CVS Caremark Reviews

I lost my job. We cannot pay the rent. I'd sue them if I could, but we may be homeless by then. My suggestion if you are forced to use this service: Make certain your doctor filled the Rx correctly; any mistake, no matter how trivial, can severely delay your order. Make sure that you can get a backup Rx for 30 days so that you can get your meds if they mess up the order. This is especially true of new prescriptions. Be advised that many new prescriptions may require preauthorization, which will require further paperwork the doctor from your insurance company, a major cause of delay especially if your doctor drops the ball.

You should call CVS Caremark on a daily basis to ensure that your order is being handled properly; sometimes they alert you, sometimes not. Make certain that CVS Caremark knows your payment and shipping preferences; they often fail to ship simply because they don't know how to charge you. Most importantly, record every call and conversation! Include the name of the service agent, the time, date, and length of the call, and a synopsis of the conversation. Better yet, record the conversation if you can. I have actually been lied to before. But it's my word against their word, unless you could subpoena those "quality control" voice records.

On 4/15/13, my partner went to our doctor for an appointment at 9am. The doc faxed three scripts to Caremark. Then she went to work at a hospital, where she does not have access to her email all day. Well, Caremark went ahead and processed two of the scripts, charged our credit card and shipped them out that night, costing us $200 we did not have. Every single other time, they have taken weeks to process and ship, let alone charge us. Weeks and phone call after phone call! Yet this time, they somehow managed to get it all done in less than 24 hours. When she called them the next morning, of course, we got the standard, "There's nothing we can do because it's already shipped and charged." Great.

So every time I order a prescription that Caremark has filled for me for two years, it takes at least 3 weeks and 5 phone calls, but when my doc faxes a brand new script, they process it and send it out immediately? With my regular running medication, they're worried each time about an interaction, but with a brand new medication, they just ship it on out and hope for the best? The rep said, "Well, we trust your doctor has checked for interactions." Then why does Caremark hold my meds for weeks due to a possible interaction? Then she asked what happened to the third script. No one knows. They claim they never got it. How did they get 2 but not the 3rd? So, we called the do, and of course, she sent it with the other two but will send it again. Well, according to Caremark, they still don't have it 5 days later. This happens every single time. My doc has to fax it over and over. Then she even had to call to verify she did send it. Caremark keeps claiming they never got anything.

I called this morning because it's still not listed on their site, only to have the rep tell me they still have nothing. When I told her she was lying because my doctor faxed it not once but twice, she said, "Oh well, you can't fax in orders. They have to be mailed." No one has ever given me that pile of lies before, ever. So when I asked her why Aaron told me 4 days ago that the faxes come in to a separate facility and take 24 hours to get entered into the system, she said she has no idea why someone would tell me that. So I asked to speak to a supervisor because I'm tired of their lies. Paul got on the line and said that they do not have the script. Okay, this is just insane.

So, he proceeded to feed me a bunch of garbage that meant nothing and resolved nothing. I finally said to forget it. I'll take it to Walgreens and just get a month by month supply because I will not deal with Caremark again, ever. Yet I guarantee that this lost prescription they haven't received that my doc has sent twice now will magically show up at one of their facilities, they'll fill it and ship it out to me, without checking whether I got it somewhere else, meaning they don't care how many of this controlled substance I have. But they're worried about interactions? I also told a rep 4 days ago to put my credit card on hold and that I want to be contacted before I am charged anything. That was never done, of course, according to Paul, the supervisor.

On another occasion, they supposedly sent my wife a controlled substance twice in one week totaling over 600 pills, even though she only ordered one, and it's a medication they have filled for her before on multiple occasions. We only got one of those orders. So when she went to order it 3 months later when she was about to run out, they claimed they already sent it to her. When she said she never received it, they flat out accused her of lying and refused to fill it again. They even went as far as to call my local post office to get verification of the exact day and time it was mailed to her. When she told them we live in an apartment building, and if we are unaware they were sending another package, someone else may have grabbed it.

When she confronted them on their reckless behavior of sending a patient over 600 pills of a controlled substance within one week, suddenly they got even nastier and stuck with their accusation that she did indeed receive it and must be a lying addict. Multiple calls and supervisors later, after threatening to go to the authorities with our complaint of their recklessness and their unfounded accusations, they finally shipped out another 360 pills. Oh well, who cares if someone overdoses, right? They also like to claim that scripts get held up for possible interactions. When I ask why that's even an issue on a script I've been getting for years that they have filled multiple times for me, no one has an answer.

They have no records or notes of previous calls, which is ridiculous in this day and age. You can give them the exact name, day and time you called and spoke to someone, what that person said, and what that person promised you, and they claim they have no record of any conversations taking place. What?! All their service reps don't have a clue what's going and just lie and lie and lie. I've caught them in so many lies it's unbelievable. When you ask to speak to a supervisor, they just put a different rep on the phone, or even go as far as to say supervisors are not available. One rep will tell you your order is ready to be shipped, but call right back and another rep will say something different. When you tell them the name of the person you just spoke with, they claim they have no clue who that is or why they would tell you the wrong info. What?!

Their pharmacy department and shipping department and service department have no way of communicating with each other, they claim. They also claim they don't have access to the same info we do from the website. Again, what?! It's 2013! I've also called many times where, after waiting on hold for quite some time, the rep who picks up your call just hangs up on me. This is a multi-billion dollar corporation dealing with people's lives, people's health and well-being, yet no one takes it seriously. No one knows anything, no one has answers. They are incredibly flippant about your medications and your need for them. How is this place still in business? They were recently even listed as having some of the worst customer service in the industry by a major news source. All I can say is they will never get another dime of my money. I would rather pay full price and have to get my scripts monthly than deal with anyone at Crapmark ever again.

Today, supposedly the label was being printed; however, the website still does not indicate any shipment. This is diabetic medication, and if I don't receive it tomorrow, I'll have to call my doctor to try to get a week's supply of this extremely expensive medication. Maybe he’ll give it to me free. Shame on Caremark. This is not the first time they have screwed up my orders. In the past, it has taken over a month to get medications that were mistakenly shipped through some out of the way part of the US rather than sent directly to California. Shame, shame, shame.

So I again tried to resolve the problem today. Six different people and over two hours on the telephone, the conversation ended with the comment, "We know we have a co-pay problem, but I cannot tell you when it will be resolved or when you will be refunded the charges." Oddly, I am still not angry - this is so bad it is almost funny - but I need to mark them down to a single star because our Caremark experience (it began January 1, 2013) is unquestionably, and by far, hands-down, the worst customer service experience we have ever had! It is unbelievably bad. It must be terrible to be one of their customer service reps and be so unable to fix anyone's problems.

Getting prescriptions switched over from our former drug provider finally got taken care of, only when I talked to the former provider to plea for action because Caremark said they couldn't do anything to obtain those scripts (or didn't know how is more likely the case based on all of our subsequent experiences). We have two homes and were led to believe that we could simply enter the dates when we would be where in the Caremark system, and the medications would be sent to the primary or secondary address based on those dates. Not true. The first refills we ordered went to the wrong address and only then did Caremark tell us that we need to telephone them each time we order a medication and want it to go somewhere besides the primary address. What a pain and bother, particularly since it takes forever to get to a human being on their automated system. "Temporary change of address" is not an option we have yet found in that labyrinth.

Then we had a hard copy script to mail to Caremark, so we printed the appropriate form off of their website. Fortunately, we had another issue to discuss with their customer service folks and in the course of that conversation, we're told that "Oh no, don't use the Illinois address. Let me give you the correct address in San Antonio." What?! The website doesn't even have updated mail order address information? I suspect the address on the form actually relates to where the system thinks you live, so our two address situation may have played into that difficulty. But the customer service rep surely did not act as if that was the case.

All of the above was huge aggravation, but the meds were eventually getting to us and for the prices (or total lack of cost) promised. But then my husband's doctor faxed new scripts for several of his ongoing meds and bingo! Suddenly we were being charged for level 1 generic drugs that had heretofore been cost-free. Back on the phone to customer service and these phone calls last at least an hour, often more, every time. The rep finally was able to determine that we were being charged for our 90-day preferred mail order pharmacy (i.e. Caremark) level 1 drugs as if we had gone to a non-preferred retail pharmacy and filled three 30-day prescriptions. Where did that come from?!

And by the way, she could not do anything about crediting those charges back to the zero amount they should have been. But someone from Caremark will call us within 3-5 business days to discuss the situation and, presumably, credit the charges back to us. Then there is also a mystery charge that the customer service rep thinks is because a prescription that was entered into the system requires DAW (drug as written) treatment (i.e. no generic substitute). I was able to click on the script number in my husband's account and see that the drug type indicated that it could be filled with a generic. The customer service rep could not see the script or find out anything about it, but the same Caremark person who is going to call some time in the next week should be able to help me, I was told. Not holding my breath.

Quite apart from the medication issues, getting our monthly premiums to be automatically charged to a credit card has been a circus. From the get-go, we called the appropriate telephone number to set that up and each month we were assured that it had been set up in the system. But for three months it was not and I had to call to pay the bill over the phone, and try to set up the automatic payment again (although I was told that yes, it was set up but was just taking time to go into effect). Three months into this I again called a week into the month, paid the bill and was assured that the automatic charge would occur the next month. Six days later, I got charged automatically!

Today I was assured that we paid early for April, will not be auto-charged in that month, but the auto charge will occur all on its own come May. Why am I not holding my breath over that actually happening as it should? All in all, I would say that Caremark is incompetent in many ways (even their automated systems - from the phone to the website - suck) and the customer service reps with whom we have been dealing are both poorly trained and not empowered to solve even the smallest problem. It also bothers me tremendously to know that there are many Medicare-aged people who would have no idea that they were being charged incorrectly by Caremark.

So the bottom line for us is that we are putting no dollar value on the time we are spending trying to get things right and are watching all of this very carefully and being bulldogs about getting what is due us. If you cannot do both of those things, pick another drug plan with high service ratings. We may do that same thing come the end of this year, but maybe Caremark will finally get our situation right.

They basically hold your prescriptions ransom - that is if they ever get them. How do you lose a prescription? I mean really, how on earth can you lose someone's prescription for the medications they need to live a healthy life? My latest nightmare started 10 days ago when I went online to reorder my medications 10 days in advance. I noticed the price went from $3.40 to $ 430. I called Caremark Customer Service and the nice lady who probably started 2 days ago said, "Yes ma'am that is the price and you have been paying that for the last 2 months auto billed to your Visa card. You were not aware the price changed?"

I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Caremark on hold, "Let me check with my supervisor; I do not know why your Dr. says you can only have name brand medications - we do have this medication; hmmm, let me see for about $32." I told her, "Do not ship any meds to me until I call my doctor and my insurance because why would I pay $430 for medication I can get for less than $40 at any local drugstore?" When I asked why I was not informed that they had charged my credit card $430 without a friendly note of, "Dear Customer, do you know you medication went up by 100 times the price that you have been paying?" Or how about one of those nice little auto dialer calls they gave me 3 times a day when they were trying to get me to sign up? Her response was, "We do not run interference between you and your doctor! (As a side note, this is the only thing Caremark does well; that is send you letters about medications they will not cover because after all, your health is all that matters to them)"

So several days later, I found out that all the information the Caremark rep gave me was inaccurate and I am not and have not been paying $430 for my medication and it was not billed to my credit card. So now it was 4 days and many phone calls later, I ordered my medication. I was not almost out of my medications and had about a 3-day supply. I normally do regular mail and get my medications in 2-3 business days. So I paid $26 get my medications Next Day Shipping. I could not take the chance of running out so $26 after all I had been through seemed like a drop in the bucket. I ordered my meds on Wed., March 20th before noon. On Thursday, there were no meds - on Friday, it was the same thing.

I came home on Friday from a 50-hour work week and had to get up and go to work Saturday as well. At 8 pm Friday night, I called my local CVS - thank god - I could go there and just have them fill my prescriptions. I had already run out. Surely, they would not let someone go without their medications. Guess what CVS told me? They had no access to CVS Caremark! There was nothing they could do for me, to call Caremark and see if they could call in a bridge supply. What is a bridge supply?

Like a dummy, I called back the customer care number for some more abuse. I was on the phone with a very nice lady, Vicky, who had me on the phone 39 minutes. I was on hold for 35 of those minutes while she called a supervisor at home who I feel sure couldn't care less about some lady in Texas griping about her meds. Vicky came back on the line, poor thing, she tried. Vicky then said, "There is nothing we can do for you. Your meds are in Processing and we have no way to stop them and since they have been or will be filled, you cannot go get them filled again anywhere else."

The next morning, I called Caremark back. Maybe in the morning, someone different might have some ideas. I got good old Steve. Guess what Steve told me after I went through the whole story again (there are never any notes of past phone calls; I find that absurd - in this day and time every company has detailed notes of all the conversations they have with a consumer.)? Steve told me and I quote, "Ma'am, you did not really think you could order your medication on Wed. and get it on Thursday did you? I mean, really, did you think that ma'am? Well, let me tell you what I am gonna do for ya, ma'am. I am gonna waive the $26 overnight fee for ya. How about that? And I tell you what else I can do for ya, do you want me to file a complaint for ya? Then one of our Care Team can call ya? Hold on, this takes a few minutes but I am gonna do that for ya, ma'am. Oh and ma'am, in the future, you should have your Doctor write you two prescriptions, one for us and one for a 30-day supply so if this ever happens again, you are covered. You just go on down and get that 30-day supply filled. Then ya don't have to worry about it. That is what me and my wife do and we never have any problems. Ya see what I am saying?"

Okay, it is now Monday, the 25th, and it is going to be a long hard day without my medications again. I think Caremark should be shut down for the abuse they put the public through. When are enough of us going to say this abuse stops and do something about it? I think being left without your medications several days especially when those days are Friday, Saturday and Sunday when you can do nothing but be held hostage by Caremark is criminal, cruel and sad. It's very, very sad that a company is allowed to dump this type of abuse on the innocent public.

This letter is only my first step. This lady in Texas has had all she can stand. I am going to do everything in my power to put a stop to this abuse. That is what it is - plain and simple abuse!

