|
|
your favorite pharmacy in retirement?
11-22-2020, 05:24 AM
|
#1
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
your favorite pharmacy in retirement?
Now that I am retired I am considering switching my pharmacy. I have been using CVS for many years but, the closest one isn't that convenient anymore.
Also, I have heard of better senior discounts from other pharmacies. I am considering Rite-Aid or Walgreens.
With senior discounts and Medicare coverage on meds in mind, what have folks settled on and like?
Thx
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
11-22-2020, 06:08 AM
|
#2
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 3,672
|
I used Sam's Club when I was on a standard BCBS policy, when I went on Medicare and got a Humana/Walmart Part D, I switched to Walmart.
Sam's was a 2 minute drive (or an easy walk) Walmart is 6 minutes. (a 36 minute walk, taking the scenic route)
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 06:24 AM
|
#3
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 424
|
Do not take this the wrong way. Rite-aids premium performing assets were recently purchased by Walgreens-boots corporation. This avoided (rite-aids) bankruptcy. CVS is USAs largest drug distribution behemoth.(afaik)
CVS is in other business aspects of the HCare sector, not just Pharma, or the high profit margined whatnot it sells.
Walgreens as mentioned purchased a large European shoe operation not 3 yrs back diversifying its asset base and income streams like CVS, but in another sector.
Thats my understanding anyway, that to me suggests avoiding Rite-aid.
I've heard pharmacists are sooner than later,.. to be automated.
I suspect both CVS & Walgreens are very similar options nationally.
Good luck & Best wishes....
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 06:40 AM
|
#4
|
Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 13,927
|
Considerations for a pharmacy for me are proximity and hours. Right now I'm with Publix. I'd probably go to Costco but that's more of a PITA to in and out.
When you really need one.. like, you've left the dentist with a scrip in your hand after having a root canal... you need one that's close and reliable.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 06:40 AM
|
#5
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,941
|
Prefer the little small town "mom and pop" pharmacy (20 miles away) which happens to be the closest to where we live... They know us and greet us by name when we walk in, and they have a knowledgeable and competent staff. Unfortunately, our drug insurance (Express Scrips) makes it's impossible (well difficult) to use them for any long term prescriptions unless we want to pay full price and not use the insurance... Every year Express Scripts makes things more difficult. There should be law(s) against some of the things they pull which I won't go into here. And yes, I do plan to try another prescription drug provider as soon as the DW goes on Medicare...
__________________
20's "something" mind, trapped in a 70's "something" body
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 06:51 AM
|
#6
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: The Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Posts: 2,791
|
Whatever mail order service where my insurer tells me I can get a 90-day supply for the same copay as a 30-day supply at a brick-and-mortar pharmacy. On the rare occasion I need something other than my usual daily pills I usually go to Kroger where I get fuel points. Since I pay the same copays wherever I shop, it doesn't really matter to me other than CC reward points or fuel points.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 08:57 AM
|
#7
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,305
|
We still use CVS mostly, but we rarely need prescriptions filled...the discounts we’ve gotten have been outstanding, better than expected.
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 09:03 AM
|
#8
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 5,867
|
Local RiteAid for years, now have Kaiser, so do their mail order for RXs.
Still use Rite Aid for OTC and other stuff.
__________________
Give a Man a fish, he will eat for a day.
Teach a Man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 09:09 AM
|
#9
|
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,725
|
The idea of having one pharmacy is foreign to me. I look on GoodRx and use the pharmacy with the best price. I'm not typical, though, in that since I have HDHI with few expenses, it's usually cheaper that way than to engage the price negotiated by the insurance company.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 09:21 AM
|
#10
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Champaign
Posts: 4,729
|
My favorite pharmacy is the one who will change the generic pharmaceutical company I get my meds from. Which happens to be Walgreens. Believe me, there is a difference in quality.
I've called big pharma companies and asked about their ingredients and where they are located. They actually answer the phone and are friendly and talk to me about the medicines. Walgreens switches pharma companies every so often and I reject the med until I can get it from the pharma co I trust. For the most part, there are so many Walgreens, they are able to switch with another Walgreens to get my preferred generic.
