Rite Aid Closures Leave Consumers Scrambling to Find New Places to Fill Prescriptions

As Rite Aid continues to close locations nationwide amid its second bankruptcy filing in less than two years, consumers are left to locate new sources to get prescriptions filled. The company's current list of closures includes 173 stores in Pennsylvania, 17 in New Jersey, and seven in Delaware.

Among those locations that will close are:

Rite Aid's once-rival CVS has bought most of Rite Aid's prescription files, and the CVS website is already greeting Rite Aid patients.

Walgreens also issued a statement, saying it looks “forward to providing Rite Aid's customers with greater access to a wide range of trusted pharmacy and health care services.”

Lisa Gill with Consumer Reports said that consumers should weigh their options when thinking about where to transfer their prescription medications.

"Some of these chains, especially chain drug stores, can actually be the most expensive if you are not using your insurance on cash prices. Independent mom-and-pop pharmacies are extremely competitive," she told 6ABC in an interview. Pharmacies inside supermarkets, as well as Costco and Sam's Club, can also be options, and you do not have to be a member of the stores to get your prescriptions filled.

To get the lowest price possible, Gill recommends asking your pharmacist about coupons or other discounts. She asks consumers to also think about how important it is for them to get all their prescriptions filled at one pharmacy.

"It can be tempting, especially when you get, you know, emails for Amazon pharmacy or other online pharmacies. It can be very tempting to basically cherry-pick and try to get the lowest possible price at different pharmacies," said Gill.

For those who have four or more regular prescription medications, having them filled at one pharmacy can be advantageous so that the pharmacy can identify possible side effects or interactions that could result, Gill noted.