On Monday, 3/11/13, I sent the hard copy of my prescription along with the Caremark registration form (as instructed on the aforementioned form) via USPS Express Mail from a post office in Clearwater, Florida (for which I retained a receipt and tracking number). On the CVS Caremark form, I elected to pay $23 (US) for urgent next day shipping. Using the tracking number, I was told on Thursday, 3/14/13, by a teller at the same post office that my package was delivered to the CVS Caremark PO Box at 09:42 on Wednesday, 3/12/13, and was retrieved by a CVS Caremark courier at 03:38 on 3/13/13. I obtained a copy of the return receipt, signed at the aforementioned time by A. **. That afternoon, I called Caremark to check the status of my order and was told that my order would require doctor's authorization before it could be processed. I then referred the matter to my neurologist, whose office provided said authorization. Caremark instructed me to call back within 24-48 hours.

Upon doing so on 3/15/13, I was informed by an unnamed representative that the doctor's office did not provide authorization, and to call back within 24-48 hours. I spoke with my doctor's office again and was assured that they had indeed called in an authorization, but that they would do so again. On 3/16/13, I then called CVS and was told that my order was processing but there was an issue. A supervisor informed me that my insurance company had indeed paid for the prescription; however, the pharmacy department at Caremark could not locate the hard copy of the prescription. However, they did have a photo image of the prescription in their computer system. I was also told that their system had shown that this prescription was filled at a local pharmacy and had to be transferred to their mail-order company. I explained that such a case would be impossible, as I had sent them the hard copy of the prescription in the same envelope as my Caremark registration, as per the instructions on the registration form. After a lengthy conversation with several representatives, I was assured that the issue would be resolved and to call back within 24-48 hours.

On 3/18/13, I spent over three hours on the phone with nine different Caremark representatives and supervisors and was informed that my prescription had been discontinued; however, I was never given a definitive reason as to why. I spoke with a supervisor in the Sunrise, Florida office named Manny ** who attempted to resolve this matter with a representative in the clinical department in Arizona named Courtney. This person assured me that my order was being re-processed before the call would be terminated, would not require any further authorizations, and that in addition, Caremark would incur the $23 cost of urgent next day shipping as a gesture to alleviate the stress of the situation. I was then informed that I could reasonably expect my prescription to be delivered within 48 hours.

On 3/21/13, 72 hours later, I called to check the status of my order. The first Caremark representative informed me that my order was processed and would be shipped out on 3/22/13 and delivered by 3/23/13; however, she would ask a supervisor to verify why it had not been shipped already. The supervisor told me that my prescription would need doctor's authorization before it could be processed. I was then told by another supervisor that this person was not a supervisor but another representative and that my order was being processed but would take 7-10 days before it could be shipped, which he then verified with another representative in the clinical department in Arizona.

During a conference call with the supervisor and the clinical representative, I was informed that there was absolutely no record of any correspondence prior to 3/18/13. I asked to speak to Manny ** and was told that they had no way of reaching him directly, and that their call center was not equipped with such a capacity. I asked the representative in the Arizona clinical department to connect me with the Courtney that told me the issue was resolved, and was informed that no such person existed. The only resolutions offered were that I could either wait 7-10 days for my order to be processed or I could find a local pharmacy for them to transfer my prescription to. I explained to them that as of 3/21/13, it had been 7-10 days since I sent the prescription in, and they rebutted with having no record of anything occurring before 3/18/13. I explained to them that the difficulty of local pharmacies in regards to this particular medication is what prompted me to use a mail-order service in the first place.

I explained that due to the nature of this drug, pharmacies will not tell me if they have it in stock and therefore, I wouldn't be able to have it transferred. I explained to them that even if I wanted to take my business elsewhere, I would not be able to do so as Caremark retained the hard copy of my prescription and had apparently lost it twice. I believe CVS Caremark's business practices to be unorganized, unethical and discriminatory. Their representatives have told me multiple falsehoods and representations and they are harboring sensitive documentation which is causing me further physical pain. Caremark has proven itself to be substandard and their representatives seem to assume no responsibility whatsoever for their actions.

When I told the pharmacist, he again insisted it wasn't CVS. We went back and forth for quite some time. Again, I was told to go home and contact my insurance, I decided, however, it was his job to talk to the insurance company since they told me it was CVS. He was clearly annoyed and stated, "I don't have the number." I supplied him with the number on the spot. In turn, he told me he had other customers and he would call after he was done and would call me later. Needless to say, there was no call. Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, I waited till evening before calling. They then said my prescription was there waiting to be picked up! So I was never told it was ready. Would they ever have called me?

The next month, I dropped off the same prescriptions and said I would be back in a few hours. CVS said, "Great that's plenty of time." Of course, when I returned, they had not processed it and once again said that I had no drug benefits! I promptly pulled out the CVS Caremark card I was given and the pharmacist took it to the computer and spent 25 minutes inputting information. When I asked him what was going on, he said, "I have to re-input all your info and it takes a long time(!)." Not only did I have to wait for this, I then had to wait another 30 minutes for the prescription to be processed before I could receive it.

Today, I dropped off a new prescription at 5:30 pm. The woman who took it said, "Okay, this should take just about an hour. What's the best phone number to reach you at?" I gave her my cell and drove away. When I returned two hours later, a different pharmacist processed everything and pushed my Rx out the window. When I opened the bag, it was the wrong prescription, one I no longer take. After checking his computer, the man asked if I needed a medication I've never heard of. When I said I didn't know what he was talking about, he said, "This was dropped off today at 2 pm?" No! It was dropped off at 5:30! He went from computer to computer to the back, then to another pharmacist and I sat in my car for 15 minutes. When he returned to the window, he told me, "Oh we are out of stock on that one." Um, hello? Why didn't they call me at the number they asked for? The end result was he gave me 4 pills and said that the rest would be available on Monday.

I have spent hours and wasted time with this pharmacy and I am fed up. The big issue here is that these aren't antibiotics I'm waiting and waiting for; they are antipsychotic meds. You would think a pharmacist might notice this and perhaps try to be a bit more efficient and sympathetic. I cannot stand this pharmacy and would never recommend it.

In 40 years of my life, I've never received this kind of customer service. What happened to the usual “Ma'am, I'll be right with you. I'm in the middle of filling up a prescription”? And the sad part is that she didn't care; she continued to stare at me with that clenched mouth. I should have taken a picture! And the saddest part is there were other people working with her and no one gave me the answer. Everyone is so unhappy; perhaps maybe the pharmacist is the one who makes everyone else unhappy. I did complain to the manager. He said he would talk to her, but I don't think anything will change.

I did request from Theresa a written letter from CVS to what was going on. That letter had many good things to say and promises, but the problem was and is most statements weren't and aren't correct. No access to company email to have a dialogue with their policy holders and patients? CVS representatives can always email the pharmacy, but the pharmacist never gets the memo? Premiums just went up too, I believe, for BCBS Iowa in 2013 and this is the treatment we get? Come on, a kid could figure this stuff out better than both of these so-called health providers. Enough said!

Today, I received three medications in the mail: the blood pressure medication, another medication on my list that I don't need yet, and a medication I do not take. So I called Caremark and asked why they sent me three medications when I only asked for one, and why they sent me a medication I don't even take. Here we go. I was told that the entire list my physician faxed to them was being processed and shipped (Oh my God! I am: (1) disabled; (2) on Medicare (can you spell medigap?); (3) poor; (4) used to be a registered nurse; and (5) not stupid). I flipped out inside but maintained self control and manners until the ultra very end. I told them to put a stop on all the medications, and that I only asked for one blood pressure medication. What was up with them processing every medication and shipping without my needing or asking for them? I got disconnected from Caremark.

I called them back (horrible voice menu system) and got a human (finally). I went through entire verification process and told them the story for second time. I was told I had to be transferred. I begged not to be hung up on (placed on hold with extremely ugly annoying music). I explained the entire story to third person (are you keeping track?). I was told I had to be transferred to a pharmacist; I begged not to be disconnected again (eternal hold with ugly music). I looked at the minutes on phone, this time its 32 minutes and counting. Pharmacist eventually comes on line and explains her understanding of the entire story which is entirely wrong. So, I explain this story for the fourth time. She is unwilling to be understanding, unwilling to be helpful, and refusing to accept any responsibility for anything Caremark may have done with my medications. She told me I need to talk with my physician.

After so much time, realizing this woman is not going to be reasonable or willing to work with me, I feel like screaming into my pillow. I checked my bank account. Yup, I am being charged for these medications. I called my insurance company and filed a formal complaint with Caremark; explaining this nightmare for the fifth time today. By then, I was near tears. I mean Medco is far from perfect, but when it came to errors, they fessed up and deleted charges at least. Caremark? Nada. Dear God. Is this a foreshadow of medications from Caremark? Somebody help me.

My Atorvasatin which I have not ordered since October and has three refills they refused to fill saying I had received them in December. I was out of state in Nov. and Dec. and only returning in January! Why would I have a refill sent here when I wasn't home?! They have a hold on it until 2-17 but condescended to giving me a 7-day supply. I am totally out of it as well. They will process it on the 17th and then allow 7 days for handling. They are going to cause complications and deaths brought on by their mismanagement of their program. GE doesn't offer any other options, so unless I can afford to pay several hundreds of dollars for meds, I have no recourse or options. Help us! This is dangerous and a nightmare!

So, here I sit again today, a Sunday morning, needing a refill. There are no refills left, and no path on their website to take care of this. I can't even find a fax number to give my doctor. When I was with Medco, they would allow me to place the order, and then they would contact my doctor's office for a refill, if needed. So, today I have to send them a message, and hope that I get an answer soon, but most likely I will have to call.

I work a ton of hours and need to be able to take care of business at any hour or day. Any consumer-facing company should have a decent website to handle routine reorders without hassle. If I had any choice, I would have changed many months ago, but I have no choice but to put up with this horse and buggy nonsense.

This company is a totally screwed up mess and really needs to change things. However, I am not holding my breath to see any changes. Tomorrow, I will once again try to get an answer to my questions and get a ship date. If you are considering using this company's mail order service, please They will drive you crazy and have the absolutely worst customer service.

I called again and talked to yet another person at another of their locations, explained the problem, and they said they had not gotten the doctor's fax. I told them that I would do this immediately and they assured me once again they would get the meds right out. Again, no meds arrived. This time, I called only to get another person at another location stating they did not have my credit card #. I again gave it to them and I still have not received my meds and I am completely out of four of them and will run out of insulin this Friday pm. They should not be in business as they will eventually cause severe consequences for not taking the meds on time or in some cases even death if it involves a diabetic coma. They are the worst I have ever had to deal with and if I'm still alive when their contract is up, they're history.

This time, the pharmacy received my script on the 28th of December, and it is now the 9th of January. After resolving 4 objections to why they have not shipped this medication and talking to no less than 7 people as well as wasting 4 hours of my time on the phone, lo and behold, they came up with one more excuse that isn't even valid. They say that my doctor needs to verify that he is TIRF REMS enrolled and I, as a lay person, was able to call the TIRF REMS program myself and verify that he is enrolled and can indeed write for my script.

We have been told that there was a high dosage warning. We have been told that they have called my doctor's office for information and that there was no response from then. That was not true. My doctor's office spent 25 minutes on the phone with them today, and they were transferred 3 times and told by Caremark's own pharmacist that they weren't sure why they were told to call. What?

I have absolutely no faith in this company. What breaks my heart is that at least I can fight with them. What about our elderly who rely on meds to be shipped timely for their health and they don't get it? This is a company that is clearly financially motivated and customer service is an afterthought. I truly believe that this company holds my meds because they are so expensive that if they can prolong ordering and shipping until my insurance co. has paid, that's interest that they are saving.

And think about it... If they do that on millions of dollars in scripts, that's a lot of money. You do the math. It makes sense. If my small town pharmacy can order in this medication and have it to me within 36 hours, why can't a company the size of Caremark do the same? I smell a rat in the conspiratorial wood pile. I have had to be hospitalized and cut short vacations and fly home early because they have not been timely with this medication and they have not shipped when I was told repeatedly it would be shipped. What a sorry company.

Well, my 30-day supply will be gone in two days and I don't have any new refills in my hands. I called again and spoke to a supervisor who told me the same thing the last three CSRs told me. She will email the pharmacy to expedite the order and will get overnight shipping at no cost to me. The only problem is no one can tell me a ship date. Then, I looked online at my account and was charged $23 for expedited shipping even though it was supposed to be at Caremark's expense. I called back and although a supervisor told me the fee would be credited back to my card, I have to wait to be sure.

I then asked the supervisor if my doctor can call in 7 doses to a retail pharmacy since I am waiting on the mail order and she said it won't be accepted. The pharmacy will show it is declined and then I have to get the pharmacist to call the CVS Help Desk to get an override to allow them to fill it. Seriously?! This is a daily medication that I need and that my unborn child needs in order to survive! I am astonished that CVS Caremark is willing to risk two lives for their terrible, awful, no good, shameful service. I am so upset my insurance switched to CVS Caremark recently and my hands are tied.

So, after the rep told me that now I have to have the pharmacy call them to send in the request, after trying to explain to the rep that I was told the day before by Caremark and my local pharmacy that Caremark needed to call my local pharmacy, she did not want to hear anything I said. I asked to speak to a supervisor, and she told me that she was too busy (I'm assuming taking complaints). So I asked for a phone number to call to file a complaint, and she gave me the wrong number to the clinical pharmacy tech who had no idea about anything and who then gave me a number to the Caremark in Kansas about benefits. I just want to get my family’s medication filled without so many constant issues. I don't know how Caremark can take the simplicity of something so easy and manage to screw it up each and every time I call. This is not a onetime problem; this is an every-time-I-call problem.

They send me drugs that I haven't refilled at the time and absolutely make our lives miserable. Even the company that I worked for intervened, and they told them the same thing. My advice is stay away from all CVS stores for any reason, and get it at Walmart for generics at $4 for a 30-day supply. This is just the beginning I think, and when Obama care is fully implemented, we, the consumer, are going to be sent down the last drain.

They don't care about their customers at all. I've had similar things like this happen several times. I feel sorry for you CVS Caremark that you're ironically supposed to provide the ill medicine and be there for your customers, but you're the direct opposite. Who is the CEO or head of this Caremark? Do they even know their business has one star - one star out of five? I have never seen someone with one star. So sad. Good luck to the rest of you.

In the meantime, I am out of Plavix, the most important and vital one of the three. They made me go to nearby CVS to pick 7 days' supply upon vigorous complaint. I forked out $30 copay. Meanwhile, they shipped least needed Azor, 41 pills for $80! I could have gotten them for $10. So right now, I am without medication for 7 bloody days! I figure that I can get 90 days' supply of the generic for pittance (from Canada). Maybe that's what we should do. ** these companies (they deserve). So now I have to spend hours tomorrow to put up a fight with some idiots to get my medications for 90 days at the reasonable price. Can you say mad as hell?

