Express Scripts Reviews

Now that I've gained control over my multiple symptoms and I am able to last an entire work week without getting sick, MEDCO has started disapproving some of my medications. I understand they're not even an insurance company, but even if they were, that still that doesn't make them doctors. Many of my medicines cannot just be suddenly stopped and their refusal to refill my Rx is putting me in potentially life-threatening situation. When I get to the pharmacy counter and have to walk away with nothing means I have to suddenly stop taking that medication. This has happened too often on weekends, and thus, I'm unable to call my doctor until the first business day. In the meantime, I'm left without critical medicines that I have been on for more than a year.

I feel not only helpless but quite frightened at the prospect of developing complications from being suddenly withdrawn from some of these medications. This is unacceptable and defeats the purpose of critical health care for someone as sick as myself.

My husband has had laser surgery and other experimental surgeries for esophageal cancer and pre-cancer condition. The generic does not help with his Barrett's Esophagus, reflux diagnoses. After several years of problems with Express Scripts, I asked both the doctor and Express Scripts to flag my husband's records, so that he would never be sent a generic for Prevacid. Express Scripts lost two of my husband's prescriptions and refuse to send a 3rd, because the dosage was incorrect.

I spent a month back and forth with the doctor and Express Scripts. It seems to be a game. Express Scripts claim they faxed the doctor about the dosage on April 13th and got no response. Express Scripts said I should call the doctor and have her contact them. I called the doctor's office and they said I should call Express Scripts back and tell them to contact the doctor's office. I would be given samples to "hold over" until the medication arrived. Then I would contact Express Scripts and be told the doctor had not sent the prescriptions.

At the same time, I ask my doctor to write a renewal of my medication. She will not give the patient a written prescription, but will call or fax the pharmacy. I called Express Scripts and was told they had received a prescription for 4mg dosage of Wafrin, instead of 7mg dosage that I have taken for the last two years. Express Scripts said, "You can call your doctor and get her to call a local pharmacy for a month's supply, until we can get the order for the other 3mg and send it out." When you do that, of course, you pay the same co-pay as you would for a three-month supply.

I saw a skin doctor and asked her to call the prescription in to Wal-Mart for a $4 medication I could pick up immediately or the next day. I made a trip to Wal-Mart the next day, no prescription was received. The doctor said, "We have new help," and gave me samples. It is obvious that mail-in pharmacies do not work. We can not get our medications. The program mail-in pharmacy is costing the people more than if the insurance programs set up a plan with local pharmacies.

People have lost control of their medication, their costs. People are being left out of the decision making. People never see their own prescriptions and Express Scripts automatically charges a charge card or debit money from an account with no explanation. They take more or charge more than the order they send out. It is turning into a automatic delivery that is the biggest frustration the elderly has to deal with. The elderly can not afford the costly mistakes. Neither can the working people. They blow their weekly grocery budget, sometimes the entire monthly budget. I have done that.

Someone needs to care about the people. The start of a new medication is delayed, the illness worsens. The patient ends up in the hospital with the insurance company paying a $50,000 bill instead of a $100 medication bill. That has happened to me. Insurance company's are penny-wise and pound foolish with the company's money as well as the patient's. Mail order pharmacies refuse to take back medication sent by mistake. With a local pharmacy, the patient can check the medication before they pay or before they leave the store. The patient is being left out. The patient can not check for pharmacy error or doctor error with a mail-in pharmacy which is costing the patient money they cannot afford to lose.

A second call and another person said they would start the appeal and check back in a week. To my dismay, it happened again that the notes were misleading in my account. Actually, it wasn't a surprise! Now, I'm annoyed. Call 3: I spoke with a supervisor and I was told to make an appeal, that I needed to appeal with my insurance company. Medco doesn't accept appeals. The appeal is the price with my benefits, not with Medco because all they do is fill the Rx.

And to their records, they filled what the Rx stated and that's too bad for me. I thought to myself, "This must be the reason the Rx is so cheap from Medco and I would rather pay inflated prices at Walgreen's in exchange for decency. Never again will I order from Medco, even if it was offered for free. The manager shouted at me on the phone and that's just wrong. Damages are to my wallet.

The generic Rx costs $3 a pack and Medco charged me $40 plus for the brand name without a phone call to confirm. Medco said the only thing for me to do is send the meds back if I don't want it at my expense and I will still owe Medco $121.59. Now, why would I do that? Here's what you can do people: get your Rx somewhere else and let's file a class action lawsuit against Medco for their wrongdoing.

They said they have too many scripts to call. But they did say they would give me a $75.00 credit. In the meantime, the drugs came and I returned it to them unopened. They would not give me credit. When I told them I was going to turn them in if I had a problem because I didn't have my Medicare, they again promised me a $75.00 credit. That has never happened.

I can't afford $174.39 for two scripts, when I have been paying $24.00 for them. Please get my money back for me.

They told me if the doctor's office called, it would be resolved and put in review. However, the doctor's office told me they were denied immediately on the phone; no review time passed. Why have the doctor's office even call them? The principle, practices, and methods of this company are way off compared to other companies that covered my osteoarthritis inflammation medicine (Limbrel).

It will be necessary to take 2 or 3 medications that cost in excess of $380.00 for all 3 to replace the one medication (Limbrel). This was not a pain relief medication; it is something that reduces the inflammation of the osteoarthritis. Now that Medco is not covering the one medication, I'll be required to take an assortment of medications for the pain it "causes" versus a preventative to the pain in the first place. Previously, I was taking something proactive; now it's covering up something after the fact.

This process does not make sense. And why have a doctor call them twice for coverage review and waste everyone's time when they were going to deny it over the phone? Why bother?

Then they always try to blame it on the doctor's office but they get caught in lie after lie. I just wish this company would get put out of business. I would never use them for anything if they were not the company my mother's health care provider uses. I constantly have to go and get the more expensive script from the local pharmacy because they are too incompetent to fill and ship an order without errors or problems that delay it for weeks and weeks.

This dosage does not seem to be available and is substituted by 100mg x 3 or 150mg x 2. Norpace CR 100mg was in fact available in Medco's formulary as a tier 2 drug at some $30. Instead of filling the prescription with this drug, they picked the 150 mg dosage which was not even in their formulary and stuck me with the exorbitant charge of $173 for 34 days.

As I have only been with my doctor for 6 months, she doesn't even know that I was on ** with negative results. It will not work for me. I pay dearly for a Premium health insurance plan that I chose and have a Flexible Spending Plan as well. The letter stated that this would save me money. The kicker was that at the bottom of the letter, it stated that by my switching to the **, that Medco could possibly get rebates from the manufacturer. Hmm?

Do they have my best interests at heart? Not at all. I now have to call my doctor and tell her "Never mind, ** didn't work for me.” I also am going to find out if I have given this authority to Medco to go over my head and contact my doctor and change my meds, not to a generic, but to a different med entirely.

With pain management, the class 2 medicines you get use to this on the strongest med. When you go to the doctor's office, they count the tabs you have in the bottle to make sure you are taking the correct amount. Usually, you have 1 day of medicine when you get the script filled. They had the scripts 3 weeks in advance, so there would be no problem. With two weeks to go before the 4th. I called them to make sure they understood that they would have to ship the medicine that said do not fill until the 4th, overnight. Which I would have to pay extra this first time to get on a correct date schedule. They said, Okay, they would expedite it. Well, about 4 or 5 days later, a pharmacist from Express scripts calls me and says -Mr. W this med is a schedule 2 drug and it could not be put in the system until the 4th. Well, starting to get worried, I told him yes I knew that. I had talked with someone 4 days earlier and I had been told it would be handled that they would expedite it. He said there was nothing in the computer. He said, he would try to expedite it. He also said, I should call back in a few days and check. Well, it's getting down to the last week before I run out of medicines. By the way, you cannot run back to a pain management doctor to get extra medicines until yours come late. There is a script in the system and it's against the law. So I am about to lose my cool if somebody doesn't everything is all worked out.

