Express Scripts ... AARGH!

[Fox Mike]

I receive prescriptions through tri-care via Express Scripts. I received an email saying that I should be ready to reorder, so I clicked the "reorder" button and was told to log in. I logged in and received a notice that there were no medications listed. So ....I called the 'magic number' and finally got a person. Unfortunately she either had a hearing problem or a very bad connection (she also spoke 'strange' English with so kind of accent). I told her my full name, date of birth, zip code and phone number THREE different times. She then started asking something that I honestly couldn't understand what she was saying due to the accent. I told her that I was handing the phone to my wife as she may be able to understand whatever she was saying. Linda then gave her the same information I had already given her. She then said that she needed to speak with me to verify that it was OK to talk to my wife. Linda handed me the phone and it was DEAD. I am to the point that if I get the refill OK and if I don't that too is OK.

 

[RC44Mag]

I’d be somewhat concerned of a scam?
I don’t have tricare but do get meds from the VA. I’m able to refill scrips through my phone messages and it’s easy as typing yes or no. No signing in or anything. Don’t know if tricare can be done that way, but I’d look into it.

 

[hittman]

Smells like a scam to me too …..

 

[Conman]

They get worse all the time. Remember with drugs were FREE? Then Express Scripts combined to congress that postage was killing them and got permission to charge FOUR bucks per shipment for shipping. The camel got its head in the tent and prescription is now up to TEN bucks and higher with no mention of postage. My wife has a couple they just can’t seem to keep in stock!! Looking for an alternative!

 

[Hoot Gibson]

I just got off the phone with Express Scripts, about 15 minutes ago. Had to refill a scrip, so I tried the website. Before today, I always called, and that was a pain in the butt. The page on the site I was initially sent to was for a scrip that I no longer use. Up at the top of the page is a header for "Prescriptions" click that, and the list shows a link for "My Medications". That gave me access to all my current scrips. Refill ordered, no problem.

I was surfing around the site to see if there was anything interesting. Under the "Prescriptions" header is a link for "Price a Medication". That says my scrip is $58 (3 month supply) cheaper at my local Walgreens. Called the customer "service" phone number, and got an English-as-a-second-language bot (couldn't do anything but read her prepared script). I did figure out that is wasn't Express Scripts, but TRICARE that sets the pricing. So, when I get time, it's off for another adventure in corporate nonsense.

Long winded way to say that your experience is pretty normal for Express Scripts, or indeed, most online "customer service" these days. Try the website using my method in the firs paragraph, if you like, I think it may work for you.

 

[RC44Mag]

FYI
The VA phone text messages I get for refills from the VA comes in reported as This is your VA MAIL ORDER Pharmacy reminding you that your medication starting in xxx is due to be refilled. Reply ’Y’ to refill or call 800-799-3032 or visit www.myhealth.va.gov

 

[Colonialgirl]

FYI
The VA phone text messages I get for refills from the VA comes in reported as This is your VA MAIL ORDER Pharmacy reminding you that your medication starting in xxx is due to be refilled. Reply ’Y’ to refill or call 800-799-3032 or visit www.myhealth.va.gov

I refill my prescriptions on "https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home". I can look and see how many more refills I have, check my appointment schedules, and message my primary care and others.

 

[RC44Mag]

I refill my prescriptions on "https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home". I can look and see how many more refills I have, check my appointment schedules, and message my primary care and others.

That would be the smart, easy way to go but I never signed up. After the VA was hacked some years back I said no thanks, I just don’t trust computers. I’m just a stubborn cynic about these things. I should get over it, I need help!

 

[epags]

On a more positive note, I am retired military and my spouse and I have been using TRICARE's Express Scripts for many years. Our doctors have changed meds during that time and then changed the prescriptions electronically over the years without us having to do anything. We have not had any problems. We are notified when they (ES) are preparing and when they are shipping. Only change has been that recently you have to knowledge you are still alive and for them to proceed with the refill.
If you are like us and sometimes (most of the times) skip your annual 'inspection' and the prescription is running out, they send a request to your doctor for a renewal.
Happily our meds are generic and we can easily afford the increase in meds ($10 for a year's 3 months supply, I believe.)
You do have to be computer literate.