I followed up, left a message for my doctor's nurse indicating that I wished to change my prescription to Accu-chek to save money and she ordered the test strips. Lancets were not ordered. I have never had a prescription for lancets. I have plenty of them. So, I get my order from Caremark and there are 4 boxes of Accu-check lancets at a cost of $37.20 mixed in. I complained repeatedly and was ignored for a long time. Then Caremark responded first that my doctor had ordered them electronically (a lie), then wrote that their representative had sent them because it is an automatic charge that they create when one orders test strips. The representative who got me to change my prescription said nothing about any automatic charges for lancets I do not want or need.

I even called my doctor's nurse yesterday and she contacted them by phone. It seems that many of their diabetic patients have had problems with Caremark automatically filling their prescriptions without their specific request. In the meantime, they continue to answer my complaint with canned standard responses to unhappy customers about how they cannot take back medications. Never mind that these are supplies in boxes, unopened and not medications. It's like a robot responding. I have now contacted my American Express card staff and they are removing the $37.20 from Caremark's charges. I also took my credit card information off their website. This should be illegal - charging people for supplies they do not order.

I suspect I will end up paying more for my prescriptions if I go elsewhere, but who can trust a company with policies like these? I certainly do not need this stress. Between the lupus and the diabetes, I have enough to worry about. I'm married to an attorney, not that he would be able to do anything about this. He is a prosecutor. I don't think an attorney would be interested in recovering $37.20 for free. So, probably not an attorney complaint, just more evidence to add with these 200 other people who have had problems with Caremark.

I was consistently calling customer service to get an update. I kept being told that it was being shipped next day air. On November 28, 2012, I was told to go to my local CVS to pick up some temporary pills while I wait for my prescription to arrive next day air. I went there and the local pharmacist did not have the order. I called back to inquire and they told me they never told me to go there. But the representative specifically said to go there immediately.

Today is December 4th, 2012 and I still do not have my medication and have been without my medication since November 12th. I made my order on October 27 which should have given them plenty of time to get me my medication. In the countless times that I've called, I was consistently told inaccurate information. Never once did anything go out the next day. I called my doctor today and they said they filled the prescription 2 times. On October 26th and November 27th, I've not received either of those orders. This is 100% negligent of my health and well being. The doctor said there's nothing they can do if they don't fix it.

I called CVS/Caremark and asked if I could get one time extra supplies to have on hand in case of an emergency such as losing them or God forbid, a natural disaster such as the people on the East Coast are going through and they said no. Are you kidding me?! Why would they not want to approve a one time extra supply of critically necessary medicines? I can't believe a company could be so callous and inhumane when it comes to life saving medicines. And after reading everyone else’s posts, this company has got to be shut down and put out of business. I don't know about you all but I think I'm going to write letters to all sorts of people about this and I'm not a letter writer nor a complainer but I think that has just changed.

Thankfully, I had an appointment the next day. I got my script and went to the CVS only to have them tell me it was $93 - for three months. If you do the math, 3 months at Wal-Mart would cost roughly $45. I had to pay more than double. What? I had no option to get it monthly and no option to get it anywhere but their mail-away (same price) or in store. I sucked it up and got it, but never again. I am not taking it anymore after my three months is up. Hopefully, they don't make me get my inhaler at CVS too because I cannot live without that. Oh, and the inhaler is $50 for 50 doses versus $12 for 25 doses at Wal-Mart. These people are crooks.

6) Variations in how much I am charged for prescriptions with no prior notification or understanding

I also had a $30 credit on my account and now there's only $20. Only the balance is available, not the transactions, so I don't have a clue. Two other RX were shipped but my credit card was charged for them. This is my second complaint regarding our first new orders with Caremark. The customer service reps are poorly trained and I receive conflicting information each time I call. I have made countless phone calls and spent hours on the phone trying to resolve these issues. I believe this is being done deliberately so that I get fed up and don't pursue what I pay for.

When Caremark was notified, our specialty representative Colleen stated that she knows she is supposed to call us, but she is just too busy. She apologized but didn't offer any solutions. Meds have been late and she stated all she can do is apologize. When asked if we could speak to a supervisor about all the problems we have had, her response was "I'll have to talk with my manager first." What? Why can't we talk to your manager? It's 2pm, I had to take a full day off work and I am still waiting on meds. Oh and it's 90 degrees outside. How can I even be sure the meds are any good when they arrive? I hate CVS!

After what seemed like an eternity on the phone with multiple transfers, I finally found that they had not been processed because they did not contact my doctor. This company has two of my phone numbers and my email address and has never informed me that there was a problem. I am a diabetic and need my medication. All I get is the runaround from them. In the past, my insurance company used Medco and I had no trouble from them. It should be against the law for insurance companies to say where you can or cannot order your medication.

I received a call from Caremark the next day with no message left. When I called them, I was told they could not discuss my account with me because I did not know what prescriptions I was calling about. I said how can I know which ones they are if I don't have that info because no order has been placed? Then, I spoke to a supervisor and was told 4 of the RX had been filled and assured that my debit card would not be charged until I was contacted. I hung up, checked my bank account and there was a charge from Caremark! I am sick and tired of being on the phone for hours with Caremark's so called reps. I would rather pay for 3 months RX instead of 2. My time is also valuable. I should not have to fight to get the medications I am paying for!

If you are on a med that is necessary for you to continue to live, this is criminally negligent. Their website is just short of useless with an email function that only serves to tell you (in my case, anyway) that because I'm with CalPERS, I have a "special" representative who apparently is unable to use email because they insist I call instead. I've received several voluminous mailings saying, “We cancelled your order as requested," after I got the meds. I don't know (or care) what their problem is - too big to fail? But CalPERS is getting bombarded with so many complaints about them it wouldn't surprise me if they tried getting out of their contract early. Please bring Medco back! They weren't perfect, but they were a functioning entity with a rational business model.

I called the doctor this morning, Wednesday, and she never received a request for medical records. After calling Caremark back today after 3 phone calls, I finally found out that the request for medical records was sent out just now. I am very upset that Caremark Specialty Drugs have so little consideration for time elements when it comes to a patient’s care and wonder what would have happened if I, the patient, would have not followed up with any of this mess. Crazy.

I asked to speak with a manager and was told there are no managers on Monday. What? It’s no wonder your freaking company doesn't know how to conduct business, and a bunch of idiots are the ones telling me I am wrong! I am taking this to the top and I will make sure everyone questions the reputation of this company as “a health provider.”

The next month, October of 2011, I received a bill of $1589. This bill was for the previous $400 balance and a full charge for the 30 day supply of my medication of approximately $1100. When I told the representative I had spoken to earlier, that I would not refill my prescription again unless the $40 co-pay was confirmed, she simply stopped answering and returning my calls. I called 3 times over 30 days requesting the representative to return my call. I never heard from that representative again. I continued to call the billing department to request more information on my alleged overdue balance. I spoke to different representatives every time I called. The first one simply told me something like this, "Just because I don't want to pay the bill doesn't mean I don't have to pay it." She then ended the call against my request to let me speak to someone else.

On the next week, a representative from CVS simply hung up on me after refusing to answer my questions and refusing to open an inquiry into the situation. I once again contacted the billing department and after much discussion, I got a supervisor to agree to request an inquiry. I was still receiving statements from the CVS Caremark billing department. So 30 days after the inquiry was requested, I contacted CVS Caremark again. I was informed the representative sent an email requesting of the inquiry and that was it. The request was never responded to by anyone at CVS, so they considered the inquiry closed. I next sent certified mail to the President/CEO of CVS, Larry Merlo. The letter described in great detail the billing inaccuracies, the treatment I received from CVS employees and the complete failure to complete an inquiry of any kind. Mr. Merlo’s office forwarded my letter to a CVS Caremark in San Antonio, Texas. On April 3 2012, I received a letter from Isabel **, her title was "Service Recovery Coordinator".

The letter from Ms. ** stated she was confirming my inquiry request, and apologized for any frustration and inconvenience I experienced. She also stated that she would contact me within 10 days via phone or writing. As of today, July 22, 2012 I haven't heard from her yet. CVS Caremark did send me 2 more statements from the billing department with an approximate of $1500 balance starting in May and then June. The last letter I received was on July 20, 2012 from a collection agency. CVS has never sent me any formal information or findings regarding my requested inquiry, and they have never proven I am responsible to the balance they assigned to my account. I would suggest anyone to proceed with extreme caution with CVS Caremark Specialty Pharmacy and to avoid it entirely if at all possible. Further, never allow them to send you anything without confirming the price. Though, this won't stop them from trying to charge you.

I called the doctor's office and spoke to a doctor's assistant who said he would call in the new prescription and that they should send the order right out. So, I waited a few days thinking that the last conversation with Caremark would be on file somewhere and the prescription should be sent overnight due to the fact that I was out and had not gotten the last order. No such luck. Another person from another department called me and said they could not send it because the doctor would not allow it because I didn't have blood work done. I think they make movies about this kind of stupidity and frustration but the movies are usually comedies and I'm not laughing.

So, I make another call to the doctor's office and they call Caremark again and I call Caremark again and things are going to work now, right? Not even! Caremark sent the order through the mail and that takes at least a week. I make another call to the doctor's office and beg for a prescription that I can take to the pharmacy here in town and get at least a week's worth of the Vivelle-Dot (a hormone and I really need it now!). So, I went to the pharmacy and it cost me $92! And the really frustrating thing is, no one at Caremark really cares one whit what they put people through just to get a prescription but the real culprit is the insurance companies who are in bed with these people and completely disregard the patient or our health.

By June 22, when I still had not received my medications, I called again. I spoke first with someone who began tracing the problem, but was disconnected. I spoke then with Tracy, who once again assured me that she had taken care of everything and that my medications would be sent FedEx next day delivery. They did not arrive. Today, Sunday, June 24, I received yet another email informing me that it is too early to refill my prescriptions. I do not know what has gone wrong. I am nearly eighty years old. The aggravation this is causing me has raised my blood pressure in addition to depriving me of medicines that I must take everyday. This is intolerable service on the part of Caremark.

I've asked Caremark about this and they do nothing about it. Profit is more powerful than pain relief is all I can take away. This has gone on for the past 2 years and I'm still trying to get a resolution. Part 2 is filing a claim for using a compounding pharmacy. I don't know if anyone has tried to do this yet, but it's a disaster. I've filled 6 claims for prescriptions filled by an "in-network" compounding pharmacy. Each time, I've received the claims back as unable to be reviewed until I submit some new form of newly required paperwork. At first, it was the NDC codes, then they reimbursed me. The next time I submitted all their requests, denied. New requirements - NDC codes with the name of the compound. Done, prescription reimbursed.

So on and so forth until last week, I sent in so many pages of documentation I was sure of success. Nope, I received my box of papers back with a letter that requested all the information I had to send but on one piece of paper. Imagine that! I was pissed. I wanted to call the state attorney general's office, but I held off. Until tonight. I had requested the mail order department to refill a prescription I had on file. When I received the meds, I found out that they contacted the doctor and they changed the count of my meds (lowered by half) and then charged me double. So, I contacted them about returning the meds for a refund because I don't need the hassle of mail order, only to be charged more.

They won't take them back and won't credit my card. I spoke to the pharmacist, who indicated the doctor could rewrite the prescription, I could keep the meds and they would send me the new one free of charge. Finally, someone who has some sense in the organization. Nope, they got the new prescription and proceeded to charge me for those too and then were going to wait until the other prescription was gone before they ship, even though they didn't know how many I was supposed to take. This is not the first time that the mail order department has charged me for meds that I didn't agree to take. If I could file a lawsuit against them, I would but I will admit that this is more political frustration than actual law breaking (although overcharging for meds on an open prescription comes mighty close). Thanks for reading. Any suggestions out there?

I am a prostate cancer survivor at 71 and my physician has been notified as well of Caremark's policies. One would think they would notify me of their recent changes. I got from them "It is impossible for us to notify all our clients." I reject that answer. I informed Caremark today that I will make every effort to report them to any and all agencies that hear my disgust and total disapproval. Moreover, I told the last Caremark agent (Panessa, 1-866-443-1173 ext. **) that as of July 2012, I will no longer be covered by them. And stated that I would continue to file another claims form, and she replied that most likely it would be ignored! Will I get a reply from anyone here?

Medco is a great provider of prescriptions. Had them for over 10 years. If you have adverse reactions to prescriptions/manufacturers they provide, they work with you. Unfortunately, IBM Medical has opted for the cheapest provider.

I requested that my order be shipped via US mail. Upon receiving them on the 18th of May, I noticed that there was a hole in the safety envelope/mailing package. After I raised this issue to customer service, they reissued my prescription, but this time shorting it by 90 pills. My doctor’s orders are clear in that I am to take two pills daily for 90 days. This is not the first incident of this nature. These combined frustrations are a difficult and unnecessary chore. There’s no reason why I should have to re-instruct supposedly qualified individuals as to what my medical orders are and when mistakes are made. I would hopefully expect (and at this point, demand no less than) a responsible and courteous resolution.

You are undoubtedly aware of how important a knowledgeable and courteous customer service staff is. They are your representatives. They are your company’s face and voice. Their behavior and attitude reflects your own to the public and to your customers. From what I have seen in my past dealings with so-called customer service agents, evidently you care very little. You and your company provide a lifeline to millions of individuals. Think for a moment and consider how you would feel if you were your own customer, and you thought even for a second that your normally scheduled prescriptions that would use to arrive so readily were suddenly arriving in the wrong dosages or amounts; or if they were arriving with what appears to be evident tampering.

This lapse in quality is not only ludicrous, but it is also dangerous. I don’t wish to change medicine suppliers. I have better things to do with my time than forwarding my multitude of prescriptions to a different company, and establishing a payment schedule with them, and then awaiting them to establish a delivery routine. You can see then sir, I am upset. Intensely so. I have been a repeat customer of Caremark for several years now, and there have been marked lapses in quality of customer service. I hope this letter reaches you, and you are able to address my issues and whatever issues other customers may have brought to your attention. I am looking forward to hearing from you, Mr. Merlo. I would hope for a timely response before I begin to seek the advice of legal counsel and the advice of consumer protection agencies. I would ask that your response arrive no later than June 15th of this year.

What good is complaining to Consumer Affairs if so many people are still having problems with Caremark? Please someone look into this company. They are not following the law. I lost over $500 already back in Feb 2011 because despite many calls to get money reimbursed for a Feb 2011 claim, it was never done properly. Now, I am past the "one year time period" for Medicare to reconsider the claim.