Well, 2 days later, I call back to check and as usual I get someone new and I explain from the start. Only now I am using the term "I Have been lied too." I get a supervisor, I have to start from the start again, she does not like the term 'lied too." Now, she tells that all 4 of the prescriptions from the pain management doctor will not put into the system until the 4th. I had hoped they would ship the other medicines because they weren't marked, do not fill until the 4th. We have short and heated discussion, she would expedite it but I should call back on Sunday the 4th. Well, I call back on the 4th, I have enough medicines for 24 hours. The young lady I talk to this time gets a customer that only wants to know one thing has my medicines been shipped overnight. Answer, "No, let me talk to a supervisor ** it! Start from square one again. Then, she tells me that she notices that one of the medicines is to be shipped on the 5th, not the med that said, do not fill until the 4th. I asked why did they not ship all of them on the 4th. Her reply, "It was Sunday" and the mail doesn't run on Sunday. I must have not got through to her "overnight it" most companies that do any kind of business would have sent it out the last thing Saturday night, FedEx, UPS whatever. I ran out of medicines .They came UPS Wednesday.

One thing the supervisor said in our last conversation was that I didn't have to use mail order for pain management. Wow, why didn't say that a month ago.I will have to use ES for my other medicines but they will never touch my pain management ever! And by the way they shipped the medicines in two separate packages, so I'll get charged for two overnight charges, they charged me 20.00 per script to much on 3 scripts and charged me 125.00 for the other one that's the 90 day amount charge and only sent a 30 day supply.

My insurance company was billed for a medication that won't be used, and I was billed $65 for a medicine that won't be used. Now, my insurance company probably will refuse to fill the tablet prescription because of MEDCO filling it with a powder form which I have never used.

My first and only order was placed on March 16. When I called Medco this morning (March 30) to find out when I would get the medication, I was told that it was shipped out on March 18; and I was told that I should have received it already. I was also told there was no way to track the package and that if I wanted to have a replacement, it would cost me another co-pay. Frankly, this is outrageous since I paid for something that was never delivered.

The service is inefficient and unprofessional. My first experience with Medco is now my last. I will no longer use Medco. Now I have to go back to the doctor to get another prescription. The service is not dependable, and the aggravation and wasted time far exceeds any potential savings. My voice may be just one, but I will make it my business to tell as many people as possible not to use Medco.

I went on Medco website because my doctor's office said they were going to put all other maintenance meds through them because I told them how my insurance has forced me to do so. Although I had already filled all my meds through retail just days earlier, I saw that they would be sending all the meds the doctor called in immediately. My retail pharmacy would have never filled those scripts that quickly after just getting them filled and Medco would have never approved them.

I received them before the website even said they could be processed and was told I would be billed 3 days later, even though the web site stated if using e-check, there would be a 10 grace period between when the RX was shipped and I would see it deducted from my checking account. I also noticed another drug on the website in the process of being shipped. When I called Medco again and asked them what this drug was, they told me it was a generic for **. I told them I do not have a Rx for that drug. They told me my doctor's office called and ordered it today.

After checking with my doctor's office to verify, they said yes, they did auth.orize this drug to be filled by Medco only after Medco called my doctor's office to tell them that I called Medco and told them that the ** was too much for me and could we switch to **. I never made that call and never told them it was too much for me.

**, although could be prescribed to treat anxiety, has not been tested for that and has not been approved for treating anxiety. According to the website ** are not interchangeable. I told Medco not to fill this Rx until I talked to my doctor. When I called Medco back and told them that the doctor office said the change was due to my inquiry to Medco. I was told, "Oh, we don't have any notes about anything like that. All we know is that your Dr. called it in for you."

I find it quite scandalous that Medco seeing that I had a retail pharmacy fill a prescription for ** took it upon themselves to take that prescription for my local pharmacy and then change the type of drug altogether. Something has to be done about these crooks. They do not care about anything except how much money they can make and in the Rx industry that is a cocktail for devastation.

I did not allow them to fill the script so at this point there is no physical damage yet unless they do not let me continue to fill my ** at my deductible. Economically, the fact that they were going to charge my account immediately for meds I had not yet ordered would have made me have to pay my utility payment late. After another phone call with my husband on the line, they relented and said they would stop the auto deduct and send me a bill.

Today, 3-26-10, I received a three-month generic supply of my HBP medicines. I had just filled my medicines on 3-11-10 at a local CVS. After two hours on the phone, I learned from my insurance company that Medco had called my doctor to request if I could take generic drugs. My doctor, whom I had not seen in over a year, faxed a prescription to Medco. The insurance was charged $191.00, and they will not reverse, even though I did not request for it. Isn't this fraud?

Now I have the same thing with my ** sleeping pills. I have been trying to get them filled after they refused to fill them at the pharmacy due to MEDCO stating I have to get them in the mail, and have authorization from the doctor which she faxed right away to them, but now after three weeks, I still have not received my pills, that they have all information they need to fill it and send out. My many conversations with them, we go roundabout: “Oh, you need an authorization” to “Oh, you need to call and get that order in,” after I have done that many times.

I call them every other day now and they still say when I ask the status: “Oh, you need an authorization.” Then after they look into it, they have the authorization. You have to tell them the date you called them and put in the order or they will not know you called them. It’s very important to know when your doctor faxed records, and keep track when you call them, who you talked to and about what, they have no note system to keep track of anything.

However, they can call my physician and change my medication without even asking my approval. How can this company get away with this? How many other people are they changing medicines for? That the people are unaware it was Medco and not their physician? I have a medicine that I have been on for 6 years with no adverse reactions, why should I have to change medications? At least it should be my choice and not my insurance companies. Now what will happen when I call to get my RX refilled?

How do you stop Medco from calling your physicians and changing your medications for you without your approval? The back of the letter says, if you have any questions about this letter or the prescription change approved by your doctor, please call us toll free **. I call and there is nothing that can be done, this is totally unreal. Not sure what the consequences will be till I get my medication refilled. I do not want their Generic. Guess, I will be fighting with them again.

I requested from Northrop Grumman to put us back to picking up our meds at our drug store, but 2 weeks ago when my husband went to pick-up his 4 meds, he was charged full price of over $400, that is a bit more than what we pay Express Scripts every month. Express Scripts says that we will pay full price from now on. My husband and I are both seniors and we both have very serious health problems. Since "Express Scripts", I cannot even begin to recall how many calls I have made that don't change a thing.

If and when we happen to get "some" meds shipped, they say to expect them in approx 11 days and call a month ahead, which I always did, or go to their website and order the refills. Their website has not worked this past year. They said to contact the web master. I did, it did no good either. I also finally requested they "Expedite" (UPS) our meds in hopes we would get them and in time. (That cost an extra $20) even if it was just "One" med or "Six" meds.

The last trick they were pulling was that refills would be done. I would call the month ahead and order them all sent. A few might come, after 6-8 weeks waiting I would call again and they would say the refills had expired, said go back to my doctor and get new refills.

One doctor has a $40 co-payment for ea of us. The other has a $20 co-payment for each of us. So the money for these meds just keeps adding up. We are on a low income and there is no way we can be paying some $1,200 plus a month and pay nearly $400 per month for the drug plan insurance to boot.

I'm sorry, one last thing. I had only just found out 2 other things about Express Scripts. First is that there are lawsuits in the high millions amounts. Second is that they were hacked, they claimed there were only "75" hacked so they contacted those 75, but as I though anyway they were actually hacked into millions of customers. Like I want any further info on "their" files when they never even had the courtesy to contact all their customers all could keep a look out for their welfare. Thanks Much.

There is large loss of money paying "out of pocket" plus paying Express Scripts nearly $400 a month for coverage, having to do without meds we very much need weeks to most at a time (BP Med) med I went without 6 months and 4 months. We both are pretty much housebound now and only leave the house for not much more than 20 miles, mostly only 5 miles for food and the Post Office. I'm just no longer able to deal with them anymore mentally.

I called Medco in Lexington, Kentucky. I explained I sent in one envelope, in triplicate the receipt taped to all three claims. Medco had no information on this. The representative said I would have to resubmit the forms with receipts for my son and my claim. After extreme demands, I finally got the representative I.D. # ** to push through the claim over the phone and was promised my other two checks would be arriving shortly.

One week later, I received one check for my son’s claim. After another week, I called Medco again explaining to a supervisor this time what happened and asked where is my other check. She claimed there was only one more request for reimbursement, my son’s, and had no status on mine. This company is so fraudulent when it comes to reimbursements. I hope they are put right out of business for all their disgusting treatment they inflict on customers. This wasted hours of my time overly explaining why I should get what’s owed to me. I still have not received my refund.

