Need to rant: CVS/Caremark Sucks!

[PepsiLvr]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, please move if necessary.

Anyway, I just got a phone call from CVS/Caremark (my mailorder pharmacy) I placed a refill order for my Novolog 6 days ago and today they tell me they can't send it out because of a previous balance. Now, yes, I know about this previous balance. It came from a order I placed a few months ago. I ordered online and choose the "bill me" option. I went to pay the balance with my Flexible Spending Credit card and was told I could not and that I would have to pay with a regular card. Their reason being that you can't pay a bill with a flexible spending card. WTF!?

So... being the hard headed person I am, I ignore the thing and place my refill order - no problem. I get an email saying my order is being processed, etc. Not until 6 days later do they decide it is a problem. Their position is that they cannot send my medication until I pay the prior balance. Here's the good part. THE CURRENT PRESCRIPTION IS 100% PAID FOR!! BUT THEY WON'T RELEASE IT! I've even told them, go ahead and pay the prior balance with the Flex card but they still won't do it. Any yes, the prescription does qualify for reimbursement under th plan.

Anyway, I don't see how this is any different than holding a gun to someone's head and demanding money. Give me money or die. That's essentially what CVS/Caremark is telling me.

I'm so sick of CVS/Caremark and their antics. It seems that every time I try to get or refill a prescription there is a problem. Last time, the doctor wrote the script for Novolog Vial and inicated it was "for insulin pump" "use as directed" It took at least 8 days to process because "The prescription does not have instructions from the doctor" according to CVS. Yes it did. What more can the doctor say than "use as directed" They wanted something like take 2u 2x daily or something.

I believe it is just more of corporations and insurance companies trying to increase their bottom line by denying coverage. What a great place we live in.

Rant mode off.

Sorry.

[ljjhouser]

There is not enough virtual paper even on the internet to say what I think of CVS - I used their pharmacy for about 26 years (even before they bought it from Osco). I always felt abused, mistreated and overcharged. This month, they overcharged me for the last time $68.76. After wasting all my time getting them to refund it (to my flexable spending account) - which they FINALLY did, I fired them. They were rude, arrogant, and worst of all, WRONG. I found no regard or concern for myself or other customers who paid their bills.

I guess - needless to say, I agree with you. Don't quit - givem H*ll - I certianly did and finally got it straitened out. They called two times to apoligize (corproate) - I told them, as far as I am concern, they can go out of bussiness - I didn't need them.

I hope you get everything straigtened out. Lter, Larry

[poodlebone]

My insurance used to us Caremark. I had no problems until CVS bought them and then the service went downhill. I do have to say that at some point I ended up with a balance owed, I think maybe my credit card expired or something. I remember that I tried to pay multiple times with my Visa debit card and they just could not process it. I continued to receive orders even with the open balance, though.

[jenb]

Hmmmm. And I thought it was just me! Every time I pick up a prescription at CVS I leave feeling as though my head is going to explode. I actually got into a huge argument with a pharmacist at CVS about whether BD made 31 gauge, half-unit syringes...which I had purchased there before...from the same woman!!!

Oh dear. Where has all the good customer service gone. How many of you have your own businesses? Would you have a single customer left if you could not provide better service than your competitor? I know I wouldn't.

Blech.....now I need a glass of wine. Is it cocktail hour?

Jen

[PepsiLvr]

Glad to hear I'm not alone. The thing that stinks is the ONLY place I can get my "maintenance" prescriptions filled is mail order through CVS/Caremark.

What a nightmare to know that a corporation can pretty much threaten your life for a balance owed that you tried to pay and then your new prescription is paid in full. If I threatened someone's life I would most likely be in prison.

I'm supposed to hear back from some that works directly with the president of the company tomorrow..... What a load!

[ShottleBop]

Mrs. ShottleBop used to to go to Longs for all of her prescriptions. Then Longs got bought out by CVS. She now refuses to step foot in the store, for anything.

[Joeprep4820]

I use CVS Caremark and have for the past 6 years, first under my parents' insurance plan and now under my own (both BCBS) and I've never had a problem with them.

[GeishaGirl]

I use CVS Caremark and have for the past 6 years, first under my parents' insurance plan and now under my own (both BCBS) and I've never had a problem with them.

Me neither. I can't say I ever feel loved or respected or whatever by the pharmacists, and the general cashiers are bored teens (like almost everywhere) but I've never felt DISrespected or overcharged. But I have government insurance, so maybe there's no hassle? They're actually one of the few places I trust these days. For instance, I'm on a pretty rare med (pancreatic enzymes) and they told me, flat out, that it would take them over a week to be able to fill it. And they suggested that I go to the [harmacy at the local big chain grocery store, because they'd heard that place fills it quicker. So they actually referred me to a competitor so I could get my meds quicker.

[Joeprep4820]

Me neither. I can't say I ever feel loved or respected or whatever by the pharmacists, and the general cashiers are bored teens (like almost everywhere) but I've never felt DISrespected or overcharged. But I have government insurance, so maybe there's no hassle? They're actually one of the few places I trust these days. For instance, I'm on a pretty rare med (pancreatic enzymes) and they told me, flat out, that it would take them over a week to be able to fill it. And they suggested that I go to the [harmacy at the local big chain grocery store, because they'd heard that place fills it quicker. So they actually referred me to a competitor so I could get my meds quicker.

