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Medco is the worst
Singulair, Pulmicort, Freestyle Lite Test Strips - Complaint
Review by alissa.saliman on 2013-01-11
Rating: 
LITTLETON, COLORADO -- I have to use Medco for prescriptions because of my insurance plan, and I have to order from their mail-order pharmacy for "long term" prescriptions or else they won't pay for my prescriptions at all, which is kind of a joke, because they barely pay for them now.
First of all, they won't pay a penny for the prescriptions until you meet your insurance deductible (which is $2500, and that's the lowest deductible plan I could get!!!) So that means they can charge huge prices on prescriptions, not pay for them, and you have to pay THEM for these huge prices or else it doesn't go towards your deductible. Before I meet my deductible, my son's two asthma prescriptions are, I kid you not, $800 for a 3 month supply. I have to order the 3 months all at once, and they won't even let me split up the cost and pay $266 a month, I just have to be able to come up with $800 every 3 months until we meet our deductible.
AFTER we meet our deductible, it goes down to $150 for a 3 month supply, which is more reasonable, but still not cheap.
Now, I have just been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, and they want to charge me another $300 for 3 months worth of my test strips (on top of $800 for my son's medication) so $1100 for 3 months worth of medicine. What. The. $%$%?!?
I don't know how the people running these companies sleep at night. I don't know how anyone is supposed to afford this stuff. My husband and I both work full time jobs and we do okay, but the idea that we basically have to pay an extra mortgage payment every 3 months for 3 prescriptions is insane.
Also, their Customer Service is unfailingly rude.
First of all, they won't pay a penny for the prescriptions until you meet your insurance deductible (which is $2500, and that's the lowest deductible plan I could get!!!) So that means they can charge huge prices on prescriptions, not pay for them, and you have to pay THEM for these huge prices or else it doesn't go towards your deductible. Before I meet my deductible, my son's two asthma prescriptions are, I kid you not, $800 for a 3 month supply. I have to order the 3 months all at once, and they won't even let me split up the cost and pay $266 a month, I just have to be able to come up with $800 every 3 months until we meet our deductible.
AFTER we meet our deductible, it goes down to $150 for a 3 month supply, which is more reasonable, but still not cheap.
Now, I have just been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, and they want to charge me another $300 for 3 months worth of my test strips (on top of $800 for my son's medication) so $1100 for 3 months worth of medicine. What. The. $%$%?!?
I don't know how the people running these companies sleep at night. I don't know how anyone is supposed to afford this stuff. My husband and I both work full time jobs and we do okay, but the idea that we basically have to pay an extra mortgage payment every 3 months for 3 prescriptions is insane.
Also, their Customer Service is unfailingly rude.
Comments:
Posted by Bill on 2013-01-11:
I don't think this is Medco's fault. It's your employers prescription plan and it sounds pretty bad.
Posted by trmn8r on 2013-01-11:
I believe there is an insurance side to Medco, in addition to the online pharmacy.
I used the online pharmacy, and I loved it. The three month supply plan saved me plenty of money, and the prescriptions were priced lower than the local pharmacy.
Your complaint seems to involve both the pharmacy and your prescription plan. As for the 3 month supply issue, you buy them all at once so not having a "payment plan" makes sense. You simply have to have your finances in order to be able to do that.
Your biggest problem appears to be your prescription plan, assuming these meds are available cheaper.
I used the online pharmacy, and I loved it. The three month supply plan saved me plenty of money, and the prescriptions were priced lower than the local pharmacy.
Your complaint seems to involve both the pharmacy and your prescription plan. As for the 3 month supply issue, you buy them all at once so not having a "payment plan" makes sense. You simply have to have your finances in order to be able to do that.
Your biggest problem appears to be your prescription plan, assuming these meds are available cheaper.
Posted by ok4now on 2013-01-12:
Asa 8r stated the problem seems to be your prescription plan not Medco. The cost can get really prohibitive with some of the cheaper plans. I also use Medco, my employer choose this provider so I have no choice. I'm fortunate to have a zero deductible so a three month prescription only costs me a $10.00 copay.
Depending upon your income and your son being an asthmatic may qualify you for government assistance. Something to consider to help lower the price.
Depending upon your income and your son being an asthmatic may qualify you for government assistance. Something to consider to help lower the price.
Posted by At Your Service on 2013-01-12:
With respect, this doesn't have anything to do with Medco and everything to do with the situation of health care within America.
Posted by littleshorty on 2013-01-12:
Medco is the processor for your medications. Your insurance company has chosen Medco to be the processor. They don't set the benefits into place because they are not an insurance company. Your complaint here is with whoever your insurance is through.
Posted by olie on 2013-01-12:
It's too late for 2013, but for 2014 you can enroll in a Flexible Spending Account. This allows you to specify an amount(I think the limit is $2000) to be deducted from your paychecks through the year.
Even though the deductions are spread out through the year, the total amount is in the account on Jan. 1. Our FlexBen provider gives us a debit card, so we can use that instead of forking over the cash and sending in the claim for reimbursement.
We use ours to cover deductible, co-pays, and prescriptions. And GLASSES!! Back when we had two kids in braces, the IRS allowed a higher amount.
It's possible that both you and your husband are eligible for FSAs, so that would be $4000 you could use for covered expenses.
Just know: An FSA is a "use it or lose it" proposition. If you haven't used it all by Dec. 31, the unused portion goes to....I don't know. But you can't carry it over. But that's where the glasses come in!
Even though the deductions are spread out through the year, the total amount is in the account on Jan. 1. Our FlexBen provider gives us a debit card, so we can use that instead of forking over the cash and sending in the claim for reimbursement.
We use ours to cover deductible, co-pays, and prescriptions. And GLASSES!! Back when we had two kids in braces, the IRS allowed a higher amount.
It's possible that both you and your husband are eligible for FSAs, so that would be $4000 you could use for covered expenses.
Just know: An FSA is a "use it or lose it" proposition. If you haven't used it all by Dec. 31, the unused portion goes to....I don't know. But you can't carry it over. But that's where the glasses come in!
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