Running out of your medicine can be a big problem. Getting to a pharmacy can become more difficult with age, with new or worsening health conditions, or with a lack of transportation.
Mail-order services can help deliver your prescriptions on time and might even offer some cost savings.And this time of year, less people in retail establishments helps to control the spread of seasonal flu and COVID-19, protecting yourself and others.
Most Health Alliance Medicare Advantage plans cover a number of low-cost generic drugs and have decreased 90-day copay costs for retail and mail order, typically saving the cost of a one-month supply.
Jena Deschler, PharmD, Health Alliance Medicare Managed Care Pharmacist said mail delivery has the added benefit of ensuring you’re never without medications.
“Using your medications consistently and as prescribed helps manage your health most effectively by ensuring you can control cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure,” she said.
Forgetting to refill your prescription can cause unintended side effects that could like dizziness, nausea or falls.
“When you remove a medication quickly – like when you run out, it can really play havoc with your body,” Deschler said. “It’s really important to take medications as prescribed without interruption.”
It’s easy to sign up and start saving. Just choose one of these options below:
- Ask your doctor to send an electronic prescription to OptumRx.*
- Visit optumrx.com or use the OptumRx app. From there, you can fill new prescriptions, transfer others to home delivery and more.
- Call the toll-free number on your member ID card to speak to a customer service advocat
Once OptumRx receives your complete order for a new prescription, your medication should arrive within 10 business days. Completed refill orders should arrive in about seven business days.
Since mail order programs typically ship a 90-day supply of meds at a time and it takes about two weeks to be delivered, mail order may not be for you if you need a prescription immediately or have a prescription that only require a few doses – for example, a prescription for medications post-surgery or antibiotics for an infection.
“With recent postal service delays, it’s important to start this process early or request a one month supply to start so you aren’t without your medications,” Descheler said.
Mail order prescriptions are good for a year and then require a doctor’s approval to renew. But a quick visit, phone call or message to your provider puts it in motion so you don’t run out. If you need your medication right away, you can ask your doctor to fill a one-month supply at a participating retail pharmacy.
For those who prefer in-person refills, Health Alliance partners with many major and local pharmacies so you never have to go far.
Categories: Staying Healthy
Tags: benefits, Health Alliance, Medicare, Medicare News, medication