For half a month now, we’ve been hearing the buzz about Walgreens and Express Script.
Express Scripts decided to remove Walgreens as one of their pharmacy providers staring January 1, 2012. This would definitely cause a lot of inconvenience to their to their patients than they would have thought.
- Walgreens has more 24-hour and drive through pharmacies, Express Scripts patients are now forced to go elsewhere and to drive farther to use their in-network pharmaceutical benefits.
- Walgreens are offering more competitive prices and are able to dispense a 90-day supply versus a 30-day refill, this would have saved patients a lot of money and would have slashed costs.
Walgreens has also tried to offer a separate contract to Tricare, the health and prescription drug program for America’s military service for men and women. Since they are offering to match or beat the average cost of all pharmacies in the Tricare network, it would be highly beneficial to the military pesonnel if Walgreens continue to supply their needs. Walgreens did this to prevent the military personnel from being caught in the middle but Express Scripts rejected the offer.
One of the steps that Walgreens has taken to minimize the disruption this has caused is offer a discount on the annual membership of Walgreens Prescription Savings Club.
For $10 a year, a family membership covers everyone in your immediate family, including a spouse, dependents 22 and younger and pets. Individuals may join for $5.
Other benefits include:
- Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications
- Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies
- Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens and Nice! brand products and photofinishing services
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