Our bodies are in flux throughout our lives, and after age 50, the way we experience or enjoy sexual activity can change. (1) Couples who still prioritize sex to maintain their connection may run into roadblocks over time. It may not be clear why someone might experience erectile dysfunction (ED) symptoms, which can be caused by emotional issues, intimacy problems with a partner, a side effect of prostate cancer treatment, or medical issues not yet diagnosed. (2)
“It’s important to recognize that erectile dysfunction can often serve as an indicator or barometer of underlying cardiovascular health,” said Amy Pearlman, MD, a urologist specializing in men’s sexual health at Prime Institute in Miami.
Treatment for ED is available and accessible, especially as online pharmacies begin to grow in popularity. Blink Health is a low-cost telehealth platform that provides generic prescriptions for ED without insurance and some specialty branded medications with insurance, which sets the company apart from its competitors. If you’re looking for a doctor to diagnose and treat ED, this platform may be for you. Here we review the pros, cons, and details of Blink Health and the types of ED medications it provides.
*For brevity, we refer to all people assigned male at birth as men throughout this guide.
Key product features
What you should know
- The first month of Blink Health costs $10.
- Blink Health is a low-cost telehealth platform that provides generic prescriptions for ED without insurance.
- Blink Health accepts insurance for name-brand ED medications that can be sent to local pharmacies for easy pickup.
What is Blink Health?
Blink Health is a healthcare service that offers two options: It can provide prescriptions through virtual visits with Blink Health providers, or it can handle medications you’ve already been prescribed, often at a lower price than you’d usually see at the pharmacy. If you choose to transfer a pre-prescribed medication, Blink Health can either ship it to your door in three to seven days or deliver it to a local pharmacy as early as the same day.
Blink Health providers can prescribe commonly used ED medications, including generic Viagra (sildenafil) and generic Cialis (tadalafil) in a multitude of dosages, at competitive prices.
Blink Health works with more than 16,000 pharmacies, including:
- Albertson’s
- Costco
- Giant
- Harris Teeter
- Kroger
- Safeway
- Publix
- Walmart
- Winn-Dixie
- Wegman’s
If you opt to have the medication delivered to your home, Blink Health ships using discreet packaging, ensuring your comfort and privacy. If you have questions about your ED prescription or your treatment plan, you can message your doctors through a messaging portal on the Blink Health platform. You can expect a response within 24 hours.
For this Blink Health review, it’s important to note that the platform is now available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. If you live in Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, check to see if Blink is available for local pharmacy pickup by searching its pharmacy finder.
Blink Health for ED cost
Blink Health providers can prescribe generic ED medications at $10. This consists of an initial telehealth visit and the first month of medication. If you choose automatic monthly refills, it may cost $17. Blink Health doesn’t charge a monthly fee for medication delivery, but it charges a monthly fee for subscriptions, which include online provider consultations. If you’re prescribed medication, Blink Health will ship your medication automatically every 30, 60, or 90 days. You can cancel the service at any time.
Blink Health members can get ED medications in a variety of doses. The following table features a few of the medications available for ED through a Blink Health prescription and the accompanying costs. Blink Health keeps costs low by negotiating special offers to lower your out-of-pocket prices.
| Medication* | Blink Health price | Average retail price |
| Generic Cialis (tadalafil) | $10 for 30 pills (5 mg) | $105 |
| Generic Viagra (sildenafil) | $10 for 10 pills (50 mg) | $23.95 |
| Generic Levitra (vardenafil) | $121.08 for 6 tablets (20 mg) | $126.08 |
| Edex (alprostadil) | $357.40, price for 1 cartridge (10 mcg) | $362.40 |
| Caverject Impulse | $172.87, price for 1 injection system (10 mcg) | $177.87 |
Blink Health for ED offerings
Your healthcare provider may prescribe two types of ED medication:
- Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor: PDE5 inhibitors work by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual activity and to help maintain an erection. (14)
- Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) agonist: This muscle relaxant opens blood vessels. PGE1 works by relaxing the muscles to keep blood in the penis to cause an erection.