 

[fiasconva]

I finally gave up and quit using Express Scripts a couple of years ago. Some of the meds took forever to get and I'd run out before they arrived even though they said the refill was on its way. One of the meds took over 3 weeks to arrive even though they kept emailing me saying it had already been shipped. Several other times I'd get more than one shipment of the meds that had already arrived. Trying to get it straight or an explanation was as impossible as stated above. They just weren't reliable any more. BTW, didn't the name of the company change? Wasn't the name changed to Ingenio or something? I think that was when all the problems started.

 

[RoninPA]

The wife and I have been using Tricare and Express Scripts for over 25 years now since I retired and we've never had a problem getting refills, new scripts, changing from one script to another. We have seen the price go up over the years but we expected that to happen. I also get specific medications directly from the VA at no cost.

It has always been Express Scripts that we have dealt with, never heard it called anything else.

 

[Fox Mike]

It is NOT a scam. The problem seems to be that since we have one email address it only 'identifies' my wife, through they notify me. Seems if they had someone on their phone end that actually understood what Linda and I attempted to tell them was happening. Three times from me then another from the wife you would figure she would have my information written or logged into their computer.

 

[Dan in MI]

We had Express Scripts through BC/BS and my wife always got refills through the automated phone system. Worked well for us.

Now we have Optum, headaches every time so far.

 

[tokenringhawk]

I receive prescriptions through tri-care via Express Scripts. I received an email saying that I should be ready to reorder, so I clicked the "reorder" button and was told to log in. I logged in and received a notice that there were no medications listed. So ....I called the 'magic number' and finally got a person. Unfortunately she either had a hearing problem or a very bad connection (she also spoke 'strange' English with so kind of accent). I told her my full name, date of birth, zip code and phone number THREE different times. She then started asking something that I honestly couldn't understand what she was saying due to the accent. I told her that I was handing the phone to my wife as she may be able to understand whatever she was saying. Linda then gave her the same information I had already given her. She then said that she needed to speak with me to verify that it was OK to talk to my wife. Linda handed me the phone and it was DEAD. I am to the point that if I get the refill OK and if I don't that too is OK.

I used them for 15 years at a cost to insurance $70,000/ year. I retired over a year ago and could no longer afford it. A few months ago they started demanding $5.00, when I didn't pay, they raised it to $10.00 & when I still didn't pay they stated they were deactivating my account to order more. I generated over million dollars in revenue and they are aggressively pushing a bogus charge.. I haven't ordered in over a year.

 

[Pathfinder36]

The wife and I have been using Tricare and Express Scripts for over 25 years now since I retired and we've never had a problem getting refills, new scripts, changing from one script to another. We have seen the price go up over the years but we expected that to happen. I also get specific medications directly from the VA at no cost.

It has always been Express Scripts that we have dealt with, never heard it called anything else.

Hi Guys-- I've been USA retired since 1989 and have been on TFL & an Express Scripts user since it started I believe. Of course I've had some problems getting my meds from them but only occasionally. However I don't ever recall getting a year's supply of anything, usually it's 90 days and costs a bit less than 10 bucks. I also use the VA Pharmacy for a couple meds that are also available at CVS without a script. The latter are not available from Express Scripts. Fortunately I have very few prescribed meds - just 3 cheap ones at the moment.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Sad but that’s actually the way it works. The problem is when someone gets someone like her it’s easier to just hang up. You need to leave remarks about her so they can decide if she needs more training or fired. It’s a pain, I know it, but there’s a reason management wants feedback.

 

[wheelgun1958]

Ask them what part of Bangladesh are they located. They either hang up or get someone I can understand. I did that once and they transferred me to a native English speaker---in Orange County (CA).

 

[Ordguy]

My experience with Express Scripts has always been satisfactory, knock on wood. The only trouble I have had is my provider sending the prescription to the wrong pharmacy; I use the on base pharmacy and Express Scripts for two items not in the on base formulary. My co-pay to Express Scripts is currently $34 per 90-day supply. The co-pay was $58 for a non-Tricare approved drug substitute I had to get when the approved prescribed medication was in short supply/not available.

 

[watashie00]

Smells like a scam to me too …..

Nope,,,, that is what express scripts is now,, they have taken over all of tricares meds,,, and they are not good

 

[arfmel]

I’d prefer not to have my prescriptions baking in my steel curbside mailbox at probably 130° til I get home from work.

 

[nvbirdman]

I always call Express Scripts "The Whitney Houston mail order drug program".

 

[wheelgun1958]

If there's ever any company to despise, it's this one.