How Do Prescription Drug Refills Work?

Most pharmacies and health plans follow standard rules around when and how you can refill prescriptions. These rules help ensure medication safety and avoid stockpiling, while still giving patients enough time to get their next supply without interruption.

Refilling Prescriptions

For most maintenance medications (taken regularly), you can usually refill a prescription a few days before you run out — typically 3–7 days early, depending on the pharmacy and medication. This allows time for processing and ensures you don’t miss doses.

Controlled Substances

For controlled substances (such as ADHD medications, certain pain medications, or anxiety medications), the refill rules are stricter. Most pharmacies will not allow refills until the exact refill date or at most 1–2 days early. Some may also require a new prescription from your provider each time.

Refilling Before the New Plan Year

If your health plan year starts on January 1, it’s a good idea to refill your prescriptions before that date. This avoids any delays caused by switching insurance systems, pharmacy processing issues, or prior authorization requirements that might reset with the new plan.

Best Practice

• Order refills early — don’t wait until the last few pills.
• Ask your pharmacy how many days early they allow for your specific medications.
• Talk to your provider if you anticipate travel or other issues that might require an early refill.

Getting ahead on refills in December can make your January transition to the new plan much smoother.