FAQ’s

What will my co-pay be?
We do not determine your co-pay. We submit your claim online to your insurance company, who tells us your co-pay based on your coverage. We are usually unable to tell you what your co-pay is until we submit your claim due to the many variations in insurance plans and their limitations.

What do you mean by non-formulary?
A formulary is a list of medications that a particular insurance company will pay for. If your doctor prescribes a medication not on the formulary, they might charge you a higher co-pay or deny the claim. You can pay the higher co-pay or we can call your doctor to see if he will change your prescription to a formulary medication. In some cases, when the formulary medication has been tried and cannot be continued due to side effects, or lack of effectiveness, your doctor can petition the insurance company to cover the non-formulary medication. The insurance company can then issue a prior authorization to cover the medication, or they can deny the request.

Why are some prescriptions more expensive than others?
Some insurance companies have your co-pay higher for a brand name medication, and less for a generic. Others charge you based on a percentage of the medication cost, which may change depending on quantity and price. Other plans utilize a tiered formulary system, in which drugs are divided into different categories of coverage, and your co-pay is determined by what tier your medication is in.

Why can’t I fill my medicine now?
Most insurance companies will allow you to refill your prescription when you have used up 75-80% of the medication. Therefore, if you have a 30 day supply of medication, you will be allowed to refill it when you have about 6-7 days remaining. If you need a refill earlier than your insurance dictates due to vacation or lost supply, we can contact the insurance company to check if they will authorize an early refill.

Can I get more pills than this?
Your insurance plan limits how much medication you are allowed to get at one time. Some plans limit to a 30 day supply, others allow as much as a 90 day supply. If we submit a larger amount than your coverage allows, you claim will be rejected until we adjust your supply within your coverage limits. Some plans require you to use a mail order program to get a 3 month supply. There are other plans that require a special 90 day pharmacy contract that we do not participate in due to inadequate reimbursement.

Can I return a prescription?
Minnesota and Federal laws do not allow the return of prescriptions after they have left the pharmacy.

What should I do with leftover medication?
The best way to dispose of unused medication is to remove the label, add something to the bottle to make the medicine unusable (dish soap, vinegar, kitty litter, coffee grounds) and place it in your regular garbage. Throw the labels away separately. Flushing is not recommended due to possible contamination of ground water.

I am almost out of pills. Should I call the doctor?
Most clinics prefer the pharmacy to contact them about refills. When you call us, we will fax your request to the doctor. Most clinics request 24 to 48 hours to return our request. Should your request be denied, you will be contacted by either the clinic or us.

Why can’t my doctor call in refills on some prescriptions?
Certain medications that are more susceptible to abuse or diversion require a hand written prescription from the doctor each time they are filled. Examples include morphine, Percocet, OxyContin (oxycodone) and Ritalin (methylphenidate). We can fax the doctor requesting the prescription. Some physicians require you to pick up the prescription at their office; others will bring or mail it to us for you.

Can you mail my prescription?
We do have a free mail service. Please see the “SERVICES” web page for more information regarding this important service.

Can you deliver my prescription?
Yes, we offer free delivery. Please see the “SERVICES” web page for more information regarding this important service.

How do I choose a Medicare D prescription plan?
We can help you decide which Medicare D plan is right for you. Using the Medicare website, we can put in your current medications, and give you a list of your approximate costs for many different plans.

Why do my pills look different?
Sometimes we will use different manufacturers for the same generic medication. The size, shape, color or imprint may have changed. We will inform you if a change has been made when you pick up your prescription. Please call if you ever have a question about your medication.

Do you have $4 generic prescriptions?
No. We keep our prices as low & competitive as possible, but because we concentrate on pharmacy, it is not economically feasible to offer a $4 generic plan.

I would like to get my prescriptions refilled here. What do I need to do?
Simply call us, or bring in your old prescription bottles. We will call the other pharmacy for you and transfer your prescriptions here.

Can I wait for my prescription at the pharmacy?
Yes. We have waiting areas at both pharmacies. If you need refills, however, we would prefer if you called in a day or two before pickup. This gives us a chance to contact your doctor if refill authorization is needed and also prevent an unnecessary wait if you happen to come in at a busy time. We can have your order ready for you when you stop by.

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