topic Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question in Wellness

Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

Marp — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:50:09 GMT

Under the Medicare Advantage plan I've selected for 2024 one of my medications at my current (non preferred) pharmacy will cost $60 per refill but will cost $0 at the preferred pharmacy. Theprice difference for the remaining medications between the two pharmacies only amounts to pennies.

Question: Will the plan cover all the medications if I transfer the $60 prescription to the preferred pharmacy and leave the other two at my current pharmacy?

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

Group 5 minus 1 — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:51:58 GMT

Why are you asking us?

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

grandma2pkmh — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:57:58 GMT

@Marp I say yes. As long as you don't try to process same prescription at both pharmacys. The Advantage plan doesn't care.

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

Marp — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 23:04:50 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1, I'm asking here because I have more faith in those that have personal experience than I have in corporate replies, particularly this time of year where there are so many seasonal employees performing customer service.

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

spumoni99 — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:58:36 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
Why are you asking us?

More kindness to make the forum enjoyable????

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

BlueFinch — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 07:41:04 GMT

I believe it's true for all plans, that you can choose to use a preferred pharmacy, or not. It's up to you, but they often offer savings.

Use the preferred pharmacy for good discounts and leave the others where it might be more convenient for you, if the costs are similar.

I've never used my preferred pharmacy because there is no significant savings for my particular medications. I use a pharmacy in my favorite grocery store so I can shop and pick up meds at the same time.

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

avid shopper — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:21:57 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
Why are you asking us?

Because it is frustrating to get someone on the phone and once you do they often don't have the answers

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

Marp — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:15:38 GMT

@BlueFinchsaid: I use a pharmacy in my favorite grocery store so I can shop and pick up meds at the same time.

That is one of the main reasons I don't want to use the grocery store pharmacy. My "no power" is weak when I get to the grocery store.

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

CelticCrafter — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 15:40:30 GMT

I don't have an answer but if it were me I'd just switch them all as a matter of convenience give the fact that it's only pennies for the other two.

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

Trinity11 — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:22:29 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@BlueFinchsaid: I use a pharmacy in my favorite grocery store so I can shop and pick up meds at the same time.

That is one of the main reasons I don't want to use the grocery store pharmacy. My "no power" is weak when I get to the grocery store.

@Marp , I have a retiree Medicare EGWP Advantage Plan and have 4 prescriptions with CVS and the rest with Walgreens. I have never had a problem as long as I fill my prescriptions with an approved pharmacy on the list.

I understand what you mean about asking here than the toll free number. Yesterday I was sent a letter that both my long acting and short acting insulin will no longer be on the formulary in 2024. Even the manager at Aetna had no idea what I was talking about and gave me a substitute that only would work for a Type 2 diabetic.🥺

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

CelticCrafter — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:49:10 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
@Marp wrote:
@BlueFinchsaid: I use a pharmacy in my favorite grocery store so I can shop and pick up meds at the same time.

That is one of the main reasons I don't want to use the grocery store pharmacy. My "no power" is weak when I get to the grocery store.
@Marp , I have a retiree Medicare EGWP Advantage Plan and have 4 prescriptions with CVS and the rest with Walgreens. I have never had a problem as long as I fill my prescriptions with an approved pharmacy on the list.

I understand what you mean about asking here than the toll free number. Yesterday I was sent a letter that both my long acting and short acting insulin will no longer be on the formulary in 2024. Even the manager at Aetna had no idea what I was talking about and gave me a substitute that only would work for a Type 2 diabetic.🥺

@Trinity11 like WTH? I thought great things were happening with insulin and Medicare.

Re: Medicare Advantage--using multiple pharmacies question

Trinity11 — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:56:34 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
@Marp wrote:
@BlueFinchsaid: I use a pharmacy in my favorite grocery store so I can shop and pick up meds at the same time.

That is one of the main reasons I don't want to use the grocery store pharmacy. My "no power" is weak when I get to the grocery store.
@Marp , I have a retiree Medicare EGWP Advantage Plan and have 4 prescriptions with CVS and the rest with Walgreens. I have never had a problem as long as I fill my prescriptions with an approved pharmacy on the list.

I understand what you mean about asking here than the toll free number. Yesterday I was sent a letter that both my long acting and short acting insulin will no longer be on the formulary in 2024. Even the manager at Aetna had no idea what I was talking about and gave me a substitute that only would work for a Type 2 diabetic.🥺
@Trinity11 like WTH? I thought great things were happening with insulin and Medicare.

For awhile (this year) I was getting Novolog and Levemir for $35 each per month. @CelticCrafter Previously I paid about $200 per month for each. Now Novolog won't be covered and I researched Levemir and the manufacturer discontinued it. I think with less profit they may have decided to stop making it.🥺