These people are obviously continuing to make huge profits by defrauding their customers. These people are not doctors. They are committing a crime by denying doctor-prescribed medication. Evidently, the $155,000,000 penalty is just an excuse to continue with their fraud. If you are one of their victims, please notify your employer and your union that they should be replaced by a responsible carrier.

**, the only thing that I have found that works with only minor side effects, is a very expensive drug. I can't afford to pay out of pocket. Medco makes huge profits, and yet, they override the recommendations of a doctor in order to steal even more. The fact that they are allowed to get away with this thievery just adds to my need for sleep medication. I do a job that is both physically demanding and dangerous. If I can't get a good night's sleep, it's just a matter of time before I make a mistake that could cause me serious injury or lose me a good job.

They told me that it didn't matter that it was written this way, that they overrode it with the generic. I was told my doctorr again needed to fax in the prescription and they will would fill it with the name brand, but first they required me to talk with their own pharmacists at Medco. I did this and again stated everything I had previously stated. I had my doctor fax in the brand name prescription, and when I received it, I again got the wrong prescription, different than what was requested, this time in an extended relief form. Even though it was the incorrect one, I was so tired of dealing with Medco and tired of repeated calls to them.

I tried taking it but had a severe reaction to that one as well. I called them and told them to please send me the one that my doctor had requested. They told me that I needed to send in both incorrect prescriptions and they would send me the correct one. They also informed me that I would need to pay $125 for the one they incorrectly sent me! I reminded them that it was their error and inquired why I would need to pay for it if it was my error. They informed me that it was not their error but in fact my doctor's error. I told them I would mail both incorrect prescriptions back to them, but that I would under no terms pay for something that was incorrectly sent to me.

They insisted that I mail them back but said I would still be billed for it because it was my doctor's error. I have received repeated bills from them for the $125 they say I owe them, I have not paid it and now they are threatening to send it to collections. I feel I have absolutely no recourse with this company. I have discontinued using the mail order program with Medco, but what can I do? I refuse to pay them the $125 for an order they filled incorrectly, especially since I returned the prescription!

The doctor’s office has contacted them and as always, Medco somehow just can't find the authorization that was sent in. First, it was too early. Then, it was sent to a local pharmacy which had to be reversed. I was told the medicine would be here in 7 days. Then, I was told I had to have another form of authorization sent in, then told they had never received any form of authorization. Who is running this company? If this is the new health-care reform, heaven help us all! I will not deal with them again. If this mess even gets straightened out, I will use a local pharmacy and pay the extra cost to have peace of mind knowing that the job is being done correctly.

I have never had automatic ship in all of the years I've been with this company. I have always called in my refills, always. I did not call in a refill in December nor did I get an automated phone call telling me my meds were shipped as they stated. I can only come to the conclusion that when a company has your account information, they put charges on there that were never filled, so they can cover the cost of the drugs they are taking for their own consumption or to sell and put the money in their pocket.

They had no explanation as to why after all of the years, I have been getting prescriptions filled through them. I have never gotten a refill without first calling for it and now that they charged my account 86.88 more than I had intended on paying, they are telling me they shipped my medicine Dec. 6, and the man I talked to the night before never mentioned to me about a shipment being sent in Dec. We only discussed the September shipment of ** which I still owed 36.08 for .After he stated my prescription had expired Dec.29, because at that point it was a year old and they could not fill it after they had it over a year.

I have had Medco for at least a decade. I have had several prescriptions (I have to) get through Medco (mail order) since they are daily medications. So, I am very well "trained" in their process, procedure, etc.

So why when you have a signed prescription from your physician are you are you required to obtain further authorization from your physician to have a daily medication to continue to be filled through Medco's mail order program?

I had received the same prescription for years, same medical insurance too. Yet, in the middle of one year, they decided I exceeded my annual maximum for my daily medication. So apparently a daily medication for a year, 90 day supply only means 6 months max?

I called, went through the call transfers, being put on hold, disconnected, having to call another number and sitting on the phone for hours, ordeal numerous times with Medco. I am told they will fill it, then they won't fill it, then I need an authorization before they will fill it. Then they again won't fill it. I have gotten so tired of hassling with the prescription insurance that I am opting to pay out of pocket instead of dealing with the hassle of not receiving a daily medication my doctor has prescribed.

I am frustrated and disgusted with Medco. At this point, I swear I need a medication just to deal with Medco! Can someone tell me, are there other prescription drug companies out there or is Medco truly the monopoly it appears to be?

Is this not a slippery slope in which a patient in need of an emergency open-heart surgery must first 'shop-around' to find the doctor who will perform the surgery for the cheapest price? Well, I could die if I do not obtain the cholesterol-blocking medication that my doctor prescribed. I've suffered extreme emotional damage due to my continued effort of trying to fight with E-Scripts to get my medication. Financial, the medication I need costs $150 without insurance. I am double-covered by insurance as both my husband and I work. But both of our insurance companies use E-Scripts and E-scripts refuses to cover my medication.

They have refused to speak with our pharmacy on the telephone, citing "patient" confidentiality. To a pharmacy? Now, they have refused to refill her heart medication taken for arrhythmia until 2/20/10, leaving her without it until then. Again, counting pills over the past 180 days, saying she "should" have enough. Heart medication pills are not exactly a medication selling big at this time on a street corner. This company is interested in only one thing, saving themselves money. In her case, they're reaping the benefits of medicines paid for by another company. Actually it's theft, and yet, no one person in the State or Federal Government has answered, done a thing to help my wife.

You'd think they'd at least care about not making the profit themselves. This is New Jersey's answer to "managed" health care. Now, think how well this would be nationwide! Those who have sued Medco have been validated in their claims and those who have made complaints concerning Medco are also to be believed. It's doubtful the former governor of NJ and high level division managers, anyone in their state legislation have this company administering their program. As with the push for nationwide health care, what's good for us is good enough for them. And Medco is good for nobody.

A week after this, Express Scripts called me to tell me they no longer could get **. I told them I was surprised he called that prescription in. I told them I would handle it with my doctor to see what a good alternative would be. I told them my great concern was getting the ** filled. They said they were working on that.

A week later, I get a call from Express Scripts that the ** is approved. They needed a credit card number. I gave them the credit card number of my health savings account for them to charge the ** to. A few days later, I get the ** in the mail, but it is damaged. The plastic pill bottle was in a larger plastic mailer, but it was clear this bottle was never made to withstand minus 2 degrees, getting thrown around in a FedEx truck and boxes dropped on it. The bottle was busted, broken open, the drug loose all over in the plastic bag. I called Express Scripts. They apologized, said a replacement order would be sent out right away.

They also said a mailing envelope would be sent to return the bad shipment. But this is also when they told me about the ** prescription and that it would be $333. I was shocked. What ** prescription? I find they contacted my doctor on their own before I even had a chance to talk to him and they set up to send me **. I said that I hadn't even been to the doctor about it yet. They said, "Oh we called the doctor," the very thing I asked them not to do.

When the drug came the next day, I found out why it was so much. It was three prescriptions, not one. Now one inhaler lasts me one year. This was a three year supply for me of a drug that only had a one year shelf life. I didn't mind getting one at $115 or so, but three? I called ES and was told I was out of luck, that I'd have to pay for all three. I said I'm not going to pay for it. She said, "You already have. It was taken out of your credit card." They took the money from my credit card without my authorization.

So Saturday, I called again to Express Scripts, this time talking to a supervisor who would only give her name as Audrey. I told her what the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy told me and she said they were wrong. If a doctor called in a prescription, even it if was prodded by ES, they could fill the prescription and charge my credit card, even if I didn't want it.

She said once I give them a credit card, they can charge whatever they choose to it (still can't believe she said that one). Then she said I couldn't return the drug and she wouldn't give me any credit off my health savings account if I returned it on my own. She said that they were authorized to charge my credit card for the **, the first **, and the replacement order of ** simply because I gave them a credit card for the first **. I asked her why should I pay for a replacement order of the ** when it was their fault? She said when they send me the replacement order, they will send a return label and when I return it, they will credit my account for the second charge. I told her be sure to take my credit card off of their record because I'm not authorizing any more charges to it.

