Thread regarding Bank of America layoffs

@2kik+1oYZ9ei1 - our CVS would'nt call around to ask other pharmacies until I got so frustrated after begging and burst into tears.

Like all (or at least most) of us, they are overworked, too.

@sje+1oYZ9ei1
Stores will not always call around and search for a location with your medication… my local CVS said they couldn’t call around and ask about controlled medication’s…. So I had to have my doctor cancel the prescription and rewrite the prescription to the next pharmacy just to repeat the process until we found a pharmacy that had my medication share.

Ultimately, I dropped Bank of America insurance and we are insured through my husband’s work now because I will not deal with CVS and their games.

My experience with CVS has been terrible the last couple years after being forced to abandon preferred pharmacy. Obviously a cost cutting issue, but it comes with reduced/restricted service/benefit. Been trying to find out if the plan using Optum is as restrictive. ie maintenance rx must be mail order or CVS only to be covered

I missed the fine print two years ago and didn't catch that the 3 options locked us into the same Rx plans. Basically the message was "use X approved provider or pay on your own". Fortunately my yearly cost is less than $100. I wish I could say the same for my wife. We both do generic when possible, follow the other guides like you have to try 2-3 other cheaper brands before they will pay for what she knows works. We have to play that game every year with her state employee plan. Year after year I tell them that they need to stop trying to mandate a specific insulin formula when they provider and patient can rattle off the side effects of the various brands. It gets old really fast.

@sje+1oYZ9ei1

CVS bought Caremark in 2007. This is not a new thing.
[Right, not new news. I'm off on the date]

CVS bought and merged with Aetna in 2018.
[Oops again]

If the store doesn’t have medication in stock they will search the area for you.
[True. The store will search. The problem in my area is stores within 50-100 miles are supplied by the same distro center. The leads to a small regional shortage. Walgreens has the same problem.]

You might be able to get Caremark to send the medication via expedited shipping if you speak with them and tell them about the problem that you’re having.
[Honestly, good idea. I would try this, but I'm happy with my local small pharmacy.]

The third party discount codes can’t beat the zero dollar co-pay that we have for formulary and generic medications.
[Fortunately my pharmacy digs deep for discounts. CVS was really good at doing the same thing.]

With all sincerity, thank you for your feedback. I didn't want to come across as a PITA who was "just complaining"

For retirees, the Medicare Advantage program uses SilverScript, which is a CVS division designed to keep their and our Medicare paperwork separate. I find that, with the 5 meds my doctors choose, prescriptions at CVS are either no charge or copay of no more than $10, so over a year it's not much.

No cost with Optum and they deliver. I stopped with CVS. They were brutal.

I have gone to walmart pharmacy and they have always covered my meds easy.

CVS bought Caremark in 2007. This is not a new thing.
CVS bought and merged with Aetna in 2018.
If the store doesn’t have medication in stock they will search the area for you. You might be able to get Caremark to send the medication via expedited shipping if you speak with them and tell them about the problem that you’re having.
The third party discount codes can’t beat the zero dollar co-pay that we have for formulary and generic medications.

Check GoodRx, RxSaver or Hippo (hellohippo.com). They sometimes offer discounts better than going through your health insurance and then you don't have to follow Caremark guidelines.

Thanks for sharing