Home Delivery Pharmacy Service: Is It Right For You?

Let’s face it. Getting the prescription drugs that we need in a timely, efficient way is something that’s important to all of us, especially to seniors. And if we can save a buck or two doing it, so much the better. But what’s the best to go about it getting them? We’ve all made many a trip to our local pharmacy, putting up with long lines, waiting to fill the doctor’s prescription. But is this really the best way?

In recent years, many seniors have discovered the convenience of the delivery of their prescription drugs to their homes. The home delivery option, also known as Mail Service Pharmacy is exactly as it sounds. Your prescription drugs are delivered directly by mail to your home. It’s fast, it’s convenient, and it’s a less expensive way to get the medications you need.

And it’s gaining in popularity.

In a survey conducted by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, results showed that that 9 out of 10 consumers who used the home delivery method were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the service provided. And a whopping 96% of seniors age 65 and older in the survey said they would recommend the mail service prescription delivery to others.

USING THE MAIL-ORDER PHARMACY:

"It is certain. You can be assured that what you order is what you're going to get. If you're on line, you'll even get a reminder."--Jack Curtis

"Fast service. It really is helpful to get 3 months versus 30 days' supply. You don't have to run every month to the pharmacy and if you have more than one prescription, you don't have to keep going back to pharmacy at different times. I'm sold on it. Been using it since it started almost a year now."--Bob Thomson

Kellogg’s Home Delivery Pharmacy Service dispenses 53 million prescriptions every year and prescriptions are filled by licensed, registered pharmacists. In addition, all prescriptions are reviewed by experts for possible drug interactions that could be of concern to our Kellogg seniors. And if there’s ever a question about your prescription, your doctor will be contacted before the order is filled.

To sign up for the Kellogg system for home delivery of your prescription drugs, all you have to do is contact Merck-Medco’s Member Services to get order forms or envelopes. You can get in touch with Merck-Medco by going online to www.merckmedco.com or by calling them directly at 1-800-948-8779.

Follow these steps to get started using the Home Delivery Pharmacy Service:

OPTION 1 - Mail in your prescription:

Step 1: Ask your doctor for a new prescription for up to a 90-day supply, plus 4 refills (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 retail network pharmacy while you wait for your Home Delivery Pharmacy Service prescription to arrive.

Step 2: Mail the new prescription, using the enclosed order form and envelope. You may pay your Home Delivery Pharmacy Service co-payment by credit card, check, or money order. If you prefer to pay for all of your orders by credit card, you may want to join our automatic payment program by website, www.medcohealth.com. Your prescription drug will be delivered to your home within 7 to 11 days.

OPTION 2 - Have your doctor fax your prescription:

Step 1: Follow Step 1 in the Mail section above.

Step 2: Provide your doctor with your member ID number (located on your prescription drug card) and ask him or her to call 1-888-EASYRX1 (1-888-327-9791) for instructions on how to use our fax service. You will be billed later. Your prescription drug will be delivered to your home within 5 to 8 days.

OPTION 3 - Log onto www.medcohealth.com

Step 1: Please register on our website if you have not already done so. You will be able to review your prescription history on-line at www.medcohealth.com.

Step 2: If you have been filling maintenance medications at your retail pharmacy, you can request that Medco Health contacts your doctor for a home delivery prescription by simply clicking next to the picture of a home where it states "Available through our Home Delivery Pharmacy Service". The website will have you confirm your doctor's information and provide you with the details of cost savings by using home delivery.