Do you use mail order pharmacy? What do you think of it?
By mommyboo
@mommyboo (13174)
United States
April 15, 2012 4:27pm CST
So today - quite by accident - I discovered my prescription plan is underhandedly trying to force people to use THEIR mail order instead of filling long term prescriptions at a local pharmacy month to month. I don't know why, all I know is that I went to refill a prescription and when I went to pick it up today, the amount they tried to charge me was $21 and some change more than I have ever been charged before.
Now my prescription plan coverage is good. Or I thought so. I get generics for everything IF I need a prescription, so usually my copays are like 80 cents... $2.36, maybe at the most $7 or so. Today when I asked for my prescription, the clerk tried to charge me $23.47!! Um... no. When I have been paying less than three bucks every time I get a refill, for the SAME prescription at the SAME pharmacy, I don't think so.
So... I called my plan and lo and behold - something CHANGED in January so NOW the plan is trying to force people to use mail order, and not just any mail order, THEIR mail order. How are they doing this? Well, they are going to charge you a huge amount as a copay, probably the whole cost of the prescription - IF you continue to try and fill it one month at a time at your local pharmacy. That is SUCH BS.
I really didn't want to use mail order, that is not convenient for me. I like being able to just refill over the phone and then go pick it up, I have a Walgreens a mile from my house. That means I don't have to worry about refilling early. I can do it the DAY I NEED IT and then pick it up in an hour! That doesn't work very well with mail order.
Also, it sounds like the pharmacy itself - the mail order one - will have to continually get 3 month refill prescriptions from my doctor instead of my doctor just giving me a 12 month refill ONCE. What am I supposed to do if there's an issue between the pharmacy and my doctor? I don't have time for this crap.
If you use mail order without problems, please enlighten me the best way to deal with this and avoid trouble, I will take all the advice I can get!!
2 people like this
6 responses
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
29 Apr 12
We have that option on my insurance but I have never used it. There are a lot of people at work that do...like if they take a certain medicine all the time. I can see our insurance pushing people to use the mail order option because it does save them money. I don't like the idea of it though. I just want to be able to go pick mine up.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Apr 12
We have never used a mail order pharmacy, and that is mostly because of the fact that none of us have prescriptions that have to be filled on a monthly basis, except for my husband's anxiety medication and even that cannot be filled for three months at a time right now because they are messing around with his dosage.
That said, my brother has used mail order for his lipitor and other medications and they love it because they say it is a lot more convenient (despite the fact that there pharmacy is only two blocks away from their house).
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
16 Apr 12
I do, and I love my online pharmacy because I get my medication for a lower price than I do at the pharmacy, and I don't have to deal with lines.
@marty3888 (2355)
• Acme, Michigan
15 Apr 12
I have epilepsy. Now I'm lucky that as long as I take my pills, I won't have any seizures. Right now, my right foot is inreally basd shape because I forgot to take them and I guess when I hasd the seizure, I banged my foot on the floor.
My mom had mail order prescription and I heard her a few tims on the phone with customer service that she had not recieved her refills. I can't afford that. If it was me, I would rather pay the extra money. I have the same situation as you, I have a kmart less than a mile from my house. Also, I can't take the generic. I take two medications. one costs me $27.00. The other costs me 70.00. Anyway, I would never even consider mail order.
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
16 Apr 12
i wish i had advice. i used medco and i can do both regular and mail pharmacy. usually its cheaper through the mail but im like you and usually need my meds asap as soon as i get the freaking prescription! ive also had to fight the insurance to cover things and it taking days but i found out it was my pharmacy dropping the ball not my insurance so i was thinking they were taking forever to ok it when they hadnt been contacted.. i dont like getting them through the mail. what if its lost?!? how could i prove it?!?! ugh sucks
@savemoney4familyfun (162)
• United States
16 Apr 12
i would not do mail order even if i could with the meds i am on they will not ever come in the mail i have to see the dr every month to get mine because they are narcotics and have to pick them up .
