Medco health solutions - Received a bill for Crestor for $185.16

Posted by raven2010 on 2012-03-17:

Pharmacies are not permitted by the FDA to take drugs back. it isnt safe:

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074399.htm

Posted by raven2010 on 2012-03-17:

You can check with your plan administrator to find out exactly what will be covered for each drug.

My insurance provider has a website with about a zillion most commonly prescribed drugs and the exact amount my plan covers.

That helps me when I shop pharmacies for the best deals

Posted by jktshff1 on 2012-03-17:

I always ask the price before I proceed with an order. Might help.

Posted by dan gordon on 2012-03-17:

while I used Medco for yrs, Walmart has a generic Crestor for about $10 for 90 pills. Sometimes it pays to ask your doctor for a few options then price them before ordering.

Posted by Cwazychicken on 2012-03-17:

Ask your doctor about generics. I am on nexium but it is so expensive, they give me generic.

Posted by littleshorty on 2012-03-17:

Some companies have discount cards for some drugs. I don't know if Crestor has one. Ask your doctor or pharmacy.

Posted by Old Timer on 2012-03-17:

I hate dealing with Medco. Wish our carrier would go back to Prime. They are all pretty bad, but Medco is the worst in my view.

Posted by fast327 on 2012-03-17:

OT, I'm with you! I've said this many times and I'll say it once more. Medco wants to control your life. They practice medicine w/o a license. Many times they have questioned or denied the provisions in the doctor's prescription. They always think they know best. They cannot read a calendar and will deny a refill in a second! The best description I can give them is they are money-grubbing crooks. Stay as far away from them as you can.

Posted by JISCal2 on 2012-03-17:

Excellent suggestion Little. There was a drug that was not covered on my insurance and the doctor gave me a discount card from the drug maker to take to the pharmacist. It ended up being less expensive than if my insurance had covered it.

Posted by ticia232 on 2012-03-17:

Was your insurance company charging that amount for copay BEFORE you went with Medco?

I ask because my my mother's copays didn't go down after she changed. She changed because it was more convenient for her to have her meds mailed to her, because she works on the road.

Medco is NOT one of those discount online pharmacies.

Posted by Old Timer on 2012-03-17:

Ticia, you are 100% correct. Medco is a contract pharmacy that companies and organizations contract with to supply prescriptions. I have found if there is any way to screw up a prescription or a customer Medco will find it. In the dictionary under clowns, it says see Medco.

Posted by JISCal2 on 2012-03-17:

Express Scripts and Medco have merged or are in the process of merging. Maybe things will get better? I don't have experience with either...

Posted by Susan on 2012-03-18:

It sounds like you received branded Crestor instead of the generic form. Unless your doctor marked the "do not substitute" box on your prescription then most pharmacy companies (i.e. Medco, Express Scripts, etc.) will fill the prescription with the generic form if available.

Posted by oldisgood on 2012-03-18:

I have Medco and am completely happy with them. You do know you have an 800 number you can call and talk directly with either a CSR or a Pharmacist and ask questions including how much your medicine will cost, don't you? I have talked to both a CSR and a pharmacist about medications many times in the past and they have always been polite and very knowledgable.

Posted by trmn8r on 2012-03-18:

I would echo oldisgood's comment. Whem I used Medco for my mom I was thoroughly happy with them. I did call a few times and received excellent service. Maybe they could answer your questions and address your concerns if you call?

Posted by jonthethird on 2012-03-18:

When I order drugs from Medco, they always tell me how much it is going to cost me before completing the order. Maybe this is just an online thing, but have had no problems with them

Posted by Val on 2012-03-19:

I just began using the Crestor Saving Card which works with my company insurance and pays up to $50 of my normal out of pocket expense to drop my cost to no more than $18. But I've been to two major pharmacies and when they apply the Crestor card (after my regular insurance), the savings doesn't get applied, but the normal amount comes out of my Health Reimbursement Account (saving account through my insurance which I put my own funds into). I'm being told the reason for not getting the savings is because my regular insurance first pays my out of pocket co-insurance from my HRA, so when the transaction at the pharmacy occurs, it appears I owe $0.00 (even though the funds were paid out of my own account). But the pharmacy won't discount me the difference between my cost of approx $52 and the $18 max I'm suppose to pay with the Crestor Card. It appears the only way I can realize these savings is if I use up all the money in my HRA, and then during the Rx transaction, it will appear I do have a co-pay and the pharmacy will then submit a claim to to Crestor for the difference.

Has anyone else ran into this issue?

Posted by Doug Marshall on 2012-08-13:

I have found this company to be too big and unresposive to the average every day citizen who depends on their drugs as a matter of life and death issues. I am going to contact my state senator to find out if they are monopolizing the market and what can be done about it.