Blink Health also offers popular ED medications like sildenafil and tadalafil in a multitude of dosages and pill or tablet quantities.
| Medication | Dosage | Formula |
| Generic Viagra (sildenafil) | 20, 25, 50, 100 mg | 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 90, or custom amount of tablets |
| Generic Cialis (tadalafil) | 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg | 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 18, 20, 30, 90, or custom amount of tablets |
| Generic Levitra (vardenafil) | 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg | 30, 90, or custom amount of tablets |
| Edex (alprostadil) | 10, 20, 40 mcg | 30, 90, or custom number of kits |
| Caverject Impulse | 2 injectors of 10 or 20 mcg | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or custom number of kits |
Generic Cialis (tadalafil)
Men can take this ED medication once daily and then engage in sexual activity any time between doses. Take this medication about 30 minutes before sexual activity, or when your doctor recommends.
Generic Viagra (sildenafil)
Men should take this about an hour before sexual activity.
Generic Levitra (vardena)
Like most of these types of medications, this ED drug works by increasing blood flow to the penis to help men achieve and maintain their erections. Men should take this about an hour before sexual activity.
BlinkRx
Users can opt to use BlinkRx if they don’t already have a prescription for an ED medication. BlinkRx is a digital pharmacy for people who need a telehealth visit to get a diagnosis and prescription for select medications. The BlinkRx hub network analyzes your insurance coverage to determine your copay and deductible, assists in obtaining coverage for your prescribed medications, and provides free delivery to your home.
Our Blink Health experience
We shopped online and conducted focus groups with men who have used telehealth platforms for ED diagnoses and prescriptions to gauge their experiences. We wanted to get first-person testimonies of their experiences meeting with providers, receiving diagnoses, and getting prescriptions for ED medications like generic forms of Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). (3,4)
Blink Health offers generic ED medications across the United States. Based on our interviews and focus groups with men who have used telehealth platforms like Blink Health for ED medications, we found that many had a similar story. Many participants described how ED symptoms started subtly and they began to notice an intermittent decline in erections but did not seek medical care right away.
“I thought it was kind of all in my head,” said one focus group participant. “After I got a divorce and met a new girlfriend, I was thinking, ‘This has kind of been a while.’ Maybe I was in denial. I didn’t go see a doctor. I was embarrassed. I felt weird talking about it.”
This mentality, and the feelings of shame or guilt that often come with ED symptoms, are not uncommon. (5) Many men decide to delay or altogether avoid seeking medical treatment, but it’s important not to wait—there are discreet, private ways to seek care.
This focus group participant said he felt more comfortable going online and seeing what was available, and he thought the online questionnaires were refreshing because based on the questions he was asked, he realized many men are dealing with similar issues. This knowledge gave him the confidence to see a doctor via telehealth and get an ED medication prescribed to revive his sex life.
Telehealth platforms like Blink Health may provide a more comfortable experience for men who are reluctant to visit doctors in person, and it would be a good fit for those looking for discreet, private treatment for their ED. (6)
Our expert opinion
Blink Health is a good option if you’re looking for ED care online but would also like to have low-cost consultations with providers and access to both generic and name-brand ED medications.
Blink Health is also a good option if you’re looking for medication delivery since you can have your prescription delivered right to your door in less than seven business days, in discreet packaging.
Blink Health is also a much safer option than opting for unregulated supplements for ED. We understand discussing ED openly with your medical provider can be difficult and this has possibly led you to consider taking supplements or pills found in places like gas stations, but we must caution you against trying these supplements. Many of these gas station pills are unregulated supplements known to contain hidden ingredients that can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. (7) If you have taken these unregulated pills for sexual enhancement and have experienced adverse effects—chest pain, severe headaches, or prolonged erections—contact your doctor right away. (8)
Seeking treatment is always the best policy. We held a focus group in 2023 to talk to men who have used ED medication after being hesitant to seek care.
“[It] was straight-up embarrassment, and I just figured it [ED] would go away on its own. I had to finally break down and see a doctor. But I had a very candid conversation with him, and it was easy. What the heck was I waiting for?”
Focus group member
One caveat to note in this Blink Health review is that Blink Health does not accept insurance for generic ED prescriptions, only name-brand prescriptions. So if you’re looking for insurance coverage on all medications, we recommend looking into PlushCare.
We also recommend looking into Hims, our top-rated telehealth platform for ED care, though Hims does not accept health insurance. PlushCare and Hims are telehealth platforms that specialize in men’s health, including offering ED treatment.