__________________
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 09:51 AM
|
#11
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,723
|
We have all of those mentioned and then some within 5 miles of our home (Except Costco). We are not married to any of them. We use the ones that offer a selection of no cost drugs that I use regularly and accept our Part D, or should I say our Part D accepts them as preferred. This can change annually, no biggie. So far we only would have to pay for one out of 4 drugs I regular take (Statin and HBP Meds) and that is a no charge Tier one with my $7.30 pm Part D.
Used to be $4 drugs at Walmart but Publix has no cost BP Meds so I switched.
__________________
"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 10:35 AM
|
#12
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,698
|
My preferred pharmacy is CVS because not only is it next to the nearby supermarket I do most of my food shopping but is the one my insurance company has its arrangement with. I had switched to them in 2016 after my ordeal with using Express Scripts and their crummy mail delivery service.
My most expensive drug actually costs me less OOP than what the insurance company says I should be paying for it, nearly $25 a month less. And CVS has a deal with a maker of diabetic test strips to sell them at a nice discount, as the cost of them has been rising sharply elsewhere including on Amazon.
__________________
Retired in late 2008 at age 45. Cashed in company stock, bought a lot of shares in a big bond fund and am living nicely off its dividends. IRA, SS, and a pension await me at age 60 and later. No kids, no debts.
"I want my money working for me instead of me working for my money!"
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 11:47 AM
|
#13
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,375
|
Use Walgreens for convenience - a mile walk when I want & drive past continuously. Two Kroger 4-5 miles. Also CVS. Two Walmart 8 miles. Costco 10 miles. Mom & Pop near Walgreens went out of business a year ago. We don't have any expensive prescriptions. Attitude might change if we did.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 11:54 AM
|
#14
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,731
|
Whatever is the closest to pick up my one prescription every 90 days. It's a contest between Walmart and Walgreens (equally distanced from me).
__________________
*********Go Yankees!*********
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 12:02 PM
|
#15
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,477
|
We use our provider's mail order service as that's the only way we can get 90 day supplies. An emergency situation like DH's need for blood thinner, or antibiotics and such, we go to our local pharmacy and get charged $$$ then switch to mail order if meds are needed for longer term. DH's blood thinner cost $300+ for one month's supply and $140 for a 90 day supply thru the provider's mail order.
Several mentioned Express Scripts which I'm on for my first year of Medicare Part D. Can't wait to switch to someone else next year even if they are more expensive...tired of their crap!!!
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 12:10 PM
|
#16
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tampa
Posts: 11,299
|
We use Walgreen's, as it is connected to my DGF's plan. Good service too. We also have a CVS near us.
__________________
TGIM
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 12:20 PM
|
#17
|
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,041
|
We've gone to CVS for flu and shingles vaccines, but we don't have any prescriptions. If we did, we'd probably also have to go there, as I think it is required by our health insurance plan. In any event, it's convenient - less than a mile from our house.
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 01:14 PM
|
#18
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: NW Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,820
|
My insurance uses Express Scripts as its linked online pharmacy. So I use them for my cheaper 90-day supply of maintenance drugs. Unlike a couple of others above who mentioned problems with them, I have had no issues that weren’t caused by my own doctor’s office. CVS is the insurance company’s preferred retail pharmacy, so I use them. It’s as close to me as any others. I’ve had no issues with them either.
I’m starting year 3 with this approach.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 01:18 PM
|
#19
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 5,318
|
We used the big name pharmacies in the past--CVS, Walmart, Walgreens etc. But when we could not find our second Shingrix vaccine (we got the first shot at Walgreens but they never had the second one for us) we contacted a local mom and pop pharmacy who saved us a Shingrix vaccine when they got a delivery. Since then that is the pharmacy we use. They are so helpful--they bring our prescriptions to the car. They do vaccinations curbside. One time when we both had the flu they delivered to our house. If they don't have something we need they call all over town to find it for us. They work to lower our prices--they look on Good Rx etc to find us a cheaper price. They helped us figure out the best Medicare Part D for us. They are genuinely good people who has the customer's best interest at heart. I am grateful for my pharmacy.
|
|
|
11-22-2020, 01:54 PM
|
#20
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: St. Petersburg
Posts: 134
|
Walgreens for me. The pharmacists will happily give advice on everything from vitamin supplements to flu shots.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|