I am not sure where Caremark recruit their employees, but I am going to go out on a limb and state Caremark should reconsider the way they train their employees because I believe that some, if not all, of the employees are either unconcerned or just a little slow. The employees that I have spoken with has the same answer and that answer is either the prescription has not been scanned or it is in processing. I have reached the end of my patience and I will continue to call as many times that I can on any given day until I get my son's prescription. I would think that CVS Caremark would be interested in keeping a contract with the State of Texas because if enough employees complain, the State of Texas may rethink doing business with this company.

After receiving the second shipment of Synthroid, I contacted Caremark and told the lady, who "helped" me, to once again take us off the ready-refill program (We had attempted to do this online). I also explained to her that we would call when we needed a certain prescription and also that I would be going for my annual physical and that my doctor would electronically send authorization for the year's drugs. I told her not to ship anything else, unless we called and ordered it.

Today, I received an electronic notice that approximately 4 of these were already shipped and others were in the process. I told Caremark and spoke with a supervisor and told him to cancel our credit card number and not to ship anything else. I am supposed to receive an authorization to return these drugs already shipped. I won't even get into the prices being charged IBM for these drugs, other than to say a bottle of nasal spray was $68.00.

My only hope is that IBM did not sign a long-term contract with Caremark. We have removed our credit card from the account, and if they continue shipping medicine to us, it will be at no cost to us, and we will share with our family and friends. Caremark needs to hire competent people, and IBM needs to find another online pharmacy to manage employee drug plans.

My husband falls asleep for no known reason - when he is working, when we are talking, when he is driving. He had a daytime and nighttime sleep and study. He does not have narcolepsy or sleep apnea, but Nuvigil worked well for him when the doctor gave him samples. The doctor prescribed him Nuvigil, since it worked very, very well. However, the Caremark doctors said he does not need it because he does not have narcolepsy, sleep apnea, or shift disorder.

I have been with my husband when he fell asleep driving - during the day after a good night's sleep. He is going to get in an accident and kill his self and other people without this medication. Yet, the Caremark doctors denied his medication even after his doctor filled out appeal forms. This company sucks! Personally, I feel a class action lawsuit is needed.

They told my spouse to take a generic that makes her sick with a no substitute order on it. And they're telling me there's no doctor's signature on the script, even though there has been no changes for several years with this prescription. And I have signed prescription in front of me. I'm trying to save $10.00 per quarter per scrip, and it is so not worth it. In process of phase out of Caremark.

I have sent it all to a rep in San Antonio, apparently a bigwig supervisor who has yet to call me or email me like I have requested. I have left phone messages to supervisor Diana **. Is there such a person? That is what her voice mail calls her. Then I called and talked to Eugenia who actually emailed me, and now her emails are getting bounced back as a failure 2 days later. I won’t give up until I am deemed the biggest pain in the butt, or until I have my claims paid, as it should be. I have a right to file my claim and get it paid for.

This company must be a great example of the biggest scam out there. Stay far away from CVS Caremark. They are the worst at customer service and dragging their feet when you have to file a claim. It has taken 4 months since I have filed this, and it is still not resolved. You also won’t ever find me in their drugstore either, ever again. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and they should not underestimate the power of social media and the internet. I hope the company sinks like a ship to the bottom, which is where they deserve to be.

When I called Caremark this fifth and last time to ask them why they would not ship, they insisted that I must use some different drug now and that it has been determined that there are no generics available. I lost it and screamed at the phone while talking to their "representative." When the gal asked me to stop yelling I told her, "No! Give me your supervisor so I can yell at him too!" The fact is that this insurance company had now decided they are MD's with doctorate degrees and are fully capable of making medical decisions and over ride your personal physician. They are perfectly willing to let me have a stroke in order to save a dime.

My doctor warned me about Caremark when my wife's employer switched to them from a different insurance provider. He said, "All my patients using Caremark are having the same problem with them refusing to ship. They make money by doing this. "Fortunately for me, I have the financial wherewithal to finance my own prescription drugs, which I am now doing. I really feel sorry for those who do not have the cash to do this as they will be at the mercy of these buffoons and drug thugs. Caremark is willing to let their customers die in order to enhance their bottom line while their competitors appear to be able to make a profit by actually shipping the required drugs as so prescribed. Buyers be warned, Caremark is anything but care.

There was nothing they could do and my shipment wasn't due out until Tuesday, March 20th, so I'd have to wait to take it, really? Wait to take my anti-rejection medication that stops my body from rejecting that extremely important organ I was given, and my shipment wasn't due until Tuesday, March 20th. Now even though I was told both times that I called to confirm, I would in fact have it on Friday, March 16th. I absolutely hate dealing with this company. The only person that was sympathetic and understood the need was the on call pharmacist. Thanks to him I was able to get my medication at a CVS pharmacy. The other past two times they screwed up my shipment, I then too had to scramble to find a pharmacy that would actually have this specialty medication in stock. This is their jobs and they have people's health and lives in their hands, I can't understand how they are not more responsible. I am doing everything in my power to go through another company for my medications.

I spent a good portion of Saturday on the phone with the answering service, who was extremely rude and no help at all. There was nothing they could do and my shipment wasn't due out until Tuesday so I'd have to wait to take it, really? Wait to take my anti-rejection medication that stops my body from rejecting that extremely important organ I was given. And my shipment wasn't due until Tuesday, now even though I was told both times that I called to confirm, I would in fact have it on Friday. I absolutely hate dealing with this company. The only person that was sympathetic and understood the need was the on call pharmacist, thanks to him I was able to get my medication at a CVS pharmacy. The other past two times they screwed up my shipment, I then too had to scramble to find a pharmacy that would actually have this specialty medication in stock. This is their jobs and they have people's health and lives in their hands. I can't understand how they are not more responsible. I am doing everything in my power to go through another company for my medications.

Then about a week later, CVS called me and said they approved the waiver to have it filled at Wal-Mart and had the nerve to ask if I already got the prescription. So, against my will and being forced to get my prescriptions through them, I had my doctor write a 90-day prescription and faxed it over to CVS Caremark on a Monday. I get a call on a Thursday evening that they are unable to fill that prescription. I was told they are on an MFR backorder. So I was told by CVS Caremark that their mail order service is so convenient. This isn’t convenient that I can’t go to my local Wal-Mart and fill it within a day. I don’t understand how they can force us to have our prescriptions filled through them and then not be able to fill those prescriptions before we run out.

Wal-Mart had no problem filling it within a few hours. Their customer service is uncaring and when I go to stress my concerns, they get quiet and can’t get off the phone fast enough. How can this company be allowed to treat its customers like this? I feel this company's policies are a huge infringement on every American's rights. If I'm paying for this health insurance, I should be treated with some respect. They are stealing people's money and think it’s okay to fill a prescription whenever they feel like it. We should not be forced to have our prescriptions filled through them.

I was prescribed Naftin by my doctor, co-payment for which is $35 per refill as per UHCs terms. I received a coupon from my doctor allowing for $0 co-payment and No out-of-pocket cost for many eligible patients. I checked with Merz Pharmaceuticals for verification of my eligibility and they confirmed. The Pharmacy in question is CVS Pharmacy, 13033 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75240 Phone# (972) 392-9634. The first date of service to fill up the prescription was 12/12/2011. Subsequent refill was filled on 02/22/2012. Both these times I presented the $0 co-pay card from the manufacturer to the pharmacist.

Upon checking my HRA claims on www.myuhc.com, I see that a claim was submitted by CVS Caremark to UHC for $35 co-pay, which the UHC paid to CVS Caremark. Same thing was done for the refill on the 22nd of February, 2011. I called and spoke with UHC as I had disabled automatic payments from my account to medical providers and pharmacies. UHC representative on the phone informed that the Automatic Payment Settings only apply to medical providers and any claims that come from CVS Caremark are automatically honored for reimbursement to them. Hence, I would need to call the CVS Caremark toll free number to look into the situation.

I called CVS Caremark and the representative on the line told me that they just take claims from the pharmacy and forward those to UHC. I will need to contact the pharmacy for the refund. I went back to the pharmacy for a refill on 02/22/2012 and informed them about the whole situation. They mentioned that their claim to CVS Caremark for the first fill up did not include a co-pay request and will not for the refill as I have the $0 co-pay card. Both the times they submitted the bill to CVS Caremark using the Bin, the RxPCN, Group ID, and ID# listed on the $0 co-pay card along with my insurance information. Hence, I should not have been required to make any co-payments. The pharmacy informed me that they cannot make any refunds as it has been beyond 14 days since the date of service. The claim itself does not show up on www.myuhc.coms HRA claims section for at least 14 days and I feel I am helpless in correcting this.

I and my coworkers have experienced similar issues with UHC and CVS Caremark in the past and most of the times since the amounts were no more than $10, we would just let it go and not waste our precious time investigating it. CVS Caremark owes my HRA fund $70 at this point. This type of fraudulent activity needs to be checked and stopped. This is one of the reasons that lead to notoriously high healthcare costs for our nation.

I can make available any copies of claims, $0 co-pay card and its terms and conditions, statement of service from the pharmacy, or any other documentation for verification.

They claim that they can't control the volume of calls they receive. I think they can, if they just fix their system! The CS people were rude and argumentative. They did not acknowledge they have problems. They tried to switch the blame to me and my doctor. They are in control of people’s health, and they just don't care. This has to be illegal on some level.

The new prescriptions have a mandatory 10-day waiting period, so they jerk you around with the "standard company policy". My mother died insulin-dependent. I am only glad that the prescriptions I have are nothing like that - that I would have to have within a certain window of time - or I could die. Because if it was all left in Caremark's hands, we would be dead where we stood. They know that they are our only option, so why bother to care how poorly they treat people? I am almost to the point that I am ready to just give up, this ** is just not worth it.

An $11 RX from Wal-Mart recently cost me $45 because I didn't use Caremark. I was having an Asthma attack and needed my inhaler immediately. I just got a new medication from a new doctor and since it had been prescribed once before for 3 days post op, when I had it filled at Wal-Mart, it cost me almost $60.

I feel we are being held hostage by Caremark. We get charged penalty fees if we need meds in a hurry, when I could have gotten them through BC/BS at Wal-Mart under the old $4 plan. Someone needs to start a class action law suit against Caremark, they are not doctors and they just gave chemo drugs to kids instead of fluoride tablets.

In the meantime, I had ran out of the medication and asked my doctor to a few weeks supply at a local pharmacy to tide me over. When my husband went to pick it up, the local pharmacist advised him that my CVS Caremark insurance would not cover the cost. He called CVS asking for an override, but CVS refused. Now, it is a week after the reported shipping date and the mail order prescription has not arrived. I have been without my medication for at least two weeks, and CVS Caremark has locked me out of a prescription ordered by my doctor. Is there any wonder that consumers are angry at big pharmacy and the health care system in general?

I phoned CVS-Caremark, and was advised that they had "no record" of my provider’s call. I phoned the provider, and the provider phoned CVS-Caremark the second time to authorize. Another week passes by, and still there was no prescription. It is March 1, 2012, and I started this process on January 18, 2012. This is a blatant disregard for people's health. Does CVS-Caremark think it is a good idea to make somebody wait for an anti-depressant? I hope there are no suicidal patients, who use CVS-Caremark.

After talking with Medicare, I discovered that this is an illegal practice. They insisted I pay upfront for the other ten meds I ordered for my husband and wanted a credit card number. I told them I don't like having my credit card kept on file and they assured me it would not be once I authorized payment for the ten meds. I told them I would not authorize payment for the immunosuppressant meds since Medicare covers them, I stressed this point. Today, I found out that they did charge my MC for the two Medicare covered meds in a separate transaction from the one I authorized and that they still had my MC number on file. I have filed complaints with the State Attorney General and with Health and Human Services Fraud Division and may have to seek legal council.

I believe everyone who has a legitimate complaint about this company should contact their State Attorney General. I simply cannot understand how this company can continue to rake in billions of dollars a year on the backs of the middle class. Something has to be done.

It should be illegal for a company such as CVS Caremark to have the monopoly on Medicare part D patients without having a choice of other decent company.

That was on Feb. 12th. I have been in touch with Caremark every other day for the past 10 days only to be told at least 3 versions of why my order has not shipped. Everything from there was a payment problem with my credit card (I checked, it was charged) to the pharmacy was out of all three drugs. That was incorrect as well. The latest as of 6:45 pm this evening is that no one is really sure why my order has not shipped. They have "expedited" it, but unfortunately the fulfillment facility is closed for the evening! I have been assured that someone would follow the order tomorrow and contact me to keep me informed. I want my Medco back!

As I type this, I have been "talking" to customer service with Caremark (have been on the phone for over 45 minutes and am currently on hold again) and have yet to reach anyone that can offer any help. In this day and age of current technologies available, I just can't believe that this level of service is possible!

Every 3 months, I tell them they are illegally withholding much needed medications from me, just to hear the doctor say over the phone what she already said in writing, when she wrote the prescription. They tell me that they will fix my account, so that the name brand drugs can be filled without this problem in the future, but the cycle continues.

This time, my physician is no longer in practice so they cannot reach her, thus, they refuse to fill the prescriptions at all. Any other company operating this way, besides a health care company, would be out of business by now. But since it is the only pharmacy benefit I have at work, my only other choice would be to pay fully out of pocket, which I am seriously considering.

I had contacted Kelsy at Caremark and she could identify and see the problem and put an immediate manual fill on the medication and had given me a task ID# to reference. She said that the medication would be shipped overnight as my son would be running out of medication by Monday 02/13/12, which will cause him to go into seizures. She also told me to contact Caremark the next day to verify that the medication had been shipped.

Today I contacted them only to find out that the medication was not shipped. I talked to one of the supervisors only to find out that Caremark had placed my account on hold. Now my son will not receive his medications and he will start going into seizures by Monday night unless I can find a replacement medication refill. Caremark said that they can give us a temporary supply at one of the CVS stores, but I would have to contact my doctor to have him fill out a new prescription for the temporary replacement.

Today is Saturday and the offices are closed. This is the sixth time I have contacted Caremark in regards to my son's order over a two-week period and still do not have medications for my son. To anyone out there who is listening, do not use Caremark as a prescription supplier, they do not care about anything regarding the condition of your family or your health.

