What can members expect to save with this membership?
Your membership offers two avenues for drug purchases: The Neighborhood Pharmacy program offers 10% to 60% discounts on acute care medications and the Mail Order Pharmacy guarantees an average of 10% off AARP's prices. Should you receive a quote anywhere else for less than our mail order pharmacy, we will beat it by a minimum of $5.00 on brand name and generic medications priced at $10.00 or more with no postage or dispensing fees added. Savings can not be used in conjunction with other discount or insurance cards.
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Do I get a discount on every single drug at the neighborhood pharmacy when I use my Membership card?

Not necessarily. Drug stores, like hardware and grocery stores determine their own pricing structures. Due to large discounts from manufacturers, some drugs may already be priced at or below the PBM's discount price. However, as a general rule, you can expect that 80% to 90% of your required, acute care prescription needs will be discounted below the stores usual retail price. The PBM network pharmacies have agreed to sell prescription drugs at the contract price, or their "usual retail price" whichever is lowest.

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Why didn't I save any money at the participating local drugstore?

More than likely, you ordered a long-term maintenance medication versus a short-term acute care medication such as an antibiotic or pain-killer. Most pharmacies use long-term, maintenance medications as "loss leaders" and price these drugs at or below cost. They do this so that their customers will assume that all their prices are low. It's a marketing strategy. The pharmacy realizes that for long-term medications, you'll shop around in order to get the best price for a medication that you may be taking for the rest of your life. As the consumer, you are led to believe that this pharmacy has low prices on all their prescription drugs and other items. Our pharmacy program has contracted with independent and chain pharmacies nationwide to offer you a discounted price that will normally save you 10% to 60% on short term medications. However, in order to draw customers, many pharmacies opt to price their prescriptions lower than the contracted price. In this case the member gets the lower of the two. Normally, they use high profile maintenance drugs for these "loss leader" price reductions such as Prozac, Zantac, and Premarin. In order to guarantee members a savings, we established a mail order pharmacy program which absolutely, positively guarantees to beat any price quoted elsewhere by a minimum of $5.00 with no dispensing or postage fees added provided the brand or generic price exceeds $10.00.

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What if the Pharmacist doesn't recognize the card's name?

Always make inquiries in person and be sure to bring your card with you. When the pharmacist sees the Pharmacy Benefit Manager information on the card, the pharmacist then understands which program you are on.

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Is this a co-pay insurance card?
No. A co-pay card is an insured product where the customer pays a preset amount and the insurance company pays the remainder. This membership is a discount card offering reduced prices. You are responsible to pay the pharmacy 100% of the discounted price.

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I'm a member and called the Mail Order Pharmacy to get a price quote on my maintenance drugs. The price quote was higher than my old pharmacy. What should I do?

When you call the Mail Order Pharmacy to get a price quote, be sure to tell the representative where you found it for less. If the quotation you are given does not beat the price you are currently paying by at least $5.00, the operator will verify the price being charged at your local pharmacy and beat it by $5.00. This outstanding price guarantee is effective for all brand or generic drugs priced over $10.00.

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How do I get my Low Price Guarantee?

When you contact the Mail Order via our toll free number, simply ask for the Low Price Guarantee and the representative will see to it that you receive the lowest possible pricing for your medications.

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Benefits will be activated within 3-4 business days.

When do I get my cards?

Cards will be shipped priority mail and should arrive within 7-10 business days.  If there is any trouble receiving your membership kit you can contact our Member Services department and a friendly representative will assist in locating your delivery.

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What is Phone-A-Doc?
Phone-A-Doc is a network of primary care physicians, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to handle routine health issues. Physicians diagnose medical problems via telephone or video conference, recommend therapy and when appropriate, prescribe medication.  Members can access a doctor from home, office, hotel room, or vacation campsite.  Receiving medical treatment is as easy as picking up your phone.

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How can Phone-A-Doc save time?
Two ways. First, Phone-A-Doc will always connect to a physician within 3 hours - often sooner. This helps resolve medical problems more quickly. Second, with Phone-A-Doc, there is no need to drive to the doctor, waste time in the waiting room, or spend more time in the car returning to work or home.  Consultations can take place virtually anywhere.

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How can Phone-A-Doc save money?
With Phone-A-Doc there is no need to see a primary care physician for routine issues, nor will members have to go to the emergency room when they can't access their primary care physician. Phone-A-Doc is another layer of medical benefits - quality care anytime it is available at a flat fee of $35.

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Some members have pre-existing conditions that make it difficult to get insurance. Can Phone-A-Doc help?
Yes. Phone-A-Doc will take patients with pre-existing conditions and these members pay the same registration fee and doctor consult fees as everyone else.  There is NO extra charge for patients with pre-existing conditions.

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Can members get prescriptions filled when out of town?
YES. This is one of the great benefits of the Phone-A-Doc service. Prescriptions can be phoned in to any pharmacy anywhere!

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Can Phone-A-Doc refill current prescriptions?
YES, Phone-A-Doc can refill most prescriptions but will not write prescriptions for controlled substances.

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Can members use their normal Pharmacy?
YES. The Phone-A-Doc physician will have member’s normal pharmacy telephone information and can phone in prescriptions immediately.

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Will Phone-A-Doc replace primary care physicians?
No. Phone-A-Doc intends to be another source of medical care in addition to primary care physicians. Phone-A-Doc will coordinate with the member and his or her primary care physicians as appropriate. If the member has no primary care physician Phone-A-Doc can be the first line of medical care.

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Do members have to leave work to see the doctor?
No. The doctor comes to the member via telephone anytime - 24/7.

Can the doctor actually diagnose problems on the phone?
In most cases, yes. Phone-A-Doc physicians have treated patients from all around the world. Each doctor typically consults with 30 tele-patients per day. Diagnosing a patient’s medical condition is usually a collaborative process between the patient and the doctor. When a patient calls, the symptoms are evaluated against the patient's medical history and usual state of health. Once a patient articulates their current condition and answers specific follow up questions, in most cases a diagnosis can be made and treatment plan developed. Phone-A-Doc physicians know when they can treat patients directly and when to refer them to a specialist (cardiologist, OBGYN, etc. If appropriate, the doctor will phone in a prescription to the pharmacy of choice. A medical consult has been delivered without the patient visiting their primary care physician or an emergency room.

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Can Phone-A-Doc handle emergency situations?
Some, but not many. Phone-A-Doc is designed to handle day-to-day general practitioner problems; however Phone-A-Doc can be a life saver. In some cases, Phone-A-Doc has been able to diagnose a problem that was life threatening and urged the patient to proceed immediately to emergency facilities, thus saving a patient's life or reducing long term consequences of the illness.

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How quickly can members talk to a doctor?
In all cases a physician will call back within 3 hours. When calling the Phone-A-Doc 760 number, our call center representative will prioritize the call and arrange for the Phone-A-Doc physician to return the call at the first opportunity. ALL CALLS WILL BE ANSWERED WITHIN 3 HOURS.

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How often can members call the Doc?
As often as they like. Each membership allows members to call any time they have a medical issue.  There will always be a $35 consultation fee.

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How do members schedule an appointment to talk to the physician?
After registration, members will be given access to a secure area of the Phone-A-Doc website. They can log on and schedule a call or simply dial a toll-free number.

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** For additional FAQ please feel free to contact us.