Earlier this week, we learned that the Bluechoice Pharmacy network for all marketplace plans would change to the Advanced Choice Pharmacy Network, effective October 1st 2016.
What does this mean for you? The BIGGEST change we expect most members to notice, effective October 1st 2016 is that Rite-Aid and Walgreens pharmacies will NO LONGER be IN NETWORK.
From the press release:
Effective October 1, 2016, all Blue Option individual and family plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be covered by the Advanced Choice Pharmacy Network. This is an exclusive pharmacy network impacting current members, as well as members with new plans sold with effective dates October 1 and beyond. Exclusive pharmacy networks are a necessary step toward controlling prescription drug cost increases that continue to trend upward.
We want to make sure our members understand their health plans and get the most out of their pharmacy benefits. The new network of pharmacies includes CVS, Costco, Kmart, Long’s Drugs, Target, Walmart — as well as grocer pharmacies such as Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Ingles, Kroger, Winn-Dixie and Publix — and many others.
It is important to note, however, that Walgreens and Rite-Aid are not in the Advanced Choice Pharmacy Network. We will not cover prescription drugs purchased out of network.
If a member is currently using a pharmacy that will be out of network effective October 1, our customer service team is ready to help them transition to a network pharmacy. Beginning this week, Caremark will send letters to members who have filled a prescription at one of the non-network pharmacies in the past six months. View a sample letter.
View the list of pharmacies in the Advanced Choice Network.
The list of network pharmacies will be updated on www.BlueOptionSC.com on the day the change goes into effect.
Have questions? Feel free to call, comment, email or tweet us!