My son has instructions that have also been sent to CVS never to use generic brand medication as they may present a deeper problem with his condition. Generic brands have been sent to my home a few times causing me to panic and scramble to get the brand name medications and costing upwards of $700.00 to get a supply from an alternate drug store until the correct medication arrives from CVS. On my last order, the customer service agent said that the two drugs have a warning in the description that they should not be taken together and could not be shipped. My son has been taking both of these drugs per his doctor’s instructions for the past 7 years. After an hour of holding on the phone and making corrections they finally said that they would be shipped.

CVS has lost information on our addresses and bank card information and insurance information, which also has had to be addressed several times over the past five years. Constant disruptions to my son’s medicine have caused a great deal of panic and stress. CVS has never once bothered to contact me regarding any problems with my insurance or any other information that they found to be a problem and it has become worse over the past two years.

After telling them that was not right, they agreed to send me a mail tag and they would allow me to return it. In the 1st week in July, I returned it in the mailbox as they instructed. Towards October, I was going through what I thought to be junk mail and found a collection notice from Caremark for this medication. I contacted them again, and was told that because they had not received the medication back, they would not clear the account. I told them I returned it with their mailing label, as instructed, using USPS, not FedEx or UPS.

They continued to say a supervisor would contact me, and that they would request the account to be cleared. Finally, at the beginning of January 2012, I called again, and was told the account had zero balance. I have come to find out that my husband had purchased a new script, and since they now had a card on file, they just charged it without my approval. I called them again 3 more times, until the final call. I was told because they never received the medication back, they would not refund my card. All this was their error to start with! Fortunately this year, my husband's company decided to go with another mail order company. I will not recommend them to anyone that can help it, or at least be careful of your wording with them.

To make my long story short, I have to highly summarize this "one-month long refill" experience in a few bullet points:

My employer insurance plan changed the Rx management company from Medco to CVS Caremark this year so my existing prescriptions with Medco had to be transferred. Yet, CVS Caremark could not finish my prescription transfer on time; I could not place my refill order until 1/10/12. From 1/3 to 1/10 I have made multiple phone calls trying to get my refill faster but I couldn't. One week time was wasted by 1/10 due to CVS Caremark's slow and/or lack of action;

On 1/11/12, CVS Caremark's online screen was showing that my order was shipped. I thought everything was OK, but this was only the beginning of the nightmare. Two weeks passed by, I still did not receive my refill. I was worried because my med would run out on 1/26. So I called on 1/, and again on 1/24, but I got the same answer (including from a supervisor named Janie **): "Sorry Ma'am, it's not 15 days yet, you have to wait till 1/26 for us to FedEx your replacement order". CVS Caremark agents did nothing and were not willing to help me prevent my Rx from running out;

On 1/26/12, my med officially ran out. When I called early in the morning (9:30 am) that day, they were still not willing to send out the replacement order. An agent told me to wait for the mail man for the 26th delivery. Then when I called back two hours later and told them the mail man came and gone and still no refill, an agent assured me that the replacement will be put on "next day urgent" mail ASAP, but no guarantee. A few hours later I was worried and checked the order status with the CVS Caremark recording. I've been told the order would be send out on 1/30/12. I freaked out and was furious. What in the world will it take for CVS Caremark to treat this as an emergency? They've made me run out of medicine and yet they still don't think this an emergency situation! Ironically, one agent actually said to me impatiently: "Ma'am, these things take time, it does not happen in a snap of fingers!" May I remind him: I have waited 17 days!

But things are about to get worse. When I called again (1/26 afternoon) and questioned the 1/30 ship date, now an agent (named Adrian) said that they could not send me the replacement order because I have no more Rx refill left (note: I have two meds in my lost refill order; one of them was used up in the last Rx refill); therefore they would have to contact my doctor for more Rx refills and wait for my doctor's response. In another word, if my doctor does not respond today, then the delay is caused by my doctor, not CVS Caremark! When I told Adrian that this same medicine actually has two more refills left under another Rx number so he can do my replacement refill under that Rx number and no need to wait for my doctor's response, he refused to even take a look at the screen. He simply said: "No, it has to be the the same Rx number".

CVS Caremark wants me to handle my own emergency situation since no one on their side can override the system even though the system is wrong. The agents told me to ask my doctor for one more Rx refill and get it filled at local CVS drug store, and of course, pay retail price out of my pocket for this temporary supply. By then, I became emotional since I felt hopeless. To calm me down, the agent and his supervisor (Iris) promised me that they've done "override" on their system so I could get my Rx filled locally (at mail order price) once I get the new prescription from my doctor. I had no other choice but to beg my doctor for an emergency refill Rx. Yet, by 8:30 pm on 1/26, when my husband went to pick up the refill for me at the local CVS drug store, he was told: "Sorry, we can only treat this as a normal walk-in order because there's no price override showing on the system".

Just like that, I spent the whole day on the phone with CVS Caremark agents. Every time I was promised for something that never actually came true.

On 1/27/12, I spent another day on the phone with CVS Caremark agents. Every time I called, there's somebody new to "help" me (and a new supervisor). I was not able to talk to the agent who helped me earlier nor his/her supervisor. I've been told "there are so many agents and supervisors here, we don't even know each other". So when every time I spent more than a hour on the phone to work out a solution with an agent and his/her supervisor, I've been promised a solution. Yet, when the "solution" did not pan out, I called back again, the new agent who picked up the phone simply told me the same issue: "Sorry Ma'am, you don't have refill left. You need to call your doctor". Back to square one!

The "refill order nightmare" continued until finally I talked to an agent named "Teresa" (she's a God-send). She truly listened and felt for me. She's soft, caring and helpful. She worked hard with her higher level account manager (Terry) and my local drug store pharmacist. With her help, I got my temporary supply of one med (the one that ran out) on the 27th. She also helped me transfer the second Rx refills to my local drug store, so I was able to fill it on the 29th--just in time before this one runs out as well. I so wish that CVS Caremark could have a few more agents like Teresa--that could have saved customers a lot of pain!

The CVS Caremark's "system" is so rigid and poorly designed, it's extremely customer-unfriendly. Other than Teresa, there are couple of other agents (Sonia, for one) and a senior solution specialist "Hal" actually tried to help me but they couldn't--the "system" is too complicated. Very few people can do the override even when the system is wrong. Not to mention the system's "voice recognition" capability is not working at all! In the end, the system won though: I got my Rx replacement order on 1/31/12 (the system sent it "urgent next day" on 1/30/12) just like the "system" promised on 1/26/12.

Through the whole "mail order refill" process at CVS Caremark, I have been a victim of an ill-designed unfriendly system, non-caring or ignorant CVS Caremark agents. One month plus a whole lot of pain just to get a regular maintenance Rx refill. Needless to say, I will try everything to avoid using CVS Caremark mail order service again!

Additionally, they hold billing payments for unrealistic amounts of time without adjusting the account. I know this because I watch carefully as the checks go through online services for "specialty" billing is not available. It can take as much as 50 days to get a check payment applied. If you are duped into an online payment (which again, is not available for specialty billing), the money drops into a hole and can take months to resurface for application to "specialty" accounts. As a result, every time I call for a refill (monthly), I get to talk to billing. We go the rounds about when payments were made. They want more money - money that is sitting somewhere in the building on hold (double pay) because it's "specialty". As a result, we run out of meds every month. They know when you should run out of meds, this they track like a hawk. Maybe if they staple the payment to this document.

Anyway, we get to wait until the billing department decides to cash the check and apply the payment to the account. Then they refill the script, of course, you pray on bended knee the stars align and a script is on file and the drug is on hand, otherwise see paragraph one. Will CVS tell you they have finally adjusted your account? Inconceivable, no, you get to keep calling daily to check on the status of payment. What a hassle! Overpay and they send it back. Can't get ahead and child's health is at risk. It's awesome how when you talk to a rep, CVS is never at fault for their own poor business processes!

My employer has switched insurance companies several times. I can only assume they are looking for the least-cost provider - mission accomplished! CVS must truly hold the record for worst customer service provider on the planet. I would rather get meds from a cave in the Middle East than deal with the people and processes of CVS Specialty Pharmacy. If you’re an investor reading this, things look good. They take money and offer little in return - just hope you never need to engage their deplorable services. If you are with the insurance companies and are considering this company as a replacement for your current supplier, reconsider. The monetary savings are not worth the inhuman treatment and conditions they create.

I demanded to speak to a supervisor yesterday, after calling for 3 days and being told 20 different stories about where the prescription is in the process. I was then transferred to a "pharmacist" who told me the Rx was never "assigned" (whatever that means). So the 20 phone calls I made over 3 days, no one was able to see this?

Now they tell me it will take another 3 days. This is not acceptable service when a patient is required to use these services for their medication. Prior to my self getting involved, this patient had been trying to get the medication himself for a week. At this point, the patient will probably be back in the hospital before he gets the medication because of the pain.

This is why our healthcare dollars are so out of control. Poor service! No one takes any responsibility and just pushes you on to the next person. This is absolutely ridiculous that a company like CVS Caremark, that is a monopoly, can do business this way, leaving patients to suffer as they do nothing! Caremark Specialty Pharmacy needs to take a look at their service before they have a lawsuit on their hands.

1. Doctor's office called in about their error, talked with 5 people and was told there was nothing they could do. Any correction would have to be treated as a new prescription (new copay). The doctor's nurse, greatly frustrated, gave them a prescription for the right dosage. She then called me and said they wouldn't correct it.

2. I called CVS Caremark customer service and was told there was nothing they could do. Not only would I have to pay twice, they would not fill the new prescription for 90 days as the first shipment, with the wrong dosage, was still active. They said the only way I could get it corrected was to Healthnet Orange.

3. I went to Healthnet Orange customer service. They said there was nothing they could do as the CVS Caremark pharmacy controlled the copays, etc.

4. I escalated my problem two management levels in Healthnet. Initially management still said there was nothing they could go, it was CVS that had to make the correction. I pointed out that there has to be a mechanism to correct a problem as humans do make mistakes. When I pushed real hard, the manager escalated me to a higher department. That person got CVS on the line, provided an override to allow the prescription correction to be shipped and said CVS would handle the double charging problem and call me back that day.

5. Surprise, CVS never called. I called CVS Caremark pharmacy and went through the whole explanation scenario again. Response: there was nothing they could do as the doctor's office made the initial mistake. Once again, I pointed out that there has to be a mechanism to correct a mistake. I asked to talk to a manager.

6. Waited online for 40 minutes. Went through the whole explanation again with the manager. She told me to go to Healthnet. I informed her I had been through that loop several times. She went to a higher management and then came back to me and said they couldn't do anything since the doctor's office made the initial mistake. It didn't matter that they called in to correct the mistake. I would have to pay twice. She asked if there was anything else she could do for me and informed me it was a pleasure talking with me.

It appears CVS Caremark has a company policy to screw the customer whenever an opportunity presents itself.

I even asked if the plan had changed since I did not see any changes in my benefits book. They kept telling me our plan required a PA and that was it. I have 8 more months of refills. They did the same thing to my husband, but his was denied. He had been on his medication for 2 months and they had honored & paid for it. The doctor had to call in something different for him. And it is my understanding that you cannot just be taken off Pristiq. It has to be gradual. Believe, that is so true! So who is the doctor? Caremark or your licensed physician?

I am a transplant patient, so some of my drugs come from their "Specialty Pharmacy". What a joke! I called on 1/2/12 and said I had a 2 week supply left of my maintenance drugs. The person I talked to wanted to ship my order the day before I ran out of my Rx! I told her no, so she moved it up 4 days! Then, long story short, due to the worst customer service I have ever received, numerous phone calls, and who knows how much wasted time, they were actually going to let me run out. I called to find out where my Rx was and they told me shipment would be delayed, for no apparent reason, and because it was Friday and there was no Sat. delivery, and Monday was MLK so there would be no Rx until Tuesday. I was going to run out of Rx over the long weekend. Finally, they were able to schedule Sat. delivery via UPS.

I had called on 1/2/12, 1/5/12, 1/12/12, and 1/13/12. I even had my doctor send a new prescription, in order to hopefully expedite my order. That, too, was a waste of time.

Money should not be the only factor when these companies are chosen to provide something as vital as medicine. They were low bidder for a reason--their service is the absolute worst. Insurance companies should be held accountable for forcing us to use such substandard companies in the interest of saving a buck.

When I asked if they could please help me, they said it wasn't their job. They also had overfilled the Rx. A 90 day supply only allows 18 pills and they gave me 7 pills for 7days. She just gave me a blank look as though I should just go away. The whole incident took place in front of many other people waiting behind me, which was very embarrassing as I was being treated very rudely. The other Pharmacy staff of 5 kept looking at us but no one offered to help or question what was taking so long for half an hour.

I ended up leaving without my needed Rx and vowing never to return as things like this have happened in the past. I used to go to Walgreens across the street as they are always courteous and helpful. Now we are stuck with CVS. I hope mail service is better.

A few days later, I get a notice in the mail stating I had cancelled my prescription. Another call and absolutely refused to get off the phone, 5 people later, I finally get in touch with a pharmacist. The pharmacist explained that they made the error, he would reinstate the prescription and overnight it to me at their expense. Finally someone that had some sense! Unfortunately, I take this prescription for other medical reasons and will be two weeks late starting it.

Two and a half months later, I called Caremark for a refill. I received 90 pills which is a 45-day supply and I was charged for 180 pills. When I called, I was told my script was reduced because a PA was needed and my doctor had not sent it in yet. My doctor sent in another PA even though the first PA should have still been active. I was told I would receive the remaining pills, which I did not. After 8 or 9 calls to Caremark and 8 or 9 different stories, I was told that I was being sent the remaining script (90 pills, 45-day supply) and would have to pay the coinsurance again. So at this point, I have paid double what I should have. The irony is that I'm in the insurance business and spent 13 years as a PBM Administrator. Caremark is a poor excuse for a PBM! Express Scripts is the best.

I received a letter today, December 13, 2011, that was dated December 7, 2011. You have stated that as of January 1, 2012, you will no longer cover my Pristiq that I have been taking for quite some time now. I have several issues with this letter. 1. I was not even given a 30 day notice that you were changing what would be covered under my plan. 2. There is no generic to my medication so you have taken it upon yourself to decide what is in my best health interest not. You are choosing what makes your pocketbook thicker. 3. It took over a year to find a medication that would work well with my system. To change now would be quite devastating.

Because having more money in your pockets is more important than my health and well-being, I am returning all of the medications that I have purchased using the CVS/Caremark prescription plan. Although you have no medical license, you have obviously taken it upon yourselves to decide what is in my best health interest. Obviously, you have just saved my medical insurance carrier money as well. Because I will no longer be taking any medications, I will no longer have to see my primary care physician.

