CVS/Caremark mail-order program saves time, money

The cost of healthcare in the United States is growing astronomically, and prescription drug costs are a major driver in this spending. The high cost of these drugs is often passed on to employers, who in turn pass it back to the employees in the form of higher premiums or co-pays. The County Health Plan offers an alternative for members who are looking to corral the high cost of their maintenance or long-term prescription medicines through CVS/Caremark’s mail-order program.

This program offers less out-of-pocket expense to the employee by reduced co-pay amounts, allows them to receive a 90-day supply of their maintenance medications, and saves the employee the time it takes to have a prescription filled at the retail setting. When employees use mail order, members benefit through higher rebates that are received as a credit on their standing of accounts for ASO groups or a credit on their claims experience at renewal time if they are a standard group.

For example, a hypothetical member offers its employees a 10/35/50 three-tier retail co-pay structure and a 25/72/117 co-pay structure through the mail order program. An employee taking a brand-preferred drug on tier two would pay a $35 co-pay at the retail setting. Assuming this drug is taken daily and filled monthly, an employee’s out-of-pocket cost would be $420 for the year ($35 co-pay times 12 months). If that same employee utilized mail order, their out of pocket cost would be only $288 ($72 co-pay times four quarters), for a $132 annual savings.

CVS/Caremark makes it simple for an employee to use the mail order program. The employee needs two prescriptions from their physician – a 30-day prescription that they will take to their local pharmacy to get filled immediately, and then a prescription for a 90-day supply with as many as three refills (one for each 90-day period or quarter). The employee fills out the mail order form and sends the 90-day prescription to Caremark, along with the appropriate co-pay. Prescriptions can be delivered to the employee’s home, their office or even a vacation spot.

After the initial prescription is filled, employees may re-order by telephone, online at www.caremark.com or through the mail. Employee medicines will be sent to them in confidential, tamper-resistant and temperature-controlled packaging.

The CVS/Caremark Mail Service Pharmacies are staffed with registered and highly trained pharmacists who personally inspect every prescription.