Prescription Drug Coverage
If you enroll in any of the medical plans, prescription drug coverage is provided for you and your enrolled dependents. The Prescription Drug Plan is currently administered by CVS Caremark Prescription Services.
When you fill a prescription, the amount you'll pay depends on how you utilize your prescription drug coverage:
- You can choose to go to a retail pharmacy or use CVS Caremark's mail order program.
- If you fill your prescription at a retail pharmacy, you can go to a participating or non-participating pharmacy.
- You can take a generic or brand name drug.
Read on for more information about these options and how they affect the cost of your prescriptions.
You can either go to a retail pharmacy (see Participating Pharmacies) or use the mail order program. The mail order program is offered for long-term maintenance medications and offers several advantages:
- Your prescriptions are delivered directly to you—no need to go to the pharmacy every month.
- You can obtain a three-month (90-day) supply instead of having to refill your prescriptions each month.
- You'll enjoy lower minimum and maximum coinsurance amounts.
- If you're taking a brand name drug that doesn't have a generic equivalent, you'll pay a lower coinsurance.
- You can order refills over the phone or online.
If you use a retail pharmacy, you can go to any pharmacy you'd like. However, you'll pay less if you utilize participating CVS Caremark pharmacies, which offer discounted prices for prescription drugs. You'll also pay an additional 5% surcharge when you use a non-participating pharmacy.
Most local and major pharmacy chains and supermarket pharmacies participate with CVS Caremark, including: CVS, Giant, Rite Aid, Kmart, Walgreens, Pathmark, and Genuardi's. For your convenience, HUP pharmacy is also part of CVS Caremark's network. You can find participating pharmacies on CVS Caremark's website.
Depending on what your doctor prescribes, your medication may be a generic drug, a brand name drug that doesn't have a generic equivalent, or a brand name drug that does have a generic equivalent.
If you're able to take a generic drug, you'll save money—not only will you pay a lower coinsurance amount, but that lower coinsurance is a percentage of a lower base price for the drug. Generic medications are as safe and effective as brand-name drugs, but they cost less (30% to 80% less, according to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association website). Plus, generics are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for having the same safety, quality, strength and effectiveness as the brand name drug. Only your doctor can decide what's best for you, but be sure to ask about your generic options.
The amount you pay will depend on what type of prescription you're getting and whether you use retail or mail order. Click below for details on the cost structure.
Cost structure for current plan year (July 1, 2009–June 30, 2010)
Caremark and CVS Corporation have merged to create the nation's premier integrated pharmacy services provider. Penn's prescription drug benefits remain the same—they're just managed under the CVS Caremark name. You're still able to have your prescriptions filled at any pharmacy you choose, such as CVS, Giant, Rite Aid, Kmart, Walgreens, Pathmark, Genuardi's, or the HUP pharmacy. You can still take advantage of Caremark's mail order program, and you should continue to use your same identification card, as well as the same toll-free number (1-800-378-0802) and website. For more information about CVS Caremark, visit the CVS Caremark website.
If you're participating in the Health Care Pre-Tax Expense Account, getting reimbursed for your prescription drug expenses has never been simpler. You're now automatically reimbursed to help you get your money more quickly and easily. Click here for more information.
You have the opportunity to save money on many of the health-related items you need on a daily basis. At no cost to Penn, CVS/Caremark is providing all Caremark participants with an ExtraCare Health Card, which gives you 20% savings on CVS/pharmacy brand items that are health-related and eligible for reimbursement under the Health Care Pre-Tax Expense Account. Click here for examples of eligible items.
All Caremark participants should have received three card key tags in the mail during the month of April. They can be used by you, your spouse and your dependents at any CVS/pharmacy store. If you already have a regular CVS ExtraCare card, the ExtraCare Health Card can replace it. You'll still enjoy all the benefits of your ExtraCare card, plus the additional 20% savings on CVS/pharmacy brand health-related items. Call the toll-free number on the back of your new card if you'd like to transfer your ExtraCare reward balance. For more information, click here.
For more information about prescription drug benefits, contact CVS Caremark at 1-800-378-0802, or visit the CVS Caremark website.