My thyroid, heart medication and anxiety meds were all mailed back. I've been without them for 5 days not and feel horrible. I cannot believe that companies can legally get away with this.

I was charged the $50 fee, and when I finally got someone to realize what happened, they shipped me the remaining amount of insulin, but charged me $50 again. They have overdrawn my bank account, because I made a one time payment with my debit card, and they added it to my account, even though I told them not to do this, because I have a flex spending account that I use. The most recent episode happened within the last 24 hours. Yesterday, I authorized them to take $100 from my debit card, to bring my balance down (I have a balance still because of the overdrawn bank account issue), and what do I find out? They have put it in for $150, and because I have a past due amount, will not release my meds.

After an hour and a half on the phone I finally get to speak to a supervisor who says if I authorize the $150, that will allow them to release my medicine. I agreed to this. Between that time and this morning, I received four calls from them saying I need to call them asap so my shipment will not be delayed. I call and they cannot find any notes about what I went over with the supervisor, and they cannot find my payment, even though I gave them my confirmation number.

They finally find out that I have four accounts with them! This could be a big reason why they keep screwing up my shipments, and charging me multiple times. I have been without my insulin for over a week now, and with blood sugar levels reaching upper 300s, this is not safe! They told me that one of my meds was shipped out on 12/3, but when I look online at their website, it says that the med is still processing.

I have been without my medicine for over a week now, because of accounting and billing errors on Caremark's end. My blood sugar levels are out of control now, and I still have not received a resolution to the multiple billing episodes, or the overdrawing of my bank account, due to them adding my debit card on my account without my permission, and then charging it without my permission. I have gone through this for almost 5 years now.

CVS Caremark would deny the authorization of the medication, to not spend the money up front, taking a chance that they would have to pay more, should my daughter get sick. It should be known that after an appeal by our physicians, and several calls to the specialty pharmacy, expressing the urgency, they did in fact approve. This was a drawn out process, as it took us almost 3 weeks to finally get the approval. We have not yet been informed of when we will actually receive the drug.

I contacted Tufts Health Plan Monday morning and I was told by customer service that CVS Caremark put a freeze on my prescription and not Tufts Health Plan. Tufts customer service said, this was an on going problem with CVS Caremark. I called CVS Caremark at 888-424-6618 and told them what had happen and how dangerous it is to put a freeze on people's medication because you want them to switch from a 30 to 90 day plan. Caremark told me I could opt out of this program and continue to have 30 day prescription refills. I told her I never volunteered for this program, never wanted it, and even if I did why put a freeze on medication that I need. I can't understand how CVS Caremark can be so callous and irresponsible to do this to people. I have had numerous problems in the pass with CVS pharmacy filling prescriptions, rudeness, and not caring about their customers. I will never go back to CVS.

I may have to go without my rescue inhaler because of this horrendous system I have been forced into. Additionally, I was told that because the doctor forgot to include the quantity on the symbacort prescription (even though it clearly states the dosage and number of refills, somehow they say it is missing the "amount") and that it cannot be processed. They need the doctor to resubmit the prescription in order to fill it, the doctor is on vacation till the 1st. unless I schedule an appointment with the earliest time being a week or two out no doubt, I will have to wait for him to return. Once he does submit I am back into 1 to 2 weeks processing time and another 7 to 10 days to ship. It very well could be past a month from the time I tried to fill my needed prescription to the time I may receive it. This is dangerous.

I very well could end up in the hospital with a full blown asthma attack. The Caremark person told me I always have the option to buy it out of pocket. I told him that is not possible; he rudely told me that he was sure paying for it out of pocket if I really needed it wouldn't hurt me. Symbacort is around $270 out of pocket. Additionally because the prescription has been transferred I'm sure the local rite-aid would deny filling it. So I am totally in limbo waiting weeks if not over a month for an inhaler I needed last week. This has to be Criminal. I am blown away at how callous and rude the rep was and how dangerous it is to mess with people's medication like this. People could die because of this.

Original Review: Nov. 9, 2011

My prescription plan requires that I use CVS/Caremark for mail order. I use insulin which must be kept at or below 46 degrees. Unless they ship in winter, it always arrives too warm. I call, tell them I need replacement. They usually argue. I point out that the manufacturer will not guarantee potency for less than 28 days. They relent and overnight replacement. This has been going on ever since they cheapen their packaging.

As a result of this, we were hit with $124 in unnecessary prescription refill costs and an additional $150 in overdraft fees from my bank. I called and spoke with a "supervisor", who told me that they would "pull the taped calls" to verify my claims and that they would call me within one week. I have yet to hear from them and it has now been 10 days. I would prefer to fill my prescriptions at my locally owned pharmacy, where the pharmacist knows us and provides excellent customer service. It seems a conflict of interest to me that Caremark (now owned by CVS) can force us to buy our recurring meds only at CVS.

I happened to look at my checking account several days later & I saw I had all of these fees on my account. Caremark had charged my Visa check card. I called and told them what had occurred. I told them that it should have been applied on my Flex card. I spoke to a team leader or someone in charge and they wanted to know when I called and other information that I supplied. I was told they would transfer the charges to my Flex account but it had to go to some other department and it would take a few days. I also told them I had accrued all of these overdrawn charges because of their error. He said he would have to check on that and get back to me.

Needless to say, I am still waiting for that person to get back to me. I have since had Caremark to remove the Visa card number and my checking account number. I am thinking about removing my Flex number and just send them a money order.

When I asked them for the 2-day delivery, they agreed and I even called back a day later to confirm this, which they did. But still they sent it out by mail, so I am slated to get it by the 22nd, which is a real health problem. A real problem, but they would give me a local supply if I could get my doctor to RX, which today is Friday, so I can't.

Caremark received my most recent mail-ordered prescription on July 23rd then on September 2nd, I got a word that it was mailed to me. This is a 10-day delay which is not reasonable. It will take another 5-7 days before it arrives. When I checked the tracking number that they sent, no such item was yet in the system.

My neighborhood drugstore can process a prescription in two hours or less. I had to get another prescription from my physician because I ran out of medicine while waiting for Caremark.

I called Caremark Customer Service today (08/31/2011) and spoke with Leslie, supervisor for the representative with whom I had initially spoken. Although I have not yet received the medication in the mail, I was told I could not return the package "unopened" to Caremark for refund once it had been received. The Caremark supervisor claimed that my physician acted as my legal representative when he e-prescribed the prescription (against my wishes and express instructions) and that they could not resell the medication sent to me due to the risk of tampering once it left their facility. I did not authorize my doctor or Caremark to send me this medication and charge my debit card, and Caremark did not fill the prescription for the generic version that was prescribed.

The supervisor stated that having my debit card number on file constituted my authorization to charge that debit card for each and every prescription sent to them. I was also told that the prescription was so expensive as it was for a 30-day supply, rather than the less expensive 90-day supply. However, they did not contact my physician to request a change to a 90-day supply as the pharmacy had done with one of the other three prescriptions submitted on 08/24/2011. I asked that Caremark Mail Order place a notice on my account from this date forward that no prescriptions be mailed to me from Caremark without my express telephone consent. I believe I am not the only person that this has happened to and I believe this will happen more frequently to patients as e-prescribing becomes more common.

When I received the **, it was made by a new drug manufacturer then the previous 90 day prescription. Being that I have had adverse reactions with generic ** from manufacturers other than Greenstone, I immediately called Caremark without even opening this drug and told the representative I must receive this drug through Greenstone only and explained in detail why. I further said that I was immediately returning it unopened to the prescribing doctor for a new prescription, which I did. The doctor saw me immediately and gave me a new prescription written as the Caremark rep. advised .... "Greenstone manufacturer only." (I have copies of both scripts).

The Caremark rep said she was making detailed notes and not to worry, and I would receive the drug 7-10 days of receipt of the new prescription. Caremark did not want the drug returned to them. However I was told I would still have to pay my co-pay for it. The rep said when she received the new prescription it would be filled promptly. About a week later, I get an "automated" phone call from Caremark stating it was too soon to refill this drug and I would have to wait over a month before it could be filled. I immediately called Caremark back a second time and explained the automated call and was told the drug was put on a "hold status" because it was too soon for me to receive the drug.

I insisted on speaking to a supervisor and did, but she would not give her name. (This was yesterday 8-3-11.) I told her I was very concerned because I was almost out of the drug and I would go into severe and dangerous withdrawal without it. I explained exhaustively what I was told by the initial rep and about the automated phone call. She checked the notes and agreed that what I said was in fact in the notes, but what happens she told me is that when prescriptions come in to Caremark to be filled that the notes are NEVER referred to. It is the COMPUTER that red flags newly arriving prescriptions when it is too soon to receive a drugs like **. And the only way to be sure I receive the drug is to manually tell the pharmacy to "override" the computer and fill the prescription.

She said she was sorry, but would be sure it would be filled and send an "override" note by email and phone call to the pharmacy at Caremark. So once again, I hoped I would receive it. Before we hung up, she insisted I pay the $20 I owed for the initial script that I received from Caremark that I gave to my doctor. I was told I have to pay it even though I never took it and gave it up. I asked why, since for the past 5 years I have been billed up to $300, and have excellent credibility with Caremark, with billing approved up to a maximum of $300.

She said the policy has changed, without giving me any more reason, so I paid it. I felt singled out especially since I was given no reason. So again, with her assurance, I hoped I would receive the drug as promised. She promised it overnight delivery and I would receive it today (8-4-11). Well, I didn't receive it today and just received yet another automated call with the same message that it is too soon to receive the ** and I would have to wait. I was so very upset and I called and insisted on speaking to a supervisor. Maurine ** is a resolution specialist and I explained everything in detail, including the other phone calls and everything that happened since this whole situation started.

She also looked at the notes and agreed that everything is exactly how I explained it, and clearly sees that the drug was supposed to be mailed out yesterday. All the notes are there, but she also said that it is their computer that red flags certain drugs like ** so that it will not be filled too soon, and unless someone personally tells the pharmacist to fill it as an "override," nothing will happened. I said the last supervisor I spoke to just yesterday ensured me it would be overnighted and I would have it today! No apologies from Maurine **, just telling me she will email the pharmacy today telling them to override the hold and send it out to me overnight and I will have it tomorrow (8-5-11).

In the meantime, I am literally just about out of the drug and in sharing all of this with Maurine, she was not compassionate whatsoever. She said if I ran out of ** there is nothing she can do, I will have to deal with that in my own way. She even said there is no way she can follow up with pharmacy to be sure the drug is mailed out, that it is not their job to do so. Then she hung up with me barely getting out a goodbye... Cold and callous are the only words I feel for her attitude, and for everyone I have spoken to there.

The problem is, I can not use one without the other. Both of these scripts were sent together and should have been filled together. These prescriptions are for my insulin pump. I have type 1 diabetes and will die without insulin. I have had to use and re-use my Quick-Sets. This could cause a horrible infection.

Caremark has, in my opinion, tried to murder me. I called in 2010 to let them know of this problem but instead of fixing it, these two scripts kept being sent farther and farther apart. This can be seen in my order history fill dates: Quick-Set filled on: 8/27/2010, 12/02/2010, 2/23/2011, 5/17/2011; reservoir filled on: 8/02/2010, 10/24/2010, 1/15/2011, 4/18/2011, 6/22/2011.

See how these dates do not line up? Now it looks like they should be sent about two months apart, right? Why was the Quick-Set not filled on 7/17/2011? This is another attempt at killing me since I can not use the reservoir without the Quick-Set. Caremark knows this. Caremark also knew that these scripts would expire on 7/18/2011. Of course, that was the day after the Quick-Sets should have been filled.

I can not get a new script right away as my doctor had a death in the family. Caremark wanted to have the Quick-Set script changed from 32in to the 42in they had in stock. The script will not change. If I end up in the hospital or dead because my body is not getting insulin, this will be Caremark's responsibility to take care of all bills incurred due to their failure to fill the needed scripts in a timely manner.

I asked the Caremark representative what she was talking about because I always get my refills on the 26th of the month. She said that if my prescription was approved that I would get 15 pills now and 15 more on August 10 - I mean how in the world does that make any difference? That would mean I can get the other 15 pills in 14 days? What? I felt insulted and annoyed! I take my ** exactly as prescribed, 1 pill nightly at bedtime. I always get my prescription filled at the same CVS - so how in the heck could I get it filled early? The operator then condescendingly informed me that if and when my doctors pre-authorization form was approved I would be able to get my meds in 48 hours. I hate Caremark - I never had this problem when Cigna handled my prescriptions. 3 weeks into Caremark and I am so over them. I wish I had a choice! I would ditch this company as fast as possible. They stink!

It has been a waste of my time. I had to endure pain from a kidney infection longer than I should have. I had to spend my own money out of my pocket to get the antibiotics that would bring me relief. Now I have been told that it will be several days before I am able to get my ** and I feel like several days could be an understatement! I also have newfound worries because my son takes ** for his ADD and I am worried about how much of a hassle it is going to be to get him this much needed medication. I feel hassled and insulted.

Today, a Caremark rep told me that not everyone can file a repeal form and that it must be done by their doctor. He said I fell in that group. I am concerned that Caremark will not hear a complaint from me, but I am forced to use them! Prior to this, I sent in a prescription with two meds listed on it, but since I realized I already had one of them ongoing and did not need it yet, I marked through one and asked that it not be filled. When I received the medication, it was for the one I had marked through. I didn't mention it at the time but when I called about the problem with the generic meds, the pharmacist conceded the first error. I am not satisfied with what is happening at Caremark!

Before memorial day I had a call from CVS saying they received my request for a refill. I stated it was a mistake I already picked up the prescription. They asked who else was on my account and I said my husband and son, but they don't have any current prescriptions. They said ok, I'll take care of it and hung up.

On June 8th I received an email from Caremark notifying me my refill had shipped. I called right away and they won't allow me to return the medication or credit my account.

I do not want to use the medicine that was sent because it is a generic I have not used. I also do not want medicine sent through the mail as I am not home to receive them and the box sitting outside in the heat would not be good for the medicine.

When I called Caremark again, they said that my lot wasn't under recall. I told them that Pfizer, and a simple Google search, said it was. Then the pharmacist put me on hold for a bit and later on said that it was indeed under recall. He then said it is under recall for odor and to simply place the 90 pills from the bottle on a paper cloth and let them air out in the room.

Pfizer said they have to replace the pills under this Recall but, Caremark will not honor a justified product Recall. Moreover, Pfizer will not call them to make sure they do! Can you believe this **? In the mean time I need these pills!

