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Pharmacy Network
The AmeriCorps health care plan provides a prescription drug program to be used in combination with your health care benefits. CVS/Caremark is your prescription drug plan administrator. Through their nationwide network community and chain pharmacies, and their mail-service pharmacy option, you have the broadest choice of pharmacies to choose from to satisfy your prescription drug needs.
PHARMACY COPAYMENT
Effective 8/1/2005 AmeriCorps*NCCC members will be responsible for a $5.00 copay for each prescription drug purchased.
HOW TO FILL A PRESCRIPTION
Your health care identification card contains all of the information your pharmacist needs. Simply present your card to have your prescriptions filled at any one of the network pharmacies in your area. The pharmacy will then electronically transmit a claim for that medication and within minutes have approval for filling the prescription.
You may obtain up to a one-month supply of your prescription medication from a retail network pharmacy and up to a three-month supply through the CVS/Caremark Direct Mail Service. Your health plan requires that all maintenance medications or medications taken on an ongoing basis must be purchased though the CVS/Caremark Direct Mail Service. To obtain the application online,
click here.
HOW TO FIND A PARTICIPATING
PHARMACY
The CVS/Caremark network includes over 56,000 pharmacy locations nationwide. To find a participating pharmacy, click here, visit the CVS/Caremark website at www.caremark.com or call member services at 1.866.475.0056. For each initial prescription or refill obtained at a network pharmacy you may obtain up to a one-month supply of your medication.
WHAT ABOUT GENERICS?
Are generic drugs as effective as brand name drugs? Almost always, the answer is "yes". Not every medication is available as a generic alternative, but many of the most commonly prescribed medications are. You can help lower your cost, and the cost AmeriCorps pays each year for medications, by using generics whenever possible. When you need a new prescription, ask your doctor whether a generic can be substituted for a brand name. You can also ask your pharmacist. In many cases they can substitute a generic for the brand without further approval. In some cases your pharmacist may need your doctor's permission.
MAIL SERVICE PHARMACY
Mail-Service pharmacy provides a convenient way for you to have your medication delivered right to your home or office. CVS/Caremark Direct Mail Service should be the first choice for people using maintenance medications. These are medications taken on an ongoing basis such as asthma, heart and cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and even oral contraceptive medications. And with mail-service you are authorized 90-day supplies of your medications at each fill.
To start using mail-service you'll need a prescription from your doctor for each medication. Ask your doctor to authorize a 90- day supply and four refills. Be sure to also obtain a prescription for an initial fill at your local pharmacy if you need to use the medication right away or don't have existing supplies of your medications at each fill.
To obtain a CVS/Caremark Direct enrollment forms, please click here or enroll directly on-line using the easy to complete on-line enrollment form found at
www.caremark.com.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM
EXCLUSIONS
- Any over-the-counter drug that can be bought without a prescription
- Therapeutic devices or appliances or other non-medical substances, regardless of their intended use
- Nonprescription contraceptives and supplies related to birth control, injectable and implantable contraception, with the exception of birth control pills and diaphragms which are covere.
- Drugs used to deter smoking
- Anorexiants, anti-obesity drugs
- Any drug for cosmetic purposes, including, but not limited to, Rogain.
- Any quantity of drugs dispensed which exceeds the supply and refill limits
- Any prescription or refill dispensed more than one year after the original prescription
- Prescriptions filled prior to the effective date or after the termination date of the member's coverage
- Drugs labeled "Caution-Limited by Federal Law to Investigational Use," drugs which are experimental or investigational in nature, or which are in connection with experimental or investigative services or supplies, including drugs requiring federal or other governmental agency approval not granted at the time they are prescribed
- Related services or supplies including, but not limited to, administration of high dose chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or any other form of therapy, or immunosuppressive drugs are not covered when associated with any tissue or solid organ transplant procedure
- Immunization agents
- Biological sera
- Unreceipted blood, blood plasma or blood expanders.
- Drugs for the treatment of MS, including, but not limited to, Betaseron, Avonex, Copaxone, Tysabri, Rebif, Interferon
- Fertility drugs
- Fluoride preparations
- AIDS-related drugs
- Non-insulin syringes/needles
- Vitamins, vitamin A derivatives
- Human growth hormones
- All drugs related to Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
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