On Monday, the ** arrived but there was no mailing label. So, I called again. They said no return mailing label was ever ordered for me, this after three different customer service reps told me it was coming, one being the supervisor. So I ended up going to my bank and had all of the unauthorized charges reversed from my health savings account. I still have the drug ready to ship back. Express Scripts hasn't contacted me to resolve this .I've put the entire complaint in writing. I declared the $333 as unauthorized charges and I wanted them reversed back to the company. The second charge for $450 had not come through yet, so I had them close the account altogether.

What is really funny about all of this is that insurance companies use Express Scripts to get 90 day supplies cheaper, yet Express Scripts and Walmart were the same price on 90 day supplies of **. Personally, I think Express Scripts is huge rip off and shouldn't be allowed to be in business. I have a lot of fight in me and if a company wants to pick a fight, they'll have their hands full. But what about the consumer who doesn't feel as empowered to fight the big companies?

I requested to be billed and did receive a bill with each delivery. I waited for my order to be completed so I could pay one time, with a single check, not expecting it to take weeks and weeks for my medicines to arrive. In the meantime I received additional, confusing phone messages asking me to call; then another telling me to disregard previous calls, that my account was all in order. What did that mean? And then finally a rude voice left a rather abrupt message that my account was to be closed the following day at noon--that I had been contacted several times and refused their calls.

I immediately called, and another very short-tempered man asked for my member ID number, which I didn't have since I never got the card I never even knew I was supposed to have. I finally got him to look me up in the computer by my name and my account was right there. What happened was that since the prescriptions rolled in so slowly, I apparently "exceeded my account limit" (at only $180, by the way) and they refused to send any more prescriptions until I paid my current balance.

So I paid my balance that day, confirmed that my remaining prescriptions were to be mailed, faxed them a prescription for the lost one and waited. One month later, the letter I received in the mail said my account had expired. What?

Try calling this company when you don't have a bill sitting in front of you. Even the contacts page of their official website, which boasts of their superior service, buries a single number to the accounting office in a full page of text.Thank goodness my insurance company switched providers!

So, now I have to call my doctor again and ask them to give Express Scripts the information again on the prescription and hope they get it right this time. The prescription that was filled in error is a completely different medication, a completely different dosage and comes from a different doctor. How is it possible that in the conversation with my doctor's office that this huge of a mistake was made? In the meantime, I am almost out of my needed medication and will now have to wait another week while the phone calls go back and forth and someone gets the message to get the correct medication filled.

This is when I became involved and I called Express Scripts on the phone number listed on the Expres Scripts’ website and was told that they just changed over to a new computer system and that some of the data was corrupted during the change over and the representative told me that she had removed the other health insurance flag from my spouse's file. This resolved the problem temporarily so that the Wal-Mart pharmacy could my wife's Rx. Unfortunately this was not the end of the problem as ever since then I have been locked out of the website at least 10 times under my wife's account and multiple times on my account. I have taken the following actions to remedy this problem, such as repeated calls to Expres Scripts and two calls to the supervisor of the woman whom I first contacted. This resulted in being told by the supervisor that she could again remove the flags and that she had no idea when their computer software would be fixed.

Needless to say I was not impressed with the response and have since the sent an e-mail to my congressman but to no avail. There is a second issue that I have with this company and this is related to how they handle refills. I have recently that prescriptions that were written and first filled in July with three refills on a 90-day supply are being treated as expired even though the original Rx was for initial quantity of 90 and 3 refills.

I realize that a long-term Rx can only refilled for a year from the initial date on the Rx, but both were written in July 2009 and I have taken pictures of the bottles and labels if they are on any use to you. Let me give you some idea of the person writing this overly long tirade. I am a retired warrant officer, Physician Assistant, who is now on Social Security disability due to viral cardiomyopathy, a heart condition contracted while working in Honduras after hurricane Mitch. As well as my duties as a military Physician Assistant, I have also served as division officer for the laboratory, x-ray and pharmacy while assigned at NAS Cecil Field. The consequences of these problems are largely psychological, but, as my wife is also on Social Security disability secondary to a neurological episode that has left her an emotional basket case, the delay in getting her medications refilled has led a significant increase in emotional liability. As for me the primary consequence has been running out of medications that are not to stop abruptly.

On December 25th, I noticed a $62.50 charge on my credit card from Express Scripts and I knew immediately that they had processed the wrong medication. I logged into their website and saw that they were processing a prescription for Nasacort, which is not my correct medication and a much more expensive drug. I called Express Scripts to cancel the order and was told, "It's already in the mail, just wait till it arrives, and we will arrange a return and refund.” When the package arrived, I called Express Scripts and was told there would be no refund unless the doctor personally notified Express Scripts that the Nasacort prescription was made in error.

My doctor was kind enough to call Express Scripts and advised them of the error and told them the correct prescription was for Fluticasone. I then called Express Scripts to arrange a return and refund, but was told that they would not refund because "the prescription was filled correctly". Apparently, my efforts to arrange a refund were just a ploy to waste my time and Express Scripts had no intention of processing a refund. As such, I have contacted my credit card company to dispute the charge. I will also file complaints with the Attorney Generals of all states involved, the Postmaster General for mail fraud, and the Florida Insurance Commissioner. Only $63.50 in actual dollars, but time spent on this issue is easily in the thousands.

I immediately called their 888 number and spoke with Josh. I told him of the situation and he informed me that by having my bank card on file with them, it gave them the right to charge my bank account when the order was shipped. I told him the only way he got that card was when I made a payment to them through their online bill pay. I never gave them permission to take this money. It caused me to be overdrawn and I had an ACH insurance payment coming out in 3 days that would bounce because of their mistake! He said he would take the card out of their system, would request that $393 be returned and would keep $100 for payment on the account/drug.

I waited 2 days and called again. I spoke with Josh this time. He said a request was made to return $100 only and it had not been approved. I told him I wanted them to keep the $100 and refund the $393. He said he would make the request, but it probably would not be approved. I told him I would refuse the drugs when they arrived and have them mailed back. He informed me that they would not accept them. It was their policy to send them back a second time and if they got them back again, they would destroy the drugs and would not be responsible for any refunds. He told me I needed a return authorization to send them back.

I requested a return authorization and got a canned email response back. I called the number and spoke with Yvette. She said she would request the RA, but unless there was a mistake on their part, they would not take it back! In the meantime, my doctor has issued a different drug. Now I don't need these anymore and am stuck with $493 they stole from me! Without my consent! I researched taking them to small claims court to recover, but they are in AZ and I am in WA. I must file in AZ and don't have the finances to do that. I can't believe they are acting this way. I have always been allowed to pay them when I get the invoice. Never did they take money from me on their own. This is the first time and they were very rude!

I must have this drug to function. I can't afford that $500 they took. It makes me so angry and upset that I am physically ill and my blood pressure has risen too. They should not be allowed to operate like this. I would like to be a part of any class action lawsuit that is initiated. I have all statements showing I was billed with invoices and never once did they ever take money from me. I also have copies of all the emails too and dates/times/names of conversations. If anyone else wants to start a civil action, I am on board. Let me know.

Through my husband's employer, we have to use the Pharmacy called Express Scripts and can only acquire medications through the mail after two months of a prescription being filled at a local pharmacy. We have encountered multiple problems over the last four years. I will start with the most recent negative encounter we have had with the pharmacy. I found a charge on my checking account from Express Scripts for an order of three medications. I called to ask them what it was all about. I was informed the computer made a mistake and generated an automated order that I did not request. To rectify the situation, I was informed that as soon as the medication was received I could mail it back as soon as they sent me a label to do so and my personal checking account would be credited.

Several weeks went by and I had seen no credit and wondered what had happened. Upon receiving the order back, instead of putting the money back into my account, they arbitrarily decided to simply credit our medication account. They even have a record of saying they would refund my money to me personally.

Another week went by and it was time to order my husband's blood pressure medication, Lisinopril. It was one of three contained in the original computer generated order. The other two were not needed for several months as they were medications one takes as needed. When I went into the computer to order the Lisinopril, it showed the order could not be placed until January. When they received that order back, they did not fix the system to identify the medication had been returned. It still is not fixed even after I have called twice.

On two occasions I called and the person on the other line noted they would have to specifically let the pharmacy know to fill this medication. It still does not show the medication is in the pharmacy, so now I have to call again. This is two weeks later and he is running out of medication.

The Express Scripts representative suggested we go to the local pharmacy and have them contact them to get a few pills. The local pharmacy will not do business with them. That is not to mention we have at least three doctors that refuse to fax orders to Express Scripts because they do not feel they are dependable and have had too many cases of prescription orders getting lost.

