Medco FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
MEDCO
– Prescription Drugs
Why
did MPS go to a three-tier formulary drug plan?
What
is generic?
What
is preferred brand-name?
What
is non-preferred brand-name?
Are
generics safe?
What is
the formulary for my plan and who and how frequently are changes made
to the
placement of brand-name drugs in the cost tiers?
How
can I find out if my brand-name drug is in coverage Tier 2 or Tier 3?
I
currently use United HealthCare’s mail order program by going on-line
to order
my refills. What does the change to
Medco mean to me, and will I have to get new prescriptions from my
doctor
because of the transition to Medco from UnitedHealthcare?
How
else can I save on my prescriptions?
Why did
MPS go to a three-tier formulary drug plan?
To obtain
competitive pricing in the market
and to manage its annual drug cost without sacrificing the quality of
or access
to prescription drug benefits. Those who
choose to use Tier 2 will pay a percentage of coinsurance for retail
but with a
minimum co-pay, or for Tier 3 brand-name drugs will pay a higher co-pay.
What is
generic?
Generic
drugs are identical to brand-name
drugs in dosage form, safety, strength, and quality.
Although generic drugs are chemically
identical to their branded counterparts, they cost 30 to 80 percent
less.
What is
preferred brand-name?
Preferred
brand-name drugs are preferred by
the formulary used by the health plan because they are safe, effective
alternatives to other brand medications that are generally more
expensive.
What is
non-preferred brand-name?
Non-preferred
brand-name drugs are drugs that
have a higher copayment than preferred drugs (non-preferred brand-name
drugs
are not on the preferred drug list).
Are
generics safe?
Yes.
Generic drugs, like brand-name drugs, must meet established FDA
standards of quality and purity to help ensure their safety and
effectiveness,
and they usually cost less. Generic
versions have the exact same active ingredients as their brand-name
counterparts and are equal in strength and dosage.
Sometimes drug manufacturers use different
active ingredients, such as fillers and dyes, which provide a drug’s
shape,
color, size and taste.
What is
the formulary for my plan and who and how frequently are changes made
to the
placement of brand name drugs in the cost tiers?
The
formulary used
for the MPS PPO/Indemnity Health Plan is managed by Medco and is
designed to
provide three tiers of coverage: Tier 1 – Generics, Tier 2 – Preferred
Brand-name,
and Tier 3 – Non-preferred-brand name (not on preferred drug list). The formulary list of medications is reviewed
by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, an independent committee of
practicing physicians and pharmacists.
The committee reviews and evaluates medications to ensure they
are safe
and effective.
Non-preferred
drugs
have an equally effective and less costly generic equivalent or may
have one or
more preferred brand-name drug alternative available.
As new drugs come on the market, changes
occur to their placement on the cost tiers.
Changes can occur two to three times per year.
How can
I find out if my brand-name drug is in coverage Tier 2 or Tier 3?
You can
visit Medco’s website by clicking
here:
www.medco.com/medco/consumer/partner/preOpenEnroll.jsp?accessCode=MPSALLEMP2011
I
currently use United HealthCare’s mail order program by going on-line
to order
my refills. What does the change to
Medco mean to me, and will I have to get new prescriptions from my
doctor
because of the transition to Medco from UnitedHealthcare?
UnitedHealthcare
will automatically transfer
your prescription information to Medco, and you will not have to obtain
a new
prescription from your doctor.
How
else can I save on my prescriptions?
You could
save by using the Medco Pharmacy
mail order service. With Medco Pharmacy,
you will pay just one co-payment for up to a 90-day supply. Just ask your doctor for a new prescription
for up to a 90-day supply, plus refills for up to one year (as
appropriate). Make sure you have a
two-week supply on hand. If not, ask
your doctor for a 14-day prescription that you can fill at a
participating
pharmacy so that you have medication on hand while you wait for your
mail-order
prescription to arrive. Either mail your
prescription to the Medco mail order pharmacy or ask your doctor to fax
it to
Medco. You will usually receive your
medication within eight days after Medco receives your order.
Another
advantage of
the Medco Pharmacy is the full support of Medco specialist pharmacists
who are
specially trained in the medications that treat an ongoing condition,
such as
asthma, heart disease, or diabetes. Specialist
pharmacists are available when you need them, 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. They can work with you and your
doctor to help make sure that your medications work safely together and
work
well for you.
