topic Re: Express Scripts problem in Wellness

Express Scripts problem

viva923 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 19:34:56 GMT

My husband I have to use Express Scripts, that is part of medicare plan we have (retired military).

My husband has no problems getting refills on his scripts all are generic

I use generic too, but 2 refills just somehow keep getting lost. Not sure if it is my doctor office,they keep telling me they are electronic sending Express Scripts keeps telling me they don't get it. I gave up trying to get 1 medication refilled,canlive without it but 1 medication I do have to take daily yet. I have called it in 2x's to doctor office telling them I would like it refilled and yet nothing is going to ex.scripts. Ex.Scripts is telling me they have no refill orders. I run out by the 25th december.

I talked about this with my doctor on 1 December my 3 month check. When the doctor office sends in medication refills they send it in for a year renewal. Somehow Express scripts refuses to give me a year (every 3 month refill) on this medication. It is generic, not a controlled substance.

Somehow either my doctor office is lying to me and refusing to send it to Express Scripts or Express Scripts is refusing to refill it for some unknown reason.

I am so tired of Express Scripts I am going to go to doctor office next week and ask them to send it local pharmacy and i will just pay for this medication . this maybe the only way I can get this medication refilled.

Re: Express Scripts problem

gmkb — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 19:52:07 GMT

We had Express Scripts at one time and were very happy with them.

If your physician wants to give you a year's worth of medication, it must be written for 90 days with additional refills. For example if you take 1 per day, the script cannot be for 365 tabs. It would be for 90 tabs with refills.

Re: Express Scripts problem

cherry — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 19:54:30 GMT

I can't stand that outfit. I stopped taking a statin drug and a person saying ,they were a pharmacist for that place, called me and proceeded to lecture me about taking it again

It is none of their business. I have a Dr and it isn't them. I hate that place. They get scripts mixed up, and send you some sort of number, for the order ,that doesn't even tell you the name of the drug, so you have no idea what they are talking about

I quit them years ago, and they still harass me with email

Re: Express Scripts problem

drizzellla — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 19:57:07 GMT

I have run across a similar situation. My Doctor sent in 5 prescriptions. Walgreen's said they got 1 prescription. Doctor sent 4 prescriptions, Walgreen's said they got 1 prescription. It went on and on 1 prescription at a time.

Then the last prescription, I had to send it back. They said the wrong company sent it. The label was the same as all the others. I sent it back. Then they said I needed to send them a new prescription from my Doctor. HUH? They filled the prescription and sent it to me. Then they asked for it back. They had a prescription.

It took two months to get my prescriptions. Lots of phone calls and lots of emails.

Can you go to your Doctor's office and get a physical copy of the prescrption? And then scan it to Express Scripts? And call Express Scripts beforehand and make sure your are sending it to the correct address? Or call Express Scripts and explain what is going on and what would be the best way to resolve it? That way you will be set for a year. Please keep on this so you will get the drugs you need. Express Scripts has quite a website. I think you can go to their in network pharmacy and then get home delivery.

Re: Express Scripts problem

Carmie — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 20:52:15 GMT

I know that express Scripts has many pharmacy warehouses all over the US. There Is one located near where I live and many of my co-workers at the Insurance company also had part time jobs at Express Scripts.

I would either get a hard copy of your Script from the doctor or get the Doctor to e-mail or fax you a copy of the script.

Call Express Scripts and talk to a customer service rep and see if you can personally fax or e-mail a copy of the escriot to them. Have them call you when they have received it.

The CSR should be able to forward your script to the right department. If something goes wrong, a call to CS should get them involved..they can do follow up to see what the hold up is.

Sometimes the doctor’s office sends scripts to the wrong Express Scripts office. For example, they could send it to the office near you, but because you have Federal group Insurance, there might be another Express Office who handles your prescriptions.

Re: Express Scripts problem

Ditzydori — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 16:37:35 GMT

I have express scripts for many years and for the most part am pleased with them.

It has happened, however, that my dr would send a script and they don't get it, just like your experience. That only happened once that I can recall. But even that one time, it was annoying trying to get my script.

I went back back and forth. Dr office said they sent it, ES said they never got it.

Frustrating indeed.

Re: Express Scripts problem

Shelbelle — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 21:28:43 GMT

We were also very pleased with Exp Scripts, our insurance just changed us to Silver Scripts, hope we are happy with them too.

Re: Express Scripts problem

ID2 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 21:34:19 GMT

Yes, I despise Express Scripts also! They lost a delivery I had at the beginning of the year and I'm still trying to get them to admit it and replace it. What a horrible outfit! I just read that my 2018 insurance prescriptions I can still use Express Scripts or I can just go to my local Walgreens, hurray!!

Re: Express Scripts problem

LTT1 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 21:39:14 GMT

@viva923

When I have the issue that you are having, it takes quite a few phone calls to all potential parties to get it straightened out.

I call back and forth, Doctor, local pharmacy, and mail-order pharmacy.

This has occurred right at the beginning of my MEDICARE experience. It has taken almost a year to straighten out. But, I am not behind on any medications. I hope you will be able to get an explanation... it never hurts to ask each of these parties “what can be done so this doesn’t happen again.”

Sometimes, when that question is answered, it becomes clear what needs to be done. HTH

Re: Express Scripts problem

reiki604 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 21:54:38 GMT

I also have express scripts and have never had a problem with them. I have had an issue with my local pharmacy where they claim never having gotten a Rx from one doctor. I think it is more the Doctor's fault or the computer's.