A couple years ago, my son was taking a medication that is considered a controlled substance so we could not receive it in the mail; it had to be delivered by FedEx. The problem there was that FedEx refused to deliver to my house because of my driveway. When I called the pharmacy to ask what we could do about this, they suggested I drive to the FedEx office in Portland to pick up the prescription. That is fifty miles away from where I live. I finally got the driver to meet me in town at precisely 4:00 pm to pick the order up.

Two years ago, I had mailed in two prescriptions for me and they showed up in the computer system as being in the pharmacy. A week later, I had not received them and called about this. I was informed I had no coverage. When I contacted the employer, they said I did. Express Scripts told me they would mail the prescriptions back and I never received them.

Trying to get an Explanation of Benefits out of Express Scripts takes months. Most of the representatives do not seem to know what this paper is. On two occasions, we have had to call multiple times just to get the right form. This pharmacy has false advertising. This statement is taken directly from their website: "Too busy to hassle with phone calls and snail mail? Express-Scripts.com makes managing your prescription plan quick and easy. So you can spend your limited time on the things you enjoy."

This is absolutely not true. There is nothing hassle free, quick and easy, or allowing me to spend more time doing the things I enjoy. I spend way too much time tracking down prescriptions, on the phone trying to explain to untrained employees what and explanation of benefits are, trying to get prescriptions to us, monitoring the website to make sure things are being processed correctly, calling them to fix things like automated prescriptions I did not sign up for and being told one thing by one person and something else by another.

Just to give an example of that, when I originally had to sign up to obtain prescriptions by mail, I was informed I had to use a charge card. I do not own a charge card so I had no choice to use my debit card. Now I am told I can request to have my card removed and just be billed for my prescriptions. This place is making me crazy.

I am not a person who goes around issuing complaints to various agencies for what I consider bad behavior or because someone has made a mistake. We are all human; we all make mistakes, but when it gets to the point where mistakes are constantly occurring, especially with a pharmacy issuing medications, I am a very concerned citizen. I know way too many people having trouble with this mail order pharmacy. We are dealing with medications, often times life-saving medications. If these kinds of mistakes are consistent, what else is happening?

I have had the opportunity to use my local pharmacies for over 30 years and never once had a problem with anything. I understand money saving and stream-lining, but not to the extent of affecting someone's life (I think blood pressure medication qualifies), liberty (which is defined as immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority, we are forced to use this place), or pursuit of happiness (nothing about Express Scripts makes me happy).

I know this sounds harsh but you have no idea how incredibly frustrated I am at the moment.

As usual, I filled my prescription. The following month I returned to the pharmacy for my refill. I was informed by the pharmacist that Medco would not fill my refill because all refills must be done by mail or faxed from the doctor's office. I had to buy out of pocket 5 pills while I tried to contact a psychiatrist to write me a new script, which I was told by the pharmacist, if I got a new script, and not a refill they could fill the new script. I went back to my psychiatrist's office but he had already left the practice for good. Because the receptionist knew me for so many years, she personally asked the new psychiatrist if he could write me a 30-day script. The new psychiatrist did this for me and the following day, I brought the new script back to the pharmacy.

When I returned an hour later to pick up my pills, the pharmacist now informed me that Medco said they would not cover it because "even though it was a new script, it was still a refill and since this was a maintenance long-term medicine, It could only be filled via mail or faxed by the doctor." I got on the phone with them and asked why they were doing this now when for years I had my script filled monthly and that a new script is not a refill." Medco said they had no idea why I was able to so this before and their policies had changed and I should have been informed by mail.

I did receive a letter from them last year, but from what I gathered from their letter was that now, people on long term medication could mail it in, that it was easier for the customer and one would have to pay less co-pays by mailing in a script for 90 pills (which seems to be the least amount they will fill; in other words anything under a 90-day script will not be honored).

Maybe this would work for other folks but I do not pay a copay with my insurance plus I take ** for "clinical" depression (means it doesn't go away) and anxiety. Nothing could make me more anxious or depressed than wondering if I mail a script to Tampa Florida, will it arrive, and if it does, how long will it sit on someone's desk (budget cuts everywhere means less workers!) and once it is mailed out, God willing, that it will arrive in time before I run out of pills!

Anyway, I had to go back to the psychiatrist who was kind enough to write the emergency script for me. He wasn't there, so I had to leave him a big rambling letter trying to explain something that didn't make any sense to me. He did come through for me once again, and after having to buy a prescription (130 dollars for 30 days), I did get a 90-day script in the mail several weeks later.

I did find and see a new psychiatrist last month. She gave me a script for 30 days and 1 refill. Now, as far as I knew from what they told me I could mail this into them (and mailing the only script you have is frightening in itself -they could lose it). I am now being told that I cannot mail in a script for 30 pills with one refill, that it must be a 90-day script, no refills!

I am out of my mind right now with anger, frustration and worry. I am going to cut my pills that I have left in half until I see the psych. again on Dec. 22. and then I pray she will be willing to even write me a script for a whole 90 days which usually is not done with psychiatric medicine (which I explained to Medco, also to no avail)!

I hope none of you have to go through this. It is sheer lunacy and every time I call them, they tell me a different thing and are never quite clear. It's as if they will not come out and say "we will not fill any prescription under 90 pills and if you get a script for less than 90 pills you cannot get it filled at a pharmacy either!"

I checked the website and it's the same drug, but somehow the processing date was yesterday. I called them to see what the heck happened, and they gave me the runaround and tried to rush me off the phone by saying to just return the shipment when it arrives. She slipped up though, telling me that this prescription has a totally different order number from the one that was cancelled, but didn't explain further. I wanted to know how this happened because I never resubmitted the prescription. She transferred me to a supervisor who said that someone went in and reentered the prescription, again asking if there was anything else she could help me with, rushing me off the phone.

I can't use another company because this is the one my employer set up with our medical insurance, so I'm stuck with incompetent people. I truly believe that because they know many of us are "stuck" with them, they screw us over anyway that they can. I've always had issues with them, but this last one takes the cake! It surely can't be "legal" for them to reenter a previously-cancelled prescription without my or my doctor's consent and then charge me for it!

Until this moment I do not hear from them about these medication by e-mail. Then I have called them from a friend's house because my phone was not working. They do not want to send the medications unless I have to send to them in advance, a check for the amount of $170.90. And I have request from them that I do not have any more medications left and I need these medications soon, but they refused and they asked me to send the money first. This is the first time I had problems with this mail order drug, and I do not know what to do. I do not have any credit card to use it and I am living only on the income from the U.S. Treasury. By the way, my Member ID with Express Scripts is **. Please help me against the violent action taken by Express Scripts.

I have a lot of pain on my back and I have a fusion spin disk on L3,L4,L5 &L5S1 since 2001. But recently, I have more numbness on my left leg and more pain on my back & spine. I have made an MRI and x-rays order issued by Dr. ** on 11/24/09. I am still waiting for the result from Dr. **, and to my understanding that these medications held by Express Scripts from sending it just to heal the pain off. Please contact Dr. ** at his location (Trinity Medical Association ) Phone: **, Fax: ** for more details about myself.

I suffer from chronic nerve damage, pain, depression, migraine, and a brain aneurysm. I am only 38 and have always live a very active healthy lifestyle for the most part. The aneurysm makes me extremely easy to be annoyed among other things! This company has made living with my condition unbearable! I am being held hostage by this company! Isn't there anything that can be done? Do I continually have to go through withdrawal symptoms because of this company's failure to provide us with the service needed? I guess the answer is yes. Money wins over anything else! My life and care is not mine to determine. It is in the hands of Blue Cross and Express Scripts. So a big thank you to the health care industry. I always wanted to live in hell!

This group at first did not want to speak with me because I did not know the name of the medication being denied. Even though she had the name perfectly written on the screen, this agent (Ashley) said that because I was calling on behalf of my wife, I needed to prove it in this manner. I handed the phone to my wife who told the representative I was authorized to speak on her behalf. When my wife handed me the phone back, Ashley was still playing this game and said I needed to give her the name of the drug. Neither I nor my wife could remember the exact name and that's when I insisted I speak with her supervisor. I was on hold for 10 minutes before a supervisor appeared (Elisha). This was clearly a stall tactic. Elisha said that the procedure to have the decision reassessed required that I have my doctor write a letter, that would then need to be sent by snail mail to an address in Minnesota where it would then be evaluated. Of course, there is no way to do this online (how convenient).

