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To: LindyBill who wrote (93153)	1/1/2005 12:46:22 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793801

You forgot to mention, you get a discount from Kaiser if you get your pills by mail.

To: LindyBill who wrote (93153)	1/1/2005 7:37:57 AM
From: John Carragher	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 793801

i have been using mail order for about eight years. first we had caremark and i expect it was start up problems, poor screen designs etc. Bad system for new prescriptions, had to go to doctor for new prescription and then mail it into them. a few years ago plan went to medco, systems improved. when refill runs out they fax to doctor for new prescription and supply form to fax back. When i do get a new prescription from our doctor during a visit i request his staff fax the prescription into medco. Taking a prescription from him and mailing it in takes several days at the least to get processed. If doctor faxes it seems to be a few less days plus i can follow up on line to see it arrived and is being processed. medco will accept early confirmations for refills and pend them to release at date set on the bottle. If you are leaving for vacation etc or want to do refills once a month or so you can do them once and feel confident you have ordered your refills (i order mine if needed weekly after i fill out weekly requirements). medco sends email reminders to refill your prescription if you forget. Best advantage of mail order. Not waiting for your prescription at drug store among many very sick people. If you are elderly you do not want to be around sick people or bring germs home to a sick person. I always found wait time to pick up prescription unbearable. It seems they were always over whelmed and understaffed. The bad part. I had ups or fed express deliver prescription once or twice.. horror ... it was forty mile winds, small package and they left it on the drive way by the garage door. needless to say it blew about ten miles away. I called and medco first concern was am i about to run out of meds. Problem they used same shipper again and same thing happened even though i put out a sign and two heavy logs to hold down package. I saw him driving into driveway. By the time i got downstairs he was gone, never put log on package and package was blowing into back yard. I received credit from first package that may be in canada by now when i ordered another refill but i had to ask for credit.. no credit will be issued at the time and you need to request credit next time you order. Mail in mail box.. never had a problem. I order about twelve various items in a 90 day periods. one or two bad experiences never come close to waiting at drug store or having to drive to the store (rain, cold , snow). Medco system i read about is totally automated. On line order entry, through mailing is done electronically. Systems appear to work very well. Only manual operation are new prescriptions and order process problems. I just love the convenience of ordering prescriptions on line.

To: LindyBill who wrote (93153)	1/1/2005 9:06:47 AM
From: JDN	Respond to of 793801

Our insurance plan REQUIRES that we purchase our drugs from a MAIL ORDER house. Believe me its a PIA. Unlike your neighborhood pharmacy, these people have no heart, if anything they use any excuse they can think of to not fill your order. They are slow to respond, and dont care a tinkers damn if you are nearly out of an important drug. They will put on your bottle the number of refills left BUT if you miss EVEN ONE refill in the time period you are REQUIRED to order they CANCEL your prescription requiring another drs. visit to get a new prescription. I could go ON AND ON but the bottom line is YES you save money but believe me you WORK for it. jdn