HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How is CVS Caremark for prescriptions?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/15/2014 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
I'm currently using BCBS RX and haven't had any trouble, although BCBS doesn't have any stipulations about going on a mail-order for maintenance meds.

I'm potentially going to work for a new company that uses CVS and requires that you go 90 day mail order for maintenance meds.

I'm concerned because the Lialda $10-month discount card I use seems to only work for month-by-month refills.

I'm also on Imuran, but that's been around for a long time so I imagine I won't have any issues with getting it filled.
Posted 12/15/2014 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
I have a CVS Caremark plan and this plan does not require the mail order. but each plan differs.
Posted 12/15/2014 4:19 AM (GMT 0)

DBwithUC said...
I have a CVS Caremark plan and this plan does not require the mail order. but each plan differs.

So no problems otherwise? I'm concerned about having to pay a ridiculous copay for certain 5ASA meds.
Posted 12/15/2014 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
I get OK coverage for Lialda. With the $120 discount card, I only pay about $78 for 90 tabs. Also, the $120 counts toward my cap because they don't care who actually pays the co-pay.

The coverage for Rowasa is not as good.
Posted 12/15/2014 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Your insurance company writes the coverage. CVS caremark just administers the drug coverage for the insurance company according to its formulary and policy. I never had any problem with CVS. I thought it was better than Walgreen mailorder which I had with BCBS. Get a copy of your drug list(formulary) and coverage information from your insurance company. That will tel;l you what you want to know
Posted 12/15/2014 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
There are different plans, but this is CVS Caremark, not CVS. They are the insurance company. The BCBS medical and Caremark prescription come together for one premium, but each sends out a separate book on copay and benefits.

For me it is either 25% or 35% copay until cap, and some things like insulin are flat $20. I called customer service twice. Once to check on meeting cap, and they were very helpful. Once on estimating cost of compounding LDN (which has to be done mailorder), and they could only tell me cost of LDN, not of compounding fee. It was odd.
Posted 12/15/2014 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have GEHA insurance, and for 2014 they state that any medication I use for maintenance is automatically enrolled with express scripts for a 90 day supply mailorder. What this means is my prescription information is automatically sent into the express scripts system, so I can choose, if I want to, to order using mail order but I MUST first initiate mail order myself (that is pay my copay and submit an actual order to them via phone, their website, or mail). This is true of every renewal of that 90 day prescription via their mail order system; it's not automatic by any means; rather I must initiate the process and a reorder date is on the label of each bottle. I've used mail order, procrastinated about reordering via mail until I had 3 days supply left, gone to my local riteaid pharmacy and gotten it filled just fine. Some of my meds, rowasa for instance, I always get at riteaid with no problem even though it is used for maintenance (it's below freezing most days here in New England and I do not want a package of rowasa sitting outside on my doorstep all day lol).

You are by no means required to use mail order exclusively, nor are you required to only go to a cvs pharmacy (not in every town anyways). Both are preferred and encouraged but not required, big difference.

My insurance switched to cvs caremark for 2015, and I plan to follow the same process. Mail order when I remember and/or it's convenient to me, and local pharmacy when it's convenient for me. The encouragement from the insurance is a 90 day copay for the price of a 30 day when mailorder is used, which is $10 for rowasa and the same for 6mp. So mail order saves a little but not tons.
Posted 12/16/2014 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
I use them. I think its $15/3 month supply for generic and around $80/3-month supply for most namr brand. You probably wont be able to use your discount card.
Posted 12/16/2014 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
My insurance provider is Health Alliance, but I am required to use CVS Caremark as the pharmacy for specialty drugs. Once a month they FedEx my Humira directly to my house. They're very easy to work with. They call once a month to schedule my delivery at a convenient day and time.

My only wish list for them is automatic billing with a credit card on file and/or online payments.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply