Prescription Drugs on the Road

[Birdie]

I have been having problems getting my prescriptions transferred from one Wal-Mart Pharmacy to another . So question for your travelers - who do you use? Have you had any issues at all?

Thanks,

[retiredhappy]

I have AARP's prescription drug plan ($41 a month) and I order 3 months supply thru them (Prescription Solutions out of CA). They will mail them to me wherever I am within about 3 days. Three months supply of my five generic drugs costs me $20 for all five.

[Bethers]

When I had insurance, I used Walmart and never had trouble transferring - but that was a couple years ago. This past winter I bought my meds in MX - cheaper than when I had insurance

[AlmostThere]

Beth, I just had a thought and googled it concerning fake drugs being sold in MX. I would be leery. JMHO as I know thousands do it.

[Birdie]

Well, I have used Wal-Mart for the pas million years. However, I have just gone through a week from somewhere other than here. They said they couldn't find my scrip and would fax the doctor. I called the 'sending pharmacy' they said this # and this store # and they should see it. I called the receiveing pharmacy and she said oh, yes I see it!!!! Why didn't they tell me at the beginning that I needed to call and get the information because they weren't with it enough to know how to do it. I am considering a swsitch to Walgreen, but I am intereested to know if they are one 'corporate' owned company or independently owned like Wal-Mart. Anyone know the answer?

[Bethers]

I can't answer the corporate part - but can tell you that I did have trouble once switching a prescription at a Walgreens. It's why I switched to Walmart. My guess is you'll occasionally have trouble at any of them.

[MsBHaven]

I've used Walgreens and CVS a while on the road and never had a problem. I just go online, pick the Walgreens or CVS location where I want the prescription filled and date and time I plan to pick it up. Works like a charm....assuming there is a Walgreens or CVS where I am.

Am in Cheyenne and needed to refill a CVS prescription but there isn't a CVS here. So I drove over to Walmart and they transferred my CVS prescription to Walmart and it was ready for pick-up in an hour.

We take A LOT of medicine and 99% of our prescriptions are handled by mail order. I have the meds sent to our mail forwarding company and then they forward it to me whenever I call them with a local address. It has worked very well for us in our first year of full-timing.

When we lived in our "house", we used Walgreens or CVS because they were more convenient than Walmart. However, after being on the road for a year, I think on all future prescriptions (other than our mail order ones) we will start using Walmart because it will be more convenient. Getting medicine on the road isn't a problem...but you shouldn't wait until the last minute to get your refills. Plan ahead.

[snowball]

My husband uses Walmart as it is usually convenient usually a wait but then it seems like most things are a wait
haven't had any problem other than tried to get the prescriptions in Lake Havasue and it didn't work so we just don't get them there
(we were in the town and didn't plan on going to Yuma but ended up doing that
Now Parker has a walmart and a wait to end all waits. think by the mail is sounding really good
sheila

[Birdie]

My latest Wal-Mart pharmacy visit was out of this world. I went in a week earlier in Tucson and ask for refill on two scrips that were at the Las Cruces store. Went back 3 days later and they said, yes one was ready, but they had problems with the second one. So I said okay, I'll pick up the one, what do I do about the second one. They said they would fax the doctor and I could pick it up the next day. I asked why didn't they call Wal-Mart and get it from them....she didn't know but they would get it the next day. Okay, I'll take the first one. Well they couldn't get the insurance to accept the charge, they would have to call them, could I pick it up the next day. Okay. I go away. The next day I didn't get there, but the next day I did. The second scrip still could not be filled - they hadn't heard from the Doctor. The first one was ready. Took 35 minutes for them to find the scrip - it had been put up on the shelf, not restocked just placed on a 'problem' shelf, void out the paperwork that wouldn't let them submit to the insurance company - said I had the wrong ID number on my card, huh? it just worked a month earlier. I had to pay full price. So I go home and call the insurance company and they say the ID is correct that the med is Medicare covered. Well it isn't now as I have already paid for it.

When I got to Paradise, I called the Las Cruces pharmacy and they say, oh, yes we have it. Give them this scrip # and this store # and they should see the scrip on their system. So I called them in Tucson and they said it would be ready for me the next day, so I asked them to have it for me next week as I was out of town. So we will see what happens next Tuesday when I go to pick it up.

I want to use Wal-Mart, but each pharmacy is kind of like a franchise. It is independently owned and operated. They aren't "Wal-Mart owned and operated". That's why I was wondering about Walgreen. I don't think CVS is spreadout enough to be used for traveling when and where ever. I do try to keep two weeks on hand before I start filling. I may ask for a 30 day scrip from the doctor for those meds that I can carry with me. I was hoping someone would say that Walgreens would be the answer .

Thanks for the input so far.