This was a shock to me - in all my years of having BC/BS insurance, no one EVER told me this, until last week when I got a very nice rep on the phone.
I am on several meds that I must take daily and ususally get them through my ins. company's mail order program - saving me a 1 month copay in the process. I was calling, (as ususal) to ensure the prices didnt change before getting one of my scripts filled and the rep told me it would be the standard $20.00 for a 3 month supply through mail order - or $10.00 if I did through retail, so $30.00 for the 3 month supply. I was just about to hang up when he said "You know - you can get alot of your meds much cheaper OUTSIDE of your ins. plan...you do know that right?"
I about fell over when he said that and asked him to explain. He told me that Wal-Mart and most other places that offer the $3.99 RX meds can fill many of their 1st Tier generics for less than what I would pay for my mail order. Asked him how could I do that since I have insurance and he said "you dont need to use your insurance every time - just ask them if its cheaper to get it with or without insurance - and they'll run it both ways for you."
So... I called Wal-Mart (like I was going to trust my ins. company
) - and asked them what the price would be for this med without insurance - and sure enough - my med was $3.99 for a 30 day supply OR $10.00 for a 3 month supply!
wait a sec...?! A 3 month supply for $10.00? So... had I used the mail order, I'd of paid an extra $10.00 - and if I would've submitted it through insurance using my card - I would have paid $10.00 for a 30 day supply - and here I got the entire 3 month supply for $10.00.
I wish I would've gotten the reps name so I could call back and thank him - all this time and alot of my meds I could've checked on doing this way. So now for this one med, I will only pay $40.00 a year for vs. $80.00 via mail in through insurance, or if I went with a 30 day supply, $120.00! Outrageous!
Also - most pharmacies offer FREE antibiotics for a 14 days course - so if you require antibiotics - get the list from your pharmacy (Giant is one I know that does this - and I think Wal-Mart does now too) - and when you go see your dr. ask if there is med on the list that will work. You just bring it in and get it for free.
I am on several meds that I must take daily and ususally get them through my ins. company's mail order program - saving me a 1 month copay in the process. I was calling, (as ususal) to ensure the prices didnt change before getting one of my scripts filled and the rep told me it would be the standard $20.00 for a 3 month supply through mail order - or $10.00 if I did through retail, so $30.00 for the 3 month supply. I was just about to hang up when he said "You know - you can get alot of your meds much cheaper OUTSIDE of your ins. plan...you do know that right?"
I about fell over when he said that and asked him to explain. He told me that Wal-Mart and most other places that offer the $3.99 RX meds can fill many of their 1st Tier generics for less than what I would pay for my mail order. Asked him how could I do that since I have insurance and he said "you dont need to use your insurance every time - just ask them if its cheaper to get it with or without insurance - and they'll run it both ways for you."
So... I called Wal-Mart (like I was going to trust my ins. company
) - and asked them what the price would be for this med without insurance - and sure enough - my med was $3.99 for a 30 day supply OR $10.00 for a 3 month supply! wait a sec...?! A 3 month supply for $10.00? So... had I used the mail order, I'd of paid an extra $10.00 - and if I would've submitted it through insurance using my card - I would have paid $10.00 for a 30 day supply - and here I got the entire 3 month supply for $10.00.
I wish I would've gotten the reps name so I could call back and thank him - all this time and alot of my meds I could've checked on doing this way. So now for this one med, I will only pay $40.00 a year for vs. $80.00 via mail in through insurance, or if I went with a 30 day supply, $120.00! Outrageous!
Also - most pharmacies offer FREE antibiotics for a 14 days course - so if you require antibiotics - get the list from your pharmacy (Giant is one I know that does this - and I think Wal-Mart does now too) - and when you go see your dr. ask if there is med on the list that will work. You just bring it in and get it for free.