I use their mail order service - cheaper and more convenient.

[rkicklighter]

Caremark are the idiots who let one of my insulin orders ruin last summer. Shipped it UPS ground on a Wednesday in late June. Arrived at my house in SE GA the following Wednesday.

Internal temperature of the Humalog vials was 92 degrees F. Then it took me another week to get them to replace the shipment. One of the CSR's actually asked me; "How do you know it's bad, you're not a medical professional?".

After the fact I went to my employers insurance people and raised holy He!!. It hasn't happened since.

Wonder how much 8 vials of Humalog cost them?

RK

[alura]

Due to insurance I too am forced to use Caremark. Their customer service sucks! They held my metformin hostage because of a balance owed that I didn't even know about. Mr doctor faxed another rx earlier and they sent it, but didn't automatically charge my payflex account as they should have. Their excuse was they don't normally use that account (although it is clearly on file as the method of payment) for faxed prescriptions! I paid the balance out of pocket because they wouldn't accept the payflex card. It took me weeks to finally get through to the right person and it is now in my file to always use the payflex account for all prescriptions no matter how they arrive. When I used Medco I never had this problem.

[Joeprep4820]

Caremark are the idiots who let one of my insulin orders ruin last summer. Shipped it UPS ground on a Wednesday in late June. Arrived at my house in SE GA the following Wednesday.

Internal temperature of the Humalog vials was 92 degrees F. Then it took me another week to get them to replace the shipment. One of the CSR's actually asked me; "How do you know it's bad, you're not a medical professional?".

After the fact I went to my employers insurance people and raised holy He!!. It hasn't happened since.

Wonder how much 8 vials of Humalog cost them?

RK

Back when they delivered it to my parents' house in PA, they would always stick a cooling pack or two inside the box keeping the temperature cool until someone got the box. They do the same now, but the doorman for my building keeps packages in the lobby, which is much cooler in the DC summer than outside. As for how much Caremark pays for insulin, probably $10-$20 a bottle, and charges $80-$150 a bottle in order to get the most from the insurance company. Overseas they charge $20-$50 to the consumer (bought a bottle in Belgium 2 weeks ago, cost 25 Euro, which is around $35.).

[PepsiLvr]

Caremark are the idiots who let one of my insulin orders ruin last summer. Shipped it UPS ground on a Wednesday in late June. Arrived at my house in SE GA the following Wednesday.

Internal temperature of the Humalog vials was 92 degrees F. Then it took me another week to get them to replace the shipment. One of the CSR's actually asked me; "How do you know it's bad, you're not a medical professional?".

After the fact I went to my employers insurance people and raised holy He!!. It hasn't happened since.

Wonder how much 8 vials of Humalog cost them?

RK

They did that to me 2 times! I live near Chicago and they sent out my order on a Friday UPS overnight. UPS will not deliver on a Saturday unless the sender pays extra for Saturday delivery. So Monday the internal temp of the box is 88 degrees. The other time they put in 2 ice packs and the outside temp was in the upper 90's. The box was left on my doorstep all day in direct sunlight. Needless to say it was ruined too.

Both times they sent out a replacement order within the next 2 days but I had to go through the whole "how do you know it's bad?" thing and wait on the phone for 20 minutes, talk to 2 pharmacists, and get treated like it's my fault for being at work instead of at home. They do include more ice now though.

Oh yeah, I also mark the spoiled bottles with a big "X" in permanent marker so they don't try to resell them. Look up the website "Cure CVS" (don't know if I can post a link) and you will see they have a long standing history of trying to sell expired products, overcharging for flu medicine, and many other violations. They are being sued by many state's attorney generals.

[TommyC1]

I have to say that if you didn't pay me for the hamburger I gave you last Tuesday I would not give you another even if you gave me the money for this one today.

I'm not crazy about Caremark. They tried to tell me I didn't need the strips to test as often as I do. But they did manage to get my Dr. to sign off on that and they were happy to explain that I had to straighten him out to fix it. I've never had trouble with the way they packaged or shipped insulin.
That said I'm hoping to get all of my scrips covered at my local CVS just because I'd rather deal local than with folks in Texas.

[Beesylvester]

Ok really people??? One thing happened to u at the pharmacy and u hate cvs? That's a little stupid and drastic. I work for cvs and I love the company. The pharmacy and store make mistakes, sure every coMpany does.cvs isn't actually after money. If anyone paid attention they give away free things and free coupons everyday. And if ur overcharged it's a mistake with you or the pricing. We have to price over 1000 things. You try doing that! And atleast in the three stores I go to they always are bright and talkitive bunch.and I also have their insurance and I have no problem I go whereever I need to and I pay only 15 copay.so before hating cvs bcuz of one thing why don't u actually pay attention in the store instead of talking on the stupid cell phone. THAT is one reson why we don't talk to u, ur on the phone and ur not listening anyways. People are so ignorant sometimes. If ya hate cvs so dam much go to rite aid. I've worked for them too and actaully their worse, and bankrupped. K thanks.