In order to obtain a copy, I was directed to contact Corporate Quality and put my request in writing. He claimed that Corporate Quality could not be reached by telephone by customers. The only two contacts that he would convey to me were the president, George Paz, and Corporate Quality. Please note that the two contacts have the same address. Like I alluded to earlier, I have been given similar information about my prescription drug benefits for the past five years.

Having fertility problems has been difficult; however, the financial strain has intensified the situation. My "lifetime maximum benefits" for fertility regulators is $2,500. A one-month treatment for an IUI requiring Follistim and/or Menopur on average is around $2,200. My last treatment required medication that cost $3,330. The "lifetime maximum benefits" is simply an insult to people dealing with fertility issues.

At this time I was out of my nasal spray and had a sinus infection. My doctor’s office called in ** to the local pharmacy. ES refused to fill it because they wanted me to try generic ** first. The cost of the ** would be $109. ES said they needed additional information (age, pregnancy status, and prior meds tried) even though this info was not originally requested. My doctor’s office faxed the additional information on the following Monday (09/21/09). I was advised by my personnel office to contact Capital Blue Cross and have them work on it. I did this on 9/21/09. The CSR took the info and referred it to the "drug" department that deals with these things.

On 9/22/09, a rep from this department called me and left a message. When I called her back, she said that my prior authorization had been denied because I had not tried the generic **. I have been on ** for quite some time. My doctor does not like ** because in her patients, it has not worked well and had many side effects including severe nose bleeds. This runs in my family anyway. The CSR from Capital Blue Cross told me that according to ES, they are done with this issue and will not fill what my doctor ordered. I now have to go through the appeal process with Capital Blue Cross. Their physicians will review all the info and determine if the nasal spray I have been taking and has been working is okay for them to fill.

I am still sick and had to spend another $45 for antibiotics. Luckily my doctor had samples of ** that she gave me. I am on other medications and am concerned about drug interactions. What I had was working so why change it. How can someone who does not know me or my medical history (ES clinical pharmacist) make a determination about my health? Not only has it cost me an additional $45, but I'm sure we will incur additional expenses as we are looking into legal actions available to us. It has also caused illness and extreme stress. It has also consumed my time for the last week and it is not over yet. We expect additional monies will be spent as well as the additional stress and aggravation.

I was told by one CSR that maybe I should go back to using my old hyperlipidemia lowering medication to prove that I had experienced adverse side-effects! The customer service staff told me that they had no record of requests from my physician for pre-authorizations for medications when he had both called and faxed the request to their pre-authorization department.

When I followed up with a phone call to my doctor's office, they advised me that Express Scripts had pre-authorized my medication two weeks prior to my most recent phone call. So, none of Express Scripts’ customer service staff even knew that the medication had already been pre-authorized. I had used a pharmacy mail order system previously (Medco) and received excellent customer service and prompt pre-authorization and delivery of my medication. So, I know that good service is available through a pharmacy mail order system. I was extremely dissatisfied with the service that I received from Express Scripts.

I called today, 8/26/09, and they had not mailed the postage label. On further questioning, the pharmacy needed the prescription numbers to determine if they would furnish the labels and it would be 7 to 10 days before they hear from the pharmacy. Never mind the pharmacy filled the prescription and had to have the numbers. Going up to the supervisor was no help. All I got was "It is our policy." Their policy is to ship a month and a half early and use our money. Their policy is to stall and use our money as long as they can.

By the time they get around to refunding the money on my credit card, I will be in the hole and have to pay out of pocket at the local pharmacy. These folks sound like robots repeating the same old line, "It is our policy." Several advisers rate this company a buy. If they continue to treat customers this way, they may find the ratings will change, I hope. It's a very bad company.

On July 20, 2009, after noticing the error, rather than sending the incorrect script to Medco, I called your office and asked to have a corrected script faxed to Medco so they could fill the proper quantity of 180. I spoke to both your office and Medco to confirm that the script was corrected and that Medco would send me the generic Toprol XL in a quantity of 180 for a 90-day supply. Both offices agreed that everything was corrected. On August 3, 2009, I called your office and Medco to re-confirm that everything was correct and that the prescription was received by Medco for the correct medication and quantity. I was assured by your office and Medco, that the quantity and dosage was correct, and that the medication would be sent shortly.

On August 10, 2009, I received in the mail the brand name Toprol XL in a quantity of 90. I called Medco for an explanation and was told that the prescription was written for brand name only, with a dosage of one daily, and that is what their pharmacist filled, intentionally ignoring the quantity 180, rather than contacting someone to confirm the proper dosage. When I called your office, I was told that Medco was at fault, even though the script was written for brand only and for one per day. I requested both your office and Medco to do whatever they needed to do to get the script corrected and to get the balance of the pills sent to me, since I obviously would run out before I was eligible to order more. I also requested that the generic correction be made and to correct the $87.02 charge to my account.

Neither your office nor Medco accepted responsibility for the errors, and insisted on blaming the other rather than correcting the script. I spent hours on the phone with both, attempting to get a resolution. Finally, their solution, rather than correcting the original script, was to make up a new script for 180 pills, in addition to the one I had just received in the mail. I am now out $87, have no idea what is in my medical records regarding dosage since I was told by your office that there is nothing in my medical record of anything other than one per day for the Toprol, and I'm not sure what my script status will be considering the multiple scripts that are being written/cancelled/changed, rather than having corrected the original problem. Then on August 12, 2009, I checked the order status of the new prescription at the Medco website, only to find out that it was for the brand name at a cost of $165.

I left a message at Main Line Arrhythmia. Again, I spoke to Medco. They will correct the order per Lenny. Lenny stated that the pharmacist made a mistake by not citing the generic substitution. The order will be corrected by Lenny. On August 12, 2009, website now states, "Unable to complete order." Again, I spoke to Medco. Supervisor, Miss **, again told me that the correct medication and quantity will be sent out. And the story goes on. It is now August 24, 2009 and Medco management representative now tells me that neither they (Medco) nor UPS knows where the package is that contains my prescription. Persons at both ends need to pay closer attention to details regarding patient medication.

After several days, on Aug 20th, I noticed nothing was changing on the internet, so I called. I spoke with Shannon, a pharmacist that told me when they verified with the doctor, he put cap, I had seen my doctor the day before and he told me he put tab and that they are idiots for even needing to bother him because they should know there is only one form of generic and he signed may substitute. Well, this was not good enough for Shannon, and I was transferred from Shannon to Rich who was rude and said, "Sorry you have to pay it; it is not going to go away; your doctor made the mistake, not us."

When I said, "I refuse to pay the $280," and he "better put me with someone who can make it go away," he gave me to his supervisor, Rhett. Rhett seemed uninterested in trying to solve anything and in a hurry to push it back onto me, my doctor and their pharmacist. He told me if my doctor would call in and get it corrected with the pharmacist that we could get the invoice adjusted off and I could return the script.

So, I called my doctor's office and begged the girls to do something they are not permitted to do which is spend so much time jumping through hoops with companies like Express Scripts. When they called me back, they said it took over an hour but all things were cleared up and switched over. On Aug 21, I checked the website. I can clearly see where they have now added the generic version and it is in processing for shipment. However, they have not corrected the $280 brand. I called again and requested a supervisor up front and was given to Chris, who told me he will have to get me with Rhett. After much time on hold, he came back and told me Rhett is in a meeting and he will have to call me back. So, I guess I can say, "more to come."

My diabetic medicine is supposed to be the same medicine as I have been taking; however, it is a different color and it does not seem to be working as well. My diet has not changed! I was given excuse after excuse after excuse as to why it took so long to get my prescriptions the first time. Two weeks ago, my doctor's office faxed in another prescription to Medco. I was standing there the entire time it was faxed in and know it was faxed. I have "one" pill left and have yet to receive my prescription. So, this morning, I called Medco again and asked to speak to the supervisor. Ms ** got on the phone and I was told that Medco never received the fax. This was the exact same excuse I was given in May. Ms. ** gave me several suggestions as to how I should maybe order my prescriptions other than to fax them since there was maybe a problem with the fax line, etc. I told her I shouldn't have to try other ways, but that I would take her advice and mention it to the doctor.

