POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Insurance, Benefits Programs & HIV => Topic started by: Rhaegar on June 06, 2012, 05:00:36 pm
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I don't know if this goes here or in the Living section.
For the last year I've been on the same maintenance medications (Truvada/Norvir/Prezista). Last year my doctor wrote me a prescription for a 90-day supply with 3 refills. Every 90 days I dealt with the clueless folks at CVS caremark, but eventually got my medications.
June 1st my employer switched to a new prescription plan provider OptumRX, but luckily my last refill carried over. I called last week to refill it over the phone, and for whatever reason they are only able to fill a 30-day supply now. I said fine, send the 30-day out and I'll sort the issue out with my insurance.
Monday comes and the order was cancelled by someone else in their specialty pharmacy for some reason. I call and have it restarted again, only to have it cancelled again the next day because someone keeps thinking that it should be a 90-day supply based on the prescription, even though I verbally agree to a 30-day supply over the phone with a representative. Now, today, I'm on round 3. I've called my insurance plan, and they're trying to figure out the problem, and will get back to me tomorrow. Supposedly, my 30-day supply of meds is in process, but I'm not optimistic at all.
I have no retail refills available to me at all, since I used them last year. Even with the new prescription plan it doesn't reset, the old information carries over from the CVS plan.
I'm just extremely frustrated. I was fine dealing with incompetence every 90 days, but once a month is going to be fucking torture. I just needed to vent. I'm sure I'm not the only one to have issues with mail-order pharmacies?
-Kevin
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Here is what I would do, if I was in your situation, Id get all new scripts for my doctor for about 11 refills and that usually last almost a yr. ;)
however, w/ my Blue-Cross-Blue Shield I can only get them every 30 days, I've never been able to get them every 90 days
not even when I was on State ADAP or Part D medicare a few yrs ago
(most Ins. companies) don't like to give meds out only every 90 days (30 day supply is usually the norm)
also I would never use the mail-order-method ( too many thieves live in my City)
I find it easier to go pick them up ( in-person every month )
but whatever works for you ;)
good luck sorting all of this out :)
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It's looks like that's what I'm going to end up doing, getting a new prescription with 11 refills.
I would so go to a retail pharmacy if I could. I'm not allowed to do that anymore with my new plan. I hate mail-order. They say it's convenient, but it's really not. I have to waste an entire day waiting for a UPS guy instead of the hour it takes at a retail pharmacy.
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Another way you may want to try doing this,
every time I need scripts, My ID Doc will fax my scripts over to my RX,
I' haven't seen a real script in YEARS, it's very easy for your doc to do this if they are setup in this way ,
it only takes my ID doc about a few strokes on a keyboard ;)
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my dr writes me 11 refills, i use CVS/caremark and never have had any issues with them at all. they always have my medication at the local store here for my refills, i just go by and pick up my brown grocery bag of pills and leave for another 90 days.
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To get around the thieve problem, UPS waits, and potential baking of meds for hours in 90+ degree mailbox heat, I just got a PO Box for the purpose. It keeps the meds locked, secure and cooled while waiting for my arrival at the post office to pick them up.
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To get around the thieve problem, UPS waits, and potential baking of meds for hours in 90+ degree mailbox heat, I just got a PO Box for the purpose. It keeps the meds locked, secure and cooled while waiting for my arrival at the post office to pick them up.
Excellent solution! Thanks for posting. :)
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I get my meds from the VA. The VA here is mail only on refills. I have them sent to my job, as I am always there. I also get a 90 day supply
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I get my meds from the VA. The VA here is mail only on refills. I have them sent to my job, as I am always there. I also get a 90 day supply
Yeah that's where I get mine too. I'm going to try to get a longer than 90-day refill cycle out of the doc the next time I go in. But I'm guessing he'll be reluctant to do that since he wants to see me and analyze my blood every 3-4 months. I don't complain though. The VA pays me to go. ;)
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When I went on ADAP it turned out that they couldn't do mail-order pharmacies, so I had to go back to retail. But my insurance would only do 30-day supplies for retail (they would do 90-day for mail order).
Every time I go to get my meds refilled the pharmacy staff have to call the insurance company because their system rejects the prescription saying it requires "prior authorization." We discovered that this means they need to call and ask for an override for my prescription plan. No one can explain why. But it works.
I used to do mail-order to maintain some privacy, but the staff at the local pharmacy now know me by name and they are always super friendly. Sometimes it's the highlight of my day to go out and pick up my meds.
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Yeah that's where I get mine too. I'm going to try to get a longer than 90-day refill cycle out of the doc the next time I go in. But I'm guessing he'll be reluctant to do that since he wants to see me and analyze my blood every 3-4 months. I don't complain though. The VA pays me to go. ;)
I use the Myhealthvet part of the VA website and am able to order refills online