Costco Connection - January 2009

C overage, carriers and CMPP

Costco warehous es work with most prescription insurance carriers and Medicare Part D plans. (Due to different rules and regulations for Internet providers, Costco.com’s insurer list differs slightly from that of the warehouse.) To save money, know the details of your health insurance regarding benefits, co-payments and annual caps. Also acquire your insurer’s formulary list of approved drugs. They are typically less expensive.

As we’re all aware, insurance coverage is not available to everyone. Indeed, 30 percent of Costco Pharmacy patients are without prescription insurance and pay out of pocket. Wanting to offer a helping hand to Costco members in this predicament, the Costco Pharmacy group created the free Costco Member Prescription Program in November 2007.

While not an insurance plan, CMPP provides qualified members, their dependents (under the age of 18) and even the family pet lower costs on all prescription drugs. This is accomplished by Costco pooling members’ purchasing power and passing manufacturer-sponsored discounts and rebates directly to members.

Some retailers claim their consumer prescription drug plan is similar to CMPP. In actuality, they shave discounts off already existing high prices, whereas Costco incorporates

FRANCE FREEMAN

additional reductions, providing the best savingsformulainthecountry. Thanksto CMPP, more than 300,000 uninsured Costco members, including yours truly and the hubby, saved a total of $1.2 mil- lionindrugcostsin2008.

Can CMPP save you money? You bet. Potential monthly savings for Prevacid® as compared to the average price at national drugchain stores is $80, or $960annually.

ing. Drug-interaction software links all U.S. Costco pharmacies (warehouse and online) to a centralized Costco prescription information center so that any potential drug-to-drug, drug-to-allergy and/or drug-to-medical-con-dition interaction can be red-flagged. A computerized workflow management system assigns a code to each order as a way to assure accuracy and improve customer service.

Health screenings, flu shots

Costco warehouse pharmacies are also invaluable healthcare resource centers. Healthy Heart Clinics, osteoporosis screenings and blood pressure screenings are available at no charge. Seasonal allergy screenings may have a small fee.

Costco provides more flu shots than any other pharmacy in the United States. In addition, pharmacist-administered vaccines for illnesses such as pneumonia, tetanus and shingles are offered in some warehouses, so check with your local Costco pharmacist. Prices average $10 to $15 less than those charged by other retailers.

Michael reports, “Costco Pharmacy is committed to great customer service and strives to be the place where consumers feel comfortable asking medication questions and trust the advice provided. We offer highly trained staffs and, in most locations, private warehouse consultation rooms. During hours of operation, a pharmacist is available in the warehouse or by e-mail or telephone for Costco.com.”

Costco pharmacy online

Costco.com’s pharmacy enhances the warehouse program by providing one-stop, 24-hour shopping convenience and privacy for prescription and over-the-counter medications. Deliveries are made anywhere in the United States.

Pharmacist and assistant general merchandising manager Christopher Pierce says, “The online pharmacy is a particularly great option for those on maintenance medication who like a home-delivery option. We do it all, including automatically sending e-mail refill reminders.”

Other popular online functions include a pricing guide, free ground shipping for prescriptions (one national retailer tacks on $1.95 per shipment), a prescription status link and streamlined checkout.

With its double treatment of warehouse and online options, Costco Pharmacy continues to be just what the doctor ordered. C

Quality assurance

Always curious about quality-assurance measures, I’m happy to report Costco Pharmacy requires ongoing audits confirming drug pric-

To your

health

R

Costco Pharmacy’s

medicine chest

■

Upcoming health clinics are listed at warehouse pharmacies, in The Connection and on Costco.com (type “special events” in the search box).

■

For information on the Costco Member Prescription Program, pick up a brochure at your warehouse pharmacy, visit

Costco.com and enter “CMPP” in the search box, or call 1-800-806-0129.

■

Cash, checks (members only) and American Express^® cards are accepted in all Costco warehouses. American Express, Visa^®, MasterCard^® and Discover^® are accepted at Costco.com.

■

Prescription purchases (warehouse and online) qualify for the Executive Membership 2% Reward and 1 percent back if charged on a TrueEarnings^®American Express Card.—PV

Here are some examples of potential monthly savings* for CMPP members as compared to national chain drugstore average price:

Drug name, quantity Costco warehouse National chain Monthly savings price after rebates drugstore price

Lunesta ( 2 mg), 30 count $123.25 $184.91 $61.66

Micardis ( 20 mg), 30 count 43. 54 90.21 $46.67

Flomax, (0.4 mg), 30 count 82. 44 $112.15 $29.71

Fluoxetine ( 20 mg), 30 count 5.99 24. 23 $18.24

*Savings are approximate and based on a 30-day supply. Savings amount is calculated as the difference between the national chain drugstore average price, as represented by periodic price quotes from four national pharmacy retailers in the Washington and California markets, and the Costco Member Prescription Program price.

IF YOU’VE RESOLVED to take better care of yourself this year, Costco’s vitamin and supplement promotion, running January 5 to 19, couldn’t come at a better time.

Nine of Costco’s most popular private-label Kirkland Signature^™ nutritional essentials are highlighted, including Vitamin C 1000 mg, Vitamin E 400 IU, Glucosamine Chondroitin, Glucosamine MSM, Sugar-Free Chocolate Calcium Chews 500 mg and Fish Oil 1000 mg.

A quick check shows that the two-week offer provides healthy discounts for many brands. For example, Kirkland Signature Daily Multivitamins offer a savings of 57 percent over multivitamins by Centrum^®, Kirkland Signature Mature Multivitamins calculate out at 65 percent versus Centrum Silver and Kirkland Signature Oyster Shell Calcium 500 mg leads the pack with a whopping 74 percent compared to Caltrate^® Calcium.