It seems the fax worked after my calling in several times the first time trying to get it straight! I told her she needed to perhaps check her employees' records or something to see that it was being right on Medco's end. I also told her I should not have to go through such a hassle anytime I needed to get my medicine. It is pure nonsense! Medco needs to train their employees better, get a better system, stop trying to 'force' its customers into purchasing from them and saying one thing then doing another. That was one of my complaints. One Medco employee told me my prescriptions would be $10 each. Then, the next employee I dealt with told me another price. One will tell you they are shipped, then the next said they were still there. I have records of all my conversations and who I talked to, but will not go into anymore detail on here. Just know that I despise the fact that I have to deal with such an incompetent company that is driving me crazy!

Then there is issue of cost. I was asked, "Do you want to know how much the brand name is?" My response was, "I don't care; all my prescriptions are $100; price does not matter." The differences between the two, the generic form only $12.50 but if I request the brand name over $1050.00. I'm being punished for not wanting to take generic. I know they aren't the same. They have different side effects; the pills do not even look the same. What are you here for? It is obvious not to help me. This is the worst company ever. I was told if I pick the prescription up from my local pharmacy, the cost would be a little over $400 all because I refused take a generic that just came on the market.

I called this morning to speak with an ES representative by the name of Mary who said she was the supervisor, explaining my case, and asked if she received the documentation I sent. She said it didn't matter, I still owed the money. She also said I should have called to let them know I didn't receive the medication. My response to her was - why would I call about something I didn't receive or know about? I have been getting my meds from Walgreens. They cannot prove to me they sent it, except for some paper receipt. It is nothing I signed for, or was ever in my mailbox.

I should not have to pay for something I did not receive. Mary stated she would note this on my file, and I asked her for a copy of the file with the notations. She said she could not and would not do this. I wanted a copy to send to the collection agency. I also contacted National Recovery who is the collection agency for them, and they could not prove that I received the medication, only that they sent the receipt from Express Scripts. This is a no-win situation.

I have not and will not receive any medication from Express Scripts. I don't know how many people they have done this to, but if they do this to enough people, they will make a lot of money. This could go on my credit report, which is no fault of mine. I will fight it because they have charged me for something I did not receive. My company has elected to have Express Scripts included into our healthcare plan, which we should have the option to opt-out. I'm already on blood pressure (BP) meds, and this incident has driven my pressure up considerably. I know it's only $10, but it's the principle of the matter - I didn't receive the medication.

The action by Medco appears to be in restraint of trade and we are following up with FDA as well as FTC to see if the Fed can take an interest in Medco's business practices. Just another example of pharma being more interested in the bottom line than taking care of paying insureds. As CNN reported this past week, with my wife's contribution and her district's contribution, plus our co-pays and deductibles for the two of us, we are paying $7,000+ annually for our medical care coverage, the cost of which is constantly increasing with reduced service delivery. Time for nationalized medical care and the end of pharma/medical/physician/hospital robber barons.

Still no prescription, I called the Medco order phone no. tonight and was told it had been refused again. Something about the prescription was voided "for some reason." I won't put into print what I told the woman. They are deliberately delaying the filling of this prescription. My doctor will not fax prescriptions but did fax the pre-approval form to them. Prior to the Omeprazole, I was taking Nexium. I got a letter from Medco saying the Omeprazole (generic) was available. I immediately requested a new prescription to save the $20 difference. I take several prescriptions every day and most are ordered online from Medco.

This after spending an hour repeatedly "dial 1 for...dial 2 for...let me transfer you to...please hold..." My only option at this point is to request that my doctor write a new prescription at a local pharmacy. My medication instructions stress the importance of not skipping a dose, not even one. Waiting for Express Scripts would cause me to go a minimum of 8 days without medication.

I have fibromyalgia and take Lyrica, and I can't get it. We have called numerous times, and they told us that it will be taken care of. But it is still unresolved since May 5, 2009 and it's now July. We have to use them through mail order and cannot use a local pharmacy. I have been in excruciating pain and have barely been able to move. This has been ridiculous I wish nothing more than to be able go to my local pharmacy and get my prescriptions and know that I can trust them.

I handle several prescriptions for my elderly mother. Express Scripts has over-estimated the number of one of her most important pills by a factor of four and therefore refused to refill the script until about four months have gone by. Unsurprisingly, my mom and I are far more able to parcel out her medications properly than Express Scripts is to count. I find it truly frightening that a company so incapable of getting even the basics correct has now added another layer of confusion between itself and competence.

After several weeks of no prescription, I received an authorization letter authorizing refills through May 2011. I resubmitted my prescription to the pharmacy but Medco rejected it again. I called Medco and they informed me that they did provide one part of the authorization but needed to speak to my doctor to complete it.

I spent two more weeks trying to get Medco and my doctor to speak with no luck. I confirmed with the pharmacy again that the prescription could not be filled. I called Medco to complain again but Medco put me on hold, called the pharmacy and provided approval. The elapsed time with no prescription is 3.5 weeks. I am going to the pharmacy to try to pick up my prescription now.

On 3 June, I received a response stating that they would be happy to do an early refill. I would, of course, be charged my copay. I have been calling Medco to try to get them to reship at their cost to no avail. My employer's benefits people are getting the same story. Yesterday, I actually had to ask my oncologist for free samples in an attempt to have enough medication until I can resolve this issue.

Afterwards, every time we would try and order the Protonix, they wanted me to use Nexium or some other stuff. Unfortunately, the Nexium made my nosebleeds worse and this was explained to them each and every month. I finally got so ** one month that when they called, I asked them if they used computers. They said yes. I said, “Every month you call and every month I tell you the same thing. Why isn't this in the computer?” I loved the answer I received – no reply from her. Every month they would call and try changing my meds, it was ridiculous. Then the BCBS plan changed a little. Now we can go to Kmart or Medco. Not any better at first. In 2008 I got very sick and was in the hospital for 4 months. After my first stay at the hospital (2-1/2 weeks), they sent me home with all kinds of different medications. So my hubby proceeded to get things ordered, and once again, the same problem arose again. Doctors faxing and Medco claiming the doctors weren't. I had 3 different doctors faxing in things, you are gonna sit there and tell me that none of my doctors are faxing, **! They had received an order for Lactulose Solution. They screwed around with that and I had to be 911 rushed to hospital. I was in an ammonia coma. So at that point, we started getting that from Kmart, which problems arose there as well. Not having the medication and having to wait for 2 days before they got it in. They did, however, get better at it, that is Kmart did.

Over the course of time with Medco, we have experienced so many lies from them, phone calls they make to us to change medications and to also say they could save us money by doing things this way. It’s just all lies and excuses every time we call. They have, at different times over the course of 4 to 5 years, sent the wrong medicines, wrong supplies, delayed medications (as they are doing right now), or just totally forgot to send out medications! Finally, I found this fantastic doctor at Florida Hospital who saved my life. He found me a liver donor, thank God. The only drawback is now I have to be on certain medications for life. So we’re trying to save anyway we can. When this started in June of 2008, my doctor and his dedicated staff have faxed things to Medco, called and talked to them on the phone and they still have the nerve to sit there and tell me they haven't received faxes and or phone calls. So much lies, we have both had it.

Last night, Medco called you could barely hear the person on the other end (this has been happening the past 3 to 4 months, not being able to hear them), either they talk so low or are afraid to talk into microphone or put it by their mouth. My hubby asked to try a different line and call us back. She never called back! My hubby called them this morning before leaving for work and they tried to tell him that no one called us last night. Once again, more lies. He was on the phone with them for 45 minutes and late for leaving to go to work. I have new meds that I'm on (3 different shots per week). I've been getting them at Kmart, but hubby did some checking and found that Medco was supposedly cheaper. So he called to get the prescriptions transferred, they said they needed new ones from the doctor. So I contacted him and they physically phoned them in over a week ago. My hubby assumes that's why they phoned last night. They said they had no record of anyone calling. Anyway, after talking to the person (I presently get the shots from Kmart) and they, Medco, approved that. Now he found out that they are cheaper over 90 days, though them. Now they are telling him they have to get approval for these meds (which they already have) Medco is the one who approved Kmart for this, now they tell my hubby that they can't send out anything until they get approval. Approval from who? They also told him that they would have to check back with my doctor. More lies! These people never call the doctors because every time we check back with doctors, Medco has never called them. There has got to be something done here and immediately.