The same day, I received a letter in the mail accusing me of not taking my Nifedipine. The tone of this letter was condescending and insulting. I would gladly take the medication if they would do their job and get my prescription renewed. I know my doctor's office sent them a new prescription this morning, but there is still no acknowledgement of this on the website. I have seven pills left. I had 21 left when I started this process. This has happened several times this year.

People are being fired every week, so that CVS will be able to attain their goal; hiring cheaper workers. This harassment must end. I have gathered previous workers who are willing to speak on behalf of this complaint. Lastly, this facility is unsanitary and not handicapped accessible-there is disabled workers who have not been able to use the elevator for years (because it's broken). This proves that CVS cares very little about their workers.

It perturbs me to send a letter of this form to a corporation historically marked by such reputable standards (for both employees and consumers). Although I am not a CVS employee, I have great concern for your workers, in addition to their well-being. Initially apprehensive in contacting your office, I waited with an optimistic mindset-hoping to hear of improvements; unfortunately that is not the case, so I’ve resulted in the submission of this letter. There have been continuous complaints by CVS employees regarding the changes that have taken place within the above-referenced distribution center over the past few months. Understandably, efforts for greater productivity, and increased company revenue is the reasoning behind the implementation of newly installed equipment; however, greater problems lie within this facility.

Below, I have listed a few of your workers complaints, please be mindful that there are more: 1) Managers/supervisors are disrespectful to each other and staff (profanity is constant-professionalism is void). 2) Totes are unsanitary. Urine/feces are in the totes where CVS products are temporarily held for shipping 3) Rodents, snakes and small animals dwell within the warehouse because of unsanitary conditions. 4) The work environment is that of a prison (highly dreaded). 5) The union is doing nothing to help.

These are not mere complaints from one or a few people, but a very large majority. This facility is also now threatening staff to produce at enormously high rates (95%), which is unreasonable and physically debilitating. Long time CVS employees are being harassed because they are unable to perform as mandated; some are spontaneously and permanently escorted off the premises, and the pressures from those with slave mentality are directed towards to those remaining. Many feel that this is strictly a tactic to push them out, and employ others at lower pay. I can’t attest to this, but the idea is not unprecedented. Furthermore if this is true, the approach undermines everything mentioned in the CVS Code of Conduct-Vision, Mission & Values. In conclusion, I ask that you deeply consider all that’s specified in this letter. It is obvious that this locality has issues, and could benefit from a thorough examination. The negative responses are bound to affect the morale of staff, supervisors and managers alike. Moreover, providing a less stressful environment could only prove to be beneficial overall.

When I submitted subsequent Rxs, Caremark initially refused to fill them unless I paid this false past due balance but then promised to drop the charges; however, when they debited my bank account, they did so without authorization for the false past balance in addition to the current charges anyway. When I threatened to contact my bank and report this unauthorized withdrawal, Caremark decided to immediately refund the unauthorized charges. Of course, these charges remained on my account only to show up the very next time I submitted prescriptions.

In July 2010, Caremark sent a letter stating that they were increasing the price of my medication in Sept 2010; however when I submitted Rxs in August, they charged me the increased cost, plus the previous false past due balance that they had promised to drop. At this same time, Caremark would only fill four of the six Rxs that I submitted (despite the fact that I paid for six Rxs by check) and applied funds designated for the remaining the two Rxs to a balance which has now increased to $300. Caremark is refusing to fill the two remaining prescriptions unless I pay an additional $170 when I should owe nothing.

Caremark feels fully justified in stealing these funds for two reasons that they claim I have a past due balance and it is their policy that all customers provide credit or debit card information that they can keep on file and that consumers authorize Caremark to make charges to these accounts as they see fit. In the past, I have refused to consent to their demands instead I pay by check (I had always paid by check in the past and my credit history with them is perfect). In response to my denying them access to my credit card information, Caremark initially withheld my Rxs but ultimately made false promises and sent them to me. When I most recently submitted six Rxs for my family members, Caremark would only fill two. Caremark then took the funds allocated for the two remaining Rxs, created within their own system an open bank account for me, as they require of all consumers, withdrew the funds which technically is an unauthorized withdrawal and applied them to a false past due balance.

Caremark insists on sending generic medicines despite my doctor's directive to issue name brand medication. Caremark gives unlicensed employees (not pharmacists) the authority to make statements about the chemical compounds in the medication. Note that several of the calls I made to Caremark were witnessed via conference calls.

Due to multiple complaints about Caremark's illegal activities, Exelon's employee service associate requested that I include him in these conversations. Most recently, Brandon of Exelon's Employee Service Center as a participant in these conversations witnessed the Caremark representative, Theresa, agree to charge me the current cost for medication (not the increased costs) and to drop the previous false past due balance.

Due to delay in sending medication, both my son and I began experiencing withdrawal symptoms. In my son's case, he began to suffer the onset of serious depressive symptoms which the medication they withheld quite effectively had eliminated. In my case, their refusal caused similar results due to medication withdrawal. Both my son and I missed several days of work and I have also lost work hours as making repeated contact with Caremark is very time-consuming and stressful. Clearly, Caremark's objective is to exasperate illness rather than support healing. It is their aim to compel people to submit to their demands which they accomplished with ease given that they have the power to destabilize an individual, the power to cause emotional and physical impairment as they have done with my family.

Later, I found out the override went through but they could not obtain the authority to override. After my daughter commented on this situation on line Caremark called and stated they would send the medications overnight mail which they did. Unfortunately, my daughter has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I feel because these medications were psychiatric medications she was discriminated against.

I am a nurse practitioner also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I am sick and tired of persons with mental illness being discriminated against. I spend time and weeks of worrying to resolve this situation. There is no economic or physical damage that has resulted in this pathetic situation because fortunately I am on the same medication and I would have given her my medications to take with her. I am concerned that when a doctor writes a prescription for a medication override and Caremark thinks they can do as they please. I would like to pursue this situation in regards to discrimination and the right Caremark thinks they have to refuse medication prescribed by a doctor with legal guidance.

After multiple calls, I was eventually refused an override for enough medication refills to last me the entire semester, which is three and a half months long. The first call I made was about an hour long, where I talked to several people about my situation. The manager promised me that she would send through the override. The second phone call was about forty five minutes long where, again, I was forced to talk to many employees. I was promised once more that my medication would be authorized for early refill and would be sent to me before my departure. It is now a week before I am due to leave. I called tonight at around 9PM because my medication still has not come in the mail. I was put on the phone for another half an hour and talked to two employees, one of whom was named Isabella. They informed me that the override was sent through but it was not authorized.

Therefore, as of right now, I will not be able to acquire enough medicine to last through this school semester abroad. This is completely an unacceptable behavior in behalf of Caremark and its employees. I feel as though I have been treated unfairly because of my mental illness and that I was denied medicine on no legal grounds. Unless I receive my medications, my bipolar disorder will go untreated overseas. This is because the right steps were not taken by Caremark employees to ensure that the authorizations for early refills were completed. As any doctor would know, suddenly stopping a medicine regimen will probably result in harmful reactions and behaviors, such as headaches, severe mood swings, depression and suicidal thoughts. I will hold Caremark solely responsible if any of the above should happen to me because of a refusal to send me medication. I will be filing a lawsuit against Caremark for discrimination against mental health patients because of the lack of care and help from its employees.

The most egregious of their 'sins' is in misreading scripts and then making the claim that my MD is in error, despite the fact that I have viewed his fax and can easily see that he made no error in the dosing. It is claimed by a Caremark pharmacist that one of my scripts is written for 1/2 a pill twice a day: when it had been filled at Wal-Mart a month earlier for 1 pill 2x/Day! What's more. I have been taking 1 pill 2x/Day for several years. And the shape of the pill makes it impossible to split. There is no line and attempting to cut it results is a smashed pill! My MD has reviewed his communications with Caremark and verifies that the script is for 1 whole pill two times a day! Caremark refuses to admit the error, of course. The result is my MD had to write a new script and fax that in.

On another occasion with a different script it took multiple calls to my MD while I was on vacation ( long distance calls are expensive! ) And he had to fax the script in 3 ( yes, three ) times until the Caremark idiots got it right. First time they claimed it never came through. Second time, they claimed it was for an erroneous dosage and finally the third time got it right. Guess what? The three faxes were all the exact same sheet of paper from my MD's office! This is unacceptable waste of my time and worse, the time of my MD. No wonder healthcare in the us is such a mess! The only one who saves any money due to this forced usage of their mail-order system is Caremark! The push the cost down to the consumer and their MD.

Due to all these problems, there is an unacceptable waste of my time and worse, the time of my MD. No wonder healthcare in the us is such a mess! The only one who saves any money due to this forced usage of their mail-order system is Caremark! The push the cost down to the consumer and their MD. I have had to go for as much as 3 days without a critical pain med that resulted in indescribable pain for me and could have resulted in seizures and death. Caremark ought to be called care-less mark. Economic impact of the waste of my and my MD's time is difficult. The physical and psychological damage is inestimable as well. But the effects are there none-the-less. I could and even more to the list of problems above, but I think the two mentioned makes it clear that Caremark makes it a practice of screwing up, lying about it and never ever admitting they could make an error.

After consulting with my doctor, the pharmacist granted me an emergency refill of the insulin, for which I paid full price. Upon investigation, I discovered that Caremark had crafted an arrangement on our coverage to limit all long-term medications to 90-day supplies, and that these supplies can only be purchased from CVS, or from the CVS mail-order system. The person on the phone claimed that it would be financially beneficial to me, as the cost of the 90-day supply was only supposed to be the same as two 30-day refills. Since I had no other choice, I had to contact all my doctors and have my prescriptions re-written as 90-day refills. I calculated that my first filling of the set of medicines would be about $400 so I sold some stock and got the cash ready.

When the bill at the CVS pharmacy exceeded $850 I had to have them quit. I did not have that much money. I used my $400 to purchase 30-day supplies of the critical medicines. Because I had the audacity to purchase 30-day supplies, I was told that if I attempted that again, I would lose my coverage. So now, I cannot afford my medicines any more. Their reasoning? I am not taking generic medicine. Well, here is a news flash. Insulin does not come in a generic form. Neither do many of the other medicines I am supposed to be taking. At this time, I am going without many of my medications. I am paying for my insulin, full price, at my former pharmacy, in 30-day increments. I won't be able to continue this much longer. Thus, I won't be able to live much longer. If there was a way I could send my funeral bills to CVS, I would. "Health care" my foot!

But there was no reason to question the order when I checked the price. I asked to return the drug. The first person said it was too late, it had already been shipped. If I refused to pay, she said that they would no longer fill any prescriptions for me. I asked for a manager and got Barbra. She was all but useless. She constantly had problems with the computer, gave answers that didn't even resemble my question, and talked like she was over-medicated.

I called again, and after wading through the same chain of command, was connected with senior team member Ilene. After, hearing the same story, I explained what I, the consumer, saw on the web site. Finally, after explaining it 3 times, she agreed to do a one-time only return authorization. Over the past month, I have received nothing but dismal customer service from Caremark/CVS. It would seem that Caremark/CVS is only interested in the customer's money. Don't be fooled by their advertisements for excellent service. Wasted a whole lot of my time. There was at least 5 minutes of hold time between each person I was transferred to. During a typical call, I talked to 6 different people.

I had my doctor do another prescription to CVS Caremark for the Simcor and I at the same time, emailed Caremark, asking for verification that the medicines would indeed only cost me $15. I got an email back apologizing for the inconvenience and said that they did not take secondary insurance and I would have to file separately. I then sent an email back expressing my extreme distaste inconvenience apology and that they needed to do something because I could not afford $75 for this medicine (I do not know the exact wording because that email no longer exists in their system conveniently). They then proceeded to fill my prescription and charge my card for $75. I did not want that to happen. I could not let that happen. Now, they are telling me that they cannot take the medicine back because it has already been filled, therefore they cannot credit my card.

This is the second time CVS Caremark has tried to screw me. The first time, I just enrolled in the new mail order prescription program through my work. I call my doctor and ask them to send the prescription to said mail order prescription program. My prescription does not have a generic counterpart to the prescription at this time. "That's all right", says the Customer Service agent at the mail order prescription program, "that is what we use as our generic." She then proceeds to tell me exactly what the doctor needs to put on the prescription, so I will get this specific medicine and not be charged as a name brand but as a generic. The price doubles for the name brand. Well, the doctor put down what the prescription needed to say and more. So the prescription I was charged for was the name brand, not the generic.

Okay, it's just business. But that is what is wrong with this country. Businesses rule over people. We all see it everyday. What the hell is wrong with this country? And how do we rally to fix it?

So back to my prescription. You know the mail order prescription program is making money off this drug, generic or not. But when a doctor says on a prescription "Dispense as written" (which I understand that doctors have to do), that gives the mail order prescription program to charge me the brand name price, double of the generic. But it's the exact same drug. I pitched a fit with said mail order prescription program, giving them the whiskey and Coke analogy and I won. I got a credit from the Caremark office. "How many times does this happen everyday in this country?"

The first week of June, I paid for my 3-month supply but only received one month, though I was charged for three months. I thought I had the problem resolved when my doctor approved the additional 60 days, but CVS Caremark tried to charge me for those 60 days. My doctor has approved everything that has been sent to them, and the prescriptions that have been approved have refills on them. But CVS Caremark has yet to send me my medicine that I have already paid for. Every time I talk to someone (on a weekly basis), I get the runaround; and they tell me they understand. But I am running out of medicine and yet to have the 60 days sent to me that I have paid for.

So now I can't fill the prescription because my doctor won't call them and Caremark won't take a letter from my doctor - my doctor has to call in order for them to fill the prescription. I'm not sure why they need to know - I would think this is a violation of my privacy - how is it their business and how does it pertain to the prescription itself?

My economic loss is great. To fill it monthly at CVS costs $45, to fill it via mail order, I can get 90 days at a time (this is a pill I take every day) for $90 - so basically I am paying almost half and wasting gas going to CVS every month instead of just having it come to my door every 90 days as I can't get a 90 day prescription via CVS retail.

This they consider an OTC even though the only way you can purchase it is by having a pharmacy specially order it with a script, or by purchasing it directly through the manufacturer under a doctor's supervision. A month after CVS denied this medication, our daughter had lost 2 pounds in a short period of time and began declining in development, so we did research and ordered it ourselves out of pocket.