How to sign up for Blink Health erectile dysfunction treatment
If you know the name of the ED medication you are looking to purchase, you can search online or through the app on your Apple or Android device.
Once you find the medication, you will be shown the breakdown of the cost for your order, starting with the cost of the medication by the dosage, the subscription cost, the one-time medical fee, and any promos or coupons that are available to you.
Next, you will be prompted to select a pharmacy near you if you are picking up the medication on the same day, or you can choose to have it mailed directly to your home, which may take three to seven business days to arrive. If you opt to have the medication delivered to your home, your Blink Health provider will transfer your prescription to its pharmacy team, or you can ask your doctor to e-prescribe directly to Blink Health Pharmacy.
Lastly, you will enter your payment information to complete the transaction, and you will receive a confirmation email with details about shipping and arrival times.
Blink Health contact and payment information
Customer service
You can reach Blink Health customer service by:
- Phone: Call 844-265-6444, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Email: info@blinkhealth.com
One thing we would have liked on the Blink Health website is more customer service options like a chat feature on the website. That way, we could ask questions via messaging, which is often a much quicker mode of communication than emailing or calling.
Switching prescriptions to Blink Health
If you’re finding better prices than what your current pharmacy offers, you can ask your doctor to send your prescription to BlinkRx U.S.
Doctors can e-prescribe to BlinkRx or send prescriptions by phone or fax:
- Phone: 844-926-2480
- Fax: 866-585-4631
Payment options
Blink Health accepts payments from major credit cards, debit cards, flexible spending account (FSA) cards, and health savings account (HSA) cards.
Special considerations of erectile dysfunction medication for older adults
Viagra and Cialis may be ineffective or dangerous based on your health history and current medications. Make sure you discuss any medications you take with your healthcare provider before taking ED medications.
Some of the most common chronic conditions affecting older adults—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes—can damage penile blood vessels and nerves, leading to new or worsening ED that doesn’t respond to Viagra or Cialis. (9) Fortunately, several other ED treatments are available, including penile injections, vacuum erection devices, and a discreet penile prosthesis. (10)
ED can also appear as one of the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, anxiety, and other chronic health concerns. (11) If you haven’t had a physical exam within the last year, don’t try to get ED medication online. Visit your doctor in person to ensure underlying conditions are diagnosed and treated alongside ED.
Who shouldn’t take Viagra or Cialis
You shouldn’t take Viagra and Cialis with some of the medications used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, or lower urinary tract symptoms. You should also avoid Viagra if you’re a man taking protease inhibitors—a specific class of medications used to treat HIV. (12)
Combining nitrates or alpha-blockers with ED pills may cause a severe, life-threatening drop in blood pressure, which can be associated with feeling dizzy, fainting, falling, and even death. (13)
This is not a complete list of medications that don’t mix well with Viagra and Cialis. Talk to your provider about everything you take—such as supplements and recreational drugs—when discussing ED treatments.
Cialis and Viagra also shouldn’t be taken by people with low resting blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, inherited disorders of the eye or retina, recent heart attack or stroke, or uncontrolled heart disease. “Other individuals who shouldn’t take Viagra or Cialis are people with low blood pressure, severe headaches, and dizziness,” adds Dr. Neil Paulvin, DO., a multiple board-certified physician.
How we score erectile dysfunction treatments
Navigating the vast array of erectile dysfunction (ED) treatments available today can be challenging. With so many options claiming to offer relief, it’s crucial to have a reliable way to determine which treatments are most effective and suitable for your needs. Our goal is to provide clear, accurate, and comprehensive reviews grounded in a robust scoring methodology and insights from leading experts. We aim to guide you in making informed decisions that enhance your sexual health and overall well-being. Read our full erectile dysfunction treatment scoring methodology for further information on each factor.
Efficacy and reliability—40%
Efficacy and reliability are the foundation of our ED treatment evaluations. The primary focus for anyone seeking treatment is to restore or improve erectile function effectively. Here’s what we look for:
- Treatment efficacy
- Onset of action
- Consistency
- Side effects
- Clinical support
Ease of use and accessibility—30%
Ease of use and accessibility are critical components of any successful erectile dysfunction treatment regimen. A treatment’s effectiveness can be significantly impacted by how easily it can be integrated into a user’s daily life.