Re: Express Scripts problem

CelticCrafter — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 22:35:41 GMT

We have them and with the exception of antibiotics for my husband because of gallbladder surgery, neither of us take any medications.

Once I filled the scripts at the pharmacy I kept getting automated calls from Express Scripts with tips and hints and all other sorts of nonsense calls.

I finally got in touch with them through an e-mail and told them we didn't need or want their advice on how or when to take the medications and to lose the phone number.

Re: Express Scripts problem

harcon — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 23:27:21 GMT

I have been with Express Scripts for longer than I can remember and in all those years only once did I have a problem. I made a phone call and it was handled. I guess I'm lucky.

Re: Express Scripts problem

viva923 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 02:37:40 GMT

I have been with Ex. Scripts going on 28 years. all my medication is yearly renewal.

I have called and called and called and called somemore to Ex.Scripts and yet I don’t get anywhere with this scipt.

I did call my local pharmacy today to ask if they can fill this script which they can, they gave me the price for a 3 month script.

I am just going to have to call my doctor office next week to see if I need to make an appointment to see my doctor again to get this resolved.

I am so tired of being bounced around like a yo-yo for 1 medication scipt.

Re: Express Scripts problem

Big Sister — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 03:46:14 GMT

I used Express Scripts for several years until my insurer changed to Optum Rx.

@viva923 I had that recurring problem with ES and never did find out if it was the dr's office or the ES that was the holdup.

Re: Express Scripts problem

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:04:21 GMT

GRRRR! Do you hear me SCREAMING??? I have dealt with this company for years and all that time I had no problems -- they were so easy to deal with and very dependable.

Suddendly --- a few months back --- I don't know what in the world happened --- but they are just a nightmare to deal with!

I, like most who use this company, began utilizing them because of the convenience -- not having to traipse constantly to the drugs tore --- arrive at your door. Also, for a 90 days supply --- much cheaper. Then, as if someone flipped a switch, everything changed!

I don't get prescriptions when I should. I call and they say --- we don't have the script -- which I know they do. Then, they will say --- we got the script but we can't fill it yet. Then, it will be past the time that I need them and I have to call all over to get a measly temporary supply for way more money. I told them to put my meds on automatic refill --- none of them are controlled --- and first they say they do and the next thing you know -- it's past time for my pills --- and no meds again! I will call and they will say -- we can't put that one on automatic refill. One person tells you one thing and another will tell you something else.

It just goes on and on. I hate dealing with them and I am trying to find another place which has the meds for as cheap. So far --- no go.

Re: Express Scripts problem

CAcableGirl2 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 15:01:25 GMT

I have had issues with express scripts too. They claim that the doctor never sends the prescription to them, so I call the doctor's office to let them know. Express then tells me that they need to speak with the doctors office because something was "missing", and then they never reach the doctor, but if you apply pressure to express that you are running out of medicine, then all of a sudden, it's been shipped.

Frankly, I think they try to save money and if you don't insist that you need the medication, they would rather not have to send it to you.

Hopefully, I won't have to deal with them for another year, since they just sent me the first 90 days of my annual prescription.

I think you can still take a hand written prescription from your doctor to your pharmacy, but it costs more and your pharmacist may have to contact your insurance to let them know that you haven't gone through express.

They hold you hostage to use them, but you can go around them, it just takes some calls and a little more $$ out of your pocket.

Re: Express Scripts problem

wagirl — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 15:35:39 GMT

I have ES for my RX and have had a few issues with them not wanting to pay for a certain aromatase drug for my breast cancer---dr wanted to go to bat for me but I decided that I would stay with what I am taking and she agreed. Hubs had to fight over a migraine drug that was working well but ES didn't want to send it. He won with dr help. Other than that, everything is good. I get my drugs in a timely fashion and so convenient not to have to go every month to the drug store.

Re: Express Scripts problem

NickNack — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 15:51:11 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
I have ES for my RX and have had a few issues with them not wanting to pay for a certain aromatase drug for my breast cancer---dr wanted to go to bat for me but I decided that I would stay with what I am taking and she agreed. Hubs had to fight over a migraine drug that was working well but ES didn't want to send it. He won with dr help. Other than that, everything is good. I get my drugs in a timely fashion and so convenient not to have to go every month to the drug store.

I didn't think the pharmacy could just decide they didn't want to send something. The pharmacy follows the insurance company's instructions. Whenever I couldn't get something filled at my pharmacy (or pay full price for it) it was because the insurance company wouldn't approve it.

I understand all of the other problems mentioned with ES, but this particular one sounds like a problem with the insurance company.

Re: Express Scripts problem

CelticCrafter — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:49:46 GMT

@NickNack - ES is the insurance company and they also fill through the mail, at least that's how ours works.

The only reason I would ever consider using the mail service if I needed to is for the convenience. The savings is a joke and not worth it from what I'm reading here about refill issues.

Re: Express Scripts problem

NickNack — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:51:46 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
@NickNack - ES is the insurance company and they also fill through the mail, at least that's how ours works.

The only reason I would ever consider using the mail service if I needed to is for the convenience. The savings is a joke and not worth it from what I'm reading here about refill issues.

@CelticCrafter I didn't realize that. I've heard of Express Scripts, but always just thought it was a mail order pharmacy.