I was told, prior to my first dose of intravenous Remicade being administered, that it was the policy of Caremark Pharmacy that every single dose of Remicade had to be paid for in advance, before the medication would be shipped to Billings, Montana. Prior to every single dose of Remicade that I received, I received a phone call from Caremark Pharmacy (the caller i.d. on my phone read Caremark Pharmacy, and the person on the other end of the line identified themselves as being from Caremark Pharmacy) and the person on the other end of the phone said the same thing every time, "Hello.

This is Caremark Pharmacy. It is time to ship your next dose of Remicade. Remicade must be paid for before it can be shipped. How would you like to pay for it? " Then I would ask, "What is the copay for this dose?" (The amount I paid to Caremark Pharmacy for Remicade varied from month to month due to my meeting my deductible). The Caremark person on the phone would then tell me the amount that I owed for the Remicade for that dose. I would then put the payment for the Remicade on my credit card. No dose of Remicade was ever shipped to me from Caremark Pharmacy without prepayment.

Over a year, after receiving my last dose of Remicade, I started receiving bills from Caremark Pharmacy in the amount of $2,834.91. I ignored the first couple of bills that I received from Caremark Pharmacy because I knew that they were being sent to me in error, since I had prepaid for every single dose of Remicade that I had ever received. I do not recall exactly how many bills I actually received before I finally called Caremark Pharmacy, but I would suppose that I called after receiving the third bill. (I received the first bill and thought, "Well, they made a mistake sending me this. " Then they sent the second bill and I thought, "Gee. They still have not realized that I prepaid for every single dose of Remicade that I ever received? " Then I received a third bill and thought, "I need to tell them that I do not owe them any money.")

When I called Caremark Pharmacy about the erroneous bills I had been receiving, they told me that the bill was not an error. I kept trying to explain that the bill had to be an error because Caremark Pharmacy had a no exceptions policy that required that all Remicade be paid for before shipment from the pharmacy, but my words fell on deaf ears. It was at that time that I asked for an itemized bill. I asked to be sent an itemized bill that listed every dose of Remicade that I had received from Caremark Pharmacy.

When the itemized bill came, that was supposed to list all the Remicade that Caremark Pharmacy had provided me with, only one dose was listed. I think that I received approximately 10 doses of Remicade from Caremark Pharmacy. (The medication was shipped to Deaconess Billings Hospital, not to me personally). I called Caremark Pharmacy again and made a second request for an itemized bill. When the next itemized bill arrived from Caremark Pharmacy, it again only had one dose listed. I called Caremark Pharmacy again.

I made anecdotal notes about every conversation I had with Caremark Pharmacy, but most of those notes were packed away when we started our home office remodel. The few notes that are readily available to me identify the people I was talking to at this time as Cynthia and Taryn. I repeatedly asked for an itemized bill, but I received the same response every single time I asked for one, "I am sorry, Mrs. C, you only received one dose of Remicade from Caremark Pharmacy. My response to her was, "So, if I can find the credit card that I used to have, that I used to pay for all that Remicade, and I prove to you that I paid for a minimum of 5 doses of Remicade --- that is 5 times the amount that you say that you sent to me --- will you agree that I do not owe you any money?" At that time my file was transferred to a senior resolution manager.

I think that the name of the Caremark Pharmacy Senior Resolution Manager was Dalton. This gentleman told me that Caremark Pharmacy had provided only one of my doses of Remicade; all the other doses of Remicade had been provided by a pharmacy that Caremark Pharmacy had purchased, and for that reason Caremark did not have access to those bills. My response to him was: 1) When my phone rang, my caller identification said Caremark Pharmacy; 2) When I answered the phone, the person on the other end of the line identified themselves as being from Caremark Pharmacy; 3) The charges on my credit card were from Caremark Pharmacy; 4) On two separate occasions there were problems with my Remicade dose that occurred while I was in the Infusion Center at Deaconess Billings Hospital.

During both of those times I called the 800 numbers that I had for Caremark Pharmacy and the problem was remedied. But my Remicade was not provided by Caremark Pharmacy. How could that be? This Senior Resolution Manager held his ground and said that the prior doses of Remicade had not been provided by Caremark Pharmacy.

It was at this time that I started calling every single 800 numbers that I could find for Caremark Pharmacy. During one of those phone calls to a random Caremark Pharmacy 800 numbers, a kind soul told me (I have her name and phone number, but I am not going to jeopardize her job), "I have documentation that you received numerous doses of Remicade from Caremark Pharmacy. My computer shows 8 doses, but my screen also shows that the file is not complete. Caremark Pharmacy changed their computer billing program and they lost almost all of their past bills. That is why they will not send you an itemized bill; they lost your past bills. The complexity of your bill is compounded by the fact that you received your medication from the pharmacy in Richardson, Texas. That pharmacy has closed and we lost those bills, too.

With God as my witness, I have always paid every single bill that I have ever owed and my credit history was spotless prior to this fiasco. I prepaid for every single dose of Remicade that I ever received. I went to Deaconess Billings Hospital to request an itemized bill listing every dose of Remicade I received there --- hopefully, when I have that bill I will be able to track down the credit card that I used to pay for the Remicade and I will be able to find out what my insurance number was at the time I received this Remicade. (I no longer have the credit card that I used to pay for the Remicade, and I no longer have the medical insurance that I had, when I received the Remicade, and all of our payment information that we had on our home computer was lost during a battle with a virulent computer virus). Obtaining the bill from the hospital where I received the Remicade has been complicated by the recent movement of their infusion center. The Infusion Center's bills used to be on the main hospital computer, but when the physical location of the center changed, they changed the location of the bills on the computer. The administrative assistant in the rheumatology office is tracking down the bill for me.

The last conversation I had with an employee at Caremark Pharmacy was a female (I think this conversation was with Taryn). I said matter of fact, as if it was common knowledge, "I do not think this is fair. Caremark Pharmacy lost their bills when they changed their computer program, and you are absolutely incorrect about me owing you money. " She replied, "We lost our prior bills, but this bill was not paid. "

This Caremark Pharmacy employee, Taryn, inadvertently provided me with a second source that confirms that Caremark Pharmacy lost their files and they have absolutely no clue who owes them what. Since I no longer have the credit card that I used to pay for the Remicade, my thought was that if I could obtain an itemized bill showing me the dates that I received the Remicade, maybe I could find the credit card (I am relatively certain that I paid my hospital bill with the same credit card that I used to pay my Caremark Pharmacy bill) that I used to pay for the drug and I could do a check and balance. If I received 10 doses of Remicade, I would match that against 10 charges on my credit card. All of this is very difficult because Caremark Pharmacy waited such an exorbitant amount of time before billing me. The information is very difficult to obtain because so much time has passed.

When I say to Caremark Pharmacy, "I paid you. I am innocent of the charge that I owe you money," I do not understand why Caremark Pharmacy has absolutely no obligation to provide me with the information that I need regarding payment of this account. In my last conversation with Caremark Pharmacy I said, "Send me an itemized bill so that I can check to see if I can find payments that match up with your dates of service. If I find an unequal service:payment ratio, I will gleefully pay you the money you are requesting; but I am not going to send you $2,834.91 just because you say so." Taryn said that if I did not send the money, that they would turn me over to a collection agency. And they did.

This has taken up a tremendous amount of my time and caused me endless frustration and agitation. I have spent countless hours on the phone with Caremark Pharmacy and the collection agency, Miramed Revenues. With the exception of one phone call, my dealings with Miramed have not been unpleasant at all, but I cannot say the same thing about my dealings with Caremark Pharmacy. The people at Caremark have absolutely no qualms about screaming at me and making my life very unpleasant and obviously, Dalton does not have a problem about blatantly lying about what is going on at Caremark Pharmacy. This has been grossly unpleasant.

The bottom line is their shipping department filled the prescription before they checked to see that it would be paid for by either the patient or the insurance before filling it. I had contacted Shared Solutions, a division of Teva the manufacturer, who helps patients in financial need, said they would contact Caremark. When I had the self-paid insurance, my co-pay was under Shared Solutions maximum for the covered deductable. So I never had to pay out-of-pocket costs.

Also contacted Independence Blue Cross and filled a grievance. Blue Cross sent me a written decision of my grievance 07/24/09. It said I would have to pay the $4,400.71 myself. I’ve never heard from Shared Solutions or Caremark again. So I assumed the issue was resolved. Then on 02/05/10, I received a bill, dated 02/01/10, for $4,264.80. The bill just came again dated 03/01/10.

Caremark charged me $81.71 for this order and will not credit my account this amount because the customer service representative advised it was not Caremark's error, and I will have to pay for this medication which I can't use, and don't have. Caremark received this medication back unopened. It used to be their policy that if the package was not opened, they would accept the medication back and credit my account. Now, I was informed, the policy changed, and because it was not their error, I would have to pay full price for the medication that was sent back.

I was never informed from Caremark in writing that this policy changed. The representative doesn't know when it changed. The policy is not on the website. The representative can't send it to me and advised me to write to their legal department. I did not write to their legal department but instead decided to write to you for help in this matter. Caremark will not allow me a first time credit etc.

They send me letters saying they've tried to contact us by phone and could not get in touch with us, so they cancel prescriptions which is so untrue. They sure contact me with no problem when they want money. They claimed that they tried contacting my doctor's office, which again is an outright lie as my doctor's office informs me that they never heard from Caremark. I'm so disgusted and sick and tired of dealing with them. Someone needs to sue the pants off of them with these many complaints out there. As long as no one does anything, they will continue their totally unacceptable practices. I cannot wait to find another job just to get rid of this place.

I went to my PCP at Manatee County Rural Health Services, Inc. Southeast and received the prescriptions from the doctor. Then I went to the pharmacy to have them filled. Caremark approved the Vyvance and denied the claim on Provigil. Please note that I have been taking both medications for over 2 years. Caremark has never denied a claim on the other medication.

Once a year, they do ask for a pre-approval from the doctor which I forgot about. I got the telephone number for the emergency appeal line. The doctor's office was obtaining the approval from Wachovia Bank, since Caremark was administering the prescription plan for them. On the appeal letter, I received from Caremark, the appeal would take 72 hours. It was well over 72 hours, and there's no response from Wachovia/Caremark.

I suffer from narcolepsy. Without this medication, I am lucky to stay awake 6 hours a day, and without it, I certainly can't work. It is also making it very hard on my relationship with my fiancee to deal with. Because of this, I am being kept from having any quality of life. I am on a limited income. This prescription costs well over $650/month in the drug store. I need help! Thanks to you.

So the last week of March, I called Caremark and my doctor and thought everything was fine, until I logged into my account on Caremark's website and my prescription was cancelled the first week of April 2009. We called Caremark to find out what was wrong, and they told us that the doctor did not write the prescription dispensing information the right way. So we called the doctor, and they resent the information to Caremark. This was now the first week of May 2009.

My husband's debit card was charged for the prescriptions, which is for 3 months' worth of both ** (Caremark did not have **). I watched the website everyday, and finally on May 14, 2009, my meds were shipped and they had put a tracking number to track it. I put the tracking number into the USPS website, and it showed that I could not track from their website. So I looked everywhere to find where I could track this number to no avail.

I waited for 2 weeks and tried the number everyday with the same results. We then called Caremark to find out where it was, and they told us they did not know and pretty much told us we were not telling the truth. We waited another week and no meds, and the tracking number still did not work. So we called Caremark again, and they said they would send out a new prescription asap and that if the other one arrived, to send them a blue card so that we would not be charged again. Now we have already paid them almost $58.00 for meds we have not ever received!

On June 3, 2009, I received an email, saying that they would not fill the prescription, because they needed the doctor to send them a new prescription. They said they had talked to the doctor, and she would not refill the prescription because I needed blood work. But I have not been able to take my meds consistently because of this huge mistake by Caremark.

We found out they did not ever talk to the doctor, because she only works 1 day a week at the local office. We have repeatedly called Caremark and the doctor's office to get this taken care of, but no one wants to help us. I refuse to pay Caremark another $58.00 for medications that are nowhere to be found. And since I have not been able to take my medications regularly, I will not go to the doctor for an appointment, just so she can ask why I have not been taking my meds.

I am so tired of the runaround with Caremark on this matter and my doctor's office too. But my main concern is Caremark. I don't think it is fair to deny someone their medications that they need, just because someone made a mistake.

I take this drug for rheumatoid arthritis that I have had since 1971. This crippling and deadly disease is not going to go away. The drug Humira is a miracle drug that keeps me from being in a wheelchair or bedridden. I don't believe Caremark has the right to decide how much of a drug I need to have a decent quality of life. I have been put through all the stress and bureaucracy I can handle. If I don't receive this medication, my R/A will go out of remission.

I have spoken with Caremark representatives, supervisors, care coordinators, my doctor's office and so far everyone says they don't know why I'm not getting my medication. I'm out of Humira at the present time. If I don't receive this soon, my R/A will come out of remission and I will start suffering severe, crippling pain. Before Caremark and now CVS Caremark took over our benefits program, I had no problem getting my medication from the local pharmacy. I know that Caremark is a large corporation and has a lot of shareholders, but I feel they should not be paid with the monies they save on me. Thank you for any help you can suggest. I don’t know where else to go.

The drug Humira is a miracle drug that keeps me from being in a wheelchair or bedridden. I don’t believe Caremark has the right to decide how much of a drug I need to have a decent quality of life. I have been put through all the stress and bureaucracy I can handle. If I don’t receive this medication, my RA will go out of remission. I have spoken with Caremark representatives, supervisors, care coordinators, my doctor’s office and so far everyone says they don’t know why I’m not getting my medication. Before Caremark and now CVS Caremark took over our benefits program, I had no problem getting my medication from the local pharmacy. I know that Caremark is a large corporation and has a lot of shareholders, but I feel they should not be paid with the monies they save on me. Thank you for any help you can suggest. I don’t know where else to go.

When looking at the Caremark website's "Check the cost of a prescription" feature, I put in the number of pills per day and did a search, and the cost came up to $40 for a 30 day supply from the drug store and $111 for a 90 day supply with mail order. I did another search to try to find the cost for mail order a one month supply but that did not come up, which was very shady. On the original order form it indicates that you should have your doctor write for a 90-day supply, but it does not state that you will have to pay a penalty over the cost at a drug store if you didn't. I've received no help when calling customer service, who sounded like she was just reading off of a script. I asked if I could I receive any kind of credit if I got the doctor to rewrite prescription for 90 days, and was told no. If you don't get 90-day supply, that's the cost - $30 over retail. I suppose I paid for the full cost of the drug - extremely deceptive practices.