We assess:
- Application process
- Dosage flexibility
- Instruction clarity
- Convenience
- Support resources
Value—20%
The value of ED treatments includes the initial cost, long-term financial implications, and overall cost-effectiveness. While effectiveness and ease of use are paramount, the economic impact of a treatment must be considered.
We evaluate:
- Cost of the treatment
- Insurance coverage
- Long-term cost analysis
- Warranty
Customer experience—10%
In order to ensure a positive customer experience, users need to feel informed and supported throughout their treatment journey. While efficacy, ease of use, and value are critical, how a user interacts with a treatment provider—from the initial purchase through ongoing support—can significantly influence their overall satisfaction and adherence to the treatment.
Our factors in this rating include:
- Customer service
- Delivery and packaging
- Return policy
Bottom line
Having a satisfactory sex life is important for many people, and getting older doesn’t have to mean the end of this aspect of your life. If you and your partner prioritize sex but are experiencing roadblocks with ED symptoms, know that you’re not alone and help is available.
Blink Health offers telehealth visits from the privacy and comfort of your home. You can get budget-friendly ED medications prescribed and mailed to your local pharmacy or your home in discreet packaging. If you’re in the market for a low-cost telehealth platform that provides generic prescriptions for ED without insurance and name-brand ED medications with insurance coverage, Blink Health may be the right fit for you.
To see more options, check out our list of the best Viagra alternatives.
Blink Health vs. other ED treatments
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| Blink Health | PlushCare | Hims Cialis | Ro Sparks | |
| Rating | ||||
| Price | $10 per prescription; $10 consultation fee | $16.99 per month for membership | $958/month | $48 – $120 (depends on plan) |
| FDA approved | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Form | Tablet | Tablets | Tablets | Tablets |
| Dose | Varies | Varies | One tablet every 24 hours (as needed) | One every 24 hours (as needed) |
| Key ingredients | Varies | Sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil, vardenafil | Tadalafil | |
FAQs
How does Blink Health work?
Blink Health is a telehealth platform with licensed medical providers who can diagnose ED and other conditions and prescribe medications that can be sent to your home or local pharmacy. While shopping on the Blink Health website, you can select the dose and quantity of the medication as it’s written on your prescription, and you can opt to have your prescription automatically refilled when setting up your account.
If you already have a prescription but are shopping around for a better price, you can ask your doctor to send your prescription to Blink Health for verification. You can choose Local Pharmacy Pickup before adding your order to your cart. Then, you will show your Blink card at the pharmacy counter to receive your prescription.
Do you need a prescription for Blink Health?
Yes, if you have a prescription from your doctor, you can order medications on BlinkRx. If you don’t already have a prescription from a healthcare provider, you can meet with one of the licensed telehealth doctors through Blink Health to get a prescription.
How do subscriptions work on Blink Health?
Blink Health offers a subscription that has unlimited online prescriber consultations and medication delivery for a monthly fee. Having a subscription allows you to connect with licensed pharmacists to get answers to questions about your medication or potential side effects.
The cost is $10 for the first month—no matter which medication you are prescribed. After the first month, the cost is $9.95 plus the cost of the prescription medication. You can choose between deliveries every 30, 60, or 90 days and can pause or cancel your Blink Health subscription anytime through the account settings.
Our experts
Dr. Neil Paulvin, DO.
Dr. Neil Paulvin, DO., is a multiple board-certified physician with certifications in Family Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulation, and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. His practice in Manhattan combines traditional and alternative medicine to help patients live a healthy lifestyle and perform at their best. He has helped Fortune 500 executives, Olympic athletes, top trainers, and A-list celebrities optimize their health, recover faster from injury, and improve their sports performance.
Heather Morsellino
Heather Morsellino is a freelance writer and fact-checker with over four years of experience in health care. She has worked as a pharmacy technician, emergency room medical scribe, and anesthesia technician in the operating room and will finish her ADN within the following year.
Lauren Evoy Davis
Fortune Recommends Staff Writer
About Author
Lauren Evoy Davis is a health journalist with expertise in cancer and other chronic conditions. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from American University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Elon University. Her work has been published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Council on Aging, HelpGuide WebMD, Everyday Health and Verizon. She tests meal kits, meal delivery services, and fitness apps. When not writing or reading, Lauren enjoys paddle boarding on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, weightlifting, and gardening.