish personal eligibility. Clinical requests are reviewed through the secure visit; do not send medication history by ordinary support email. If online care is not appropriate, the visit fee is refunded.
Does Bidwell accept any insurance?
No — Bidwell does not bill insurance for the $45 visit. You can ask your pharmacy to compare insurance, cash and discount-card prices for the medication. A coupon is not guaranteed to beat your insurance price.
What if the medication I need is actually expensive?
Ask your pharmacist or regular prescriber about coverage, manufacturer assistance and other appropriate options. Medication price does not determine whether it is within Bidwell's bridge-refill scope, and the $45 visit does not include the medication charge.
How long does my Bidwell prescription last?
Bridge-refill quantity depends on clinical appropriateness. The goal is to avoid an interruption while you re-establish primary care, find a long-term prescriber, or arrange the follow-up your medication requires.
Is this like Hims or GoodRx Care?
Similar but different. Hims uses a subscription model for specific conditions (hair, ED, weight loss). GoodRx Care is an on-demand telehealth service for a handful of common conditions. Bidwell is specifically built for cash-pay bridge refills of stable chronic meds at a cash-pay rate. For a full head-to-head, see our Hims vs Bidwell comparison.
What if I'm uninsured long-term?
A bridge refill can help with a temporary gap, but it does not replace ongoing care. Arrange a regular prescriber and needed monitoring, including through a community health center if appropriate. The AAFP explains the importance of continuity of care, and the CDC provides an overview of chronic disease.
Ready to refill? $45 online visit with no insurance billing.
Eligible bridge refill · Online intake · 11 states
Originally clinically reviewed by Bidwell Cranage, APRN, FNP-C, AANP board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, licensed in 11 states. Original review date: April 20, 2026