We (the general public) need our medications. Medco is not only putting our health at risk by delaying medications, but is probably costing lives as well because medications come late or not at all. We pay our fees to them and they screw up and we still have to pay for their mistakes. I don't think so, we can't let this happen. I do plan on filing a complaint as well with BCBS and Sears as to what has and is happening. Maybe that is what we all should do. Thank you for you time and reading.

While I was holding for a PharmD at Medco for further clarification, I called the Restasis help line on another phone. The Restasis representative said that Medco and the FDA recognized that two trays constituted a 30-day supply and considered, for their purposes, two trays as the regimen for one month and should be charged as a single 30-day script regardless of the fact that it was divided into two packages. I was told by Restasis that Medco obviously had decided to charge double the normal pricing for a 30-day regimen of this medication.

My income has been drastically reduced and I cannot afford to pay the $208.94 per month that Medco expects me to pay for this medication. I am appalled that Medco is not honoring the dosing regimen for 30 days as set forth by the FDA and Restasis but instead chooses to charge double the price.

When I left my doctor's office, I was accused of being an addict. His exact words to me were," I'm sorry I cannot be your doctor anymore." He has been my family doctor for the past 7 years all because Express Scripts said I should have asked for a replacement and not a refill back in February of 2009. So if you count the pills I lost when I left my overnight bag at the rest area, all I have to account for is 8 (eight) but Express Scripts told my doctor 288 pills are not accounted for. All I got from Express Scripts was being transferred to other Express Script people, at least on 8 different calls, lies, aggravation, humiliation and now being labeled an addict by my own doctor. All this was because Express Scripts said I should have asked for a "replacement" order back in February of 2009.

Why can't anything be done with this corrupt pharmacy? Why is it that the public should be tolerating a company like this? And having to explain to their doctor that Express Scripts are wrong. No, I am not an addict and my husband takes the exact same dosage as me but because I, as the wife, call in when prescriptions get low in the house, I am labeled the addict. Needless to say, I walked out of the doctor's office and said, "Sorry, doctor, but this time you are terribly wrong."

At one time, our prescription plan was managed by Express Scripts, which is at the bottom of my list to do business with. On more than one instance when a name brand medication was prescribed, Express Scripts would contact me to ask if I would accept a generic instead. It is against the law for a pharmacy to make such a substitution without the authorization of the prescribing physician. Express Scripts even sought to get physician approval to make such changes. On one occasion, I questioned the use of a generic when the name brand medication was prescribed and an Express Scripts representative told me, about the generic, "It's just about as good."

My health should not be subjected to generics and prescription plan managers whose sole objective is to cut costs even if the medication is "just about as good." My health care decisions are made by my physician, and should not be made by a pharmacy plan management's accountant whose sole objective is to lower costs. Express Scripts is notorious for their cost cutting posture and should be very carefully evaluated before their opinions are taken at face value.

Please investigate further as to the lack of tolerances when generic medications are manufactured as opposed to name brand pharmaceuticals. A pain medication may be acceptable when manufactured with a tolerance of plus or minus 25%, but a medication for heart problems or psychological disorders could yield disastrous consequences with such tolerances.

Numerous Wall Street Journal articles have examined the generic medication issue and have even reported that the move to generics by some state health plans have resulted in the consequence of increased costs. I have great respect for your weekly newsletter, but on this issue you seem to be in need of additional scholarship. Fortunately now, we have a different prescription plan for which I offered a prayer of thanksgiving in exchange for getting free of Express Scripts and their constant badgering to switch me to generics, which were "just about as good."

In December of 2008 I went online to refill the prescription. A day or so later, my doctor's office called to say that Medco had called them, and told them that if I switched to a drug that was in the same class and just as effective, I would have zero co-pay. I talked to the nurse at my doctor's office and she said that my doctor usually leaves that up to patients, so I said I would try it. Note again that Medco initiated this phone call.

I noticed that this new drug wasn't as effective as Lunesta, but I figured since it was free I could live with it. In March, I had it refilled. When I got it, I noticed that instead of being small and oval shaped, these were round and larger. I also noticed that a different manufacturer was listed, so I wasn't too concerned. After a couple of weeks I noticed that not only was I not sleeping very well, but ten or so minutes after taking it, my heart was racing/having palpitations. I tried calling Medco to talk to a pharmacist, but could never find an option for talking to one.

Today, 4/16, I decided to stick with it until I talked to a pharmacist. When I called, the first person asked what I wanted and I explained the situation and that I wanted to talk to a pharmacist because I thought I had received the wrong drug. I was put on hold and transferred to someone else; I explained what was going on again and got transferred again. By the fourth person I was getting very upset. This fourth person said that it was a matter of me not being able to take this other manufacturer's equivalent of this drug. Somebody had yet to ask me the name of the drug or the name of the 2 manufacturers. After much debate, he said that I would have to get my doctor to re-write the prescription for the generic name, listing the first manufacturer, because they contract with different manufacturers and it would be considered a brand-name drug. He said that the pharmacists could not contact my doctor. When I mentioned that they (Medco) had initiated this whole thing and didn't seem to have a problem calling my doctor then, he said it was a different situation. I then asked to speak to a pharmacist and he said the pharmacist couldn't help me. I demanded to speak with a supervisor and was, yet again, put on hold.

When the supervisor picked up, I had to go through the whole story again. She said that the pharmacists were not like pharmacists at neighborhood drug stores and weren't available to speak to patients except to do specific counseling. I pointed out that all of their marketing was geared towards how dealing with them is no different than dealing with a local pharmacy, except for pricing. She then offered to refund me the cost of the refill. She did ask if I wanted to talk to a pharmacist then, and I told her that I had spent over 45 minutes on the phone being transferred around and that I was late for a meeting. She gave me a number to call back and said it would be answered by a supervisor who could then connect me with a pharmacist. Later in the day, I called the number and was, once again, put on hold for several minutes after having been quizzed by whomever this was as to why I wanted to talk to a pharmacist. A pharmacist did finally pick up and after about a minute into the call, I hit a dead zone and the call was dropped.

I have decided that if I need to go back to my doctor for a new prescription, I might as well go back to Lunesta and I will probably have it filled at a local retail pharmacy. I may have it filled at Medco, but plan to have my doctor indicate D.A.W. on it. I still have no way of knowing what drug is really in the bottle. Also, regarding the no co-pay, it turns out that's only for the first filling of a generic drug.

The first reason I was given for not filling the prescription was that Medco was not given the authorization request from the physician. I initiated a request with Medco on 3/23/09 and notified my physician, who told me that the request had been filed on 3/19/09 by them. Then Medco said that the pharmacy was using the wrong group number. I asked just how this could be true when several others of my medications were filled at the same pharmacy at the same time. I was given a group number to give to the pharmacy, along with a Medco Help Desk number for the pharmacy to contact. The pharmacy did contact Medco, but was told that there was no authorization request for the medication.

I was told on 3/31 that Medco would authorize a temporary 5 pills at the pharmacy. But by the time Medco said they would authorize it (I estimate that I was on the phone with Medco for 3+ hours that day), it was too late to go to the pharmacy. It was closed for the day. They told me to call back again on April 1st to get the 5-day supply reauthorized as it had to be filled on the same day that Medco authorized it. When I called back on April 1, I was told that I no longer had Medco coverage. There was a gap and it would become effective again on April 3. I spent most of April 1 and April 2 on the phone with Medco without results. I finally got someone with my employer HR department to conference call with Medco, to try and figure out what the problem was. This was done several times alone on April 2, 2009. It never did get resolved.

On April 3rd, I was notified by the pharmacy that the medication was now filled. How can this happen? I am just one person and do not have the ability to call, wait, call again, get disconnected, call again, etc. What is going on with our insurance regulations that allow an insurance provider to continue to operate in this fashion? This is only one of the outrageous stories that I personally have to tell about my interaction with Medco. I can now see, by looking for somewhere to make a complaint, that I am not the only person who has had this level of difficulty with Medco. This needs to stop. If this is not stopped, there are going to be people who encounter actual irreversible physical difficulties due to not receiving their medication.

Certainly, there has to be some government regulatory agency that can check into this. Please provide me with information on how to file a complaint with them.

In April, having received no acknowledgement from Express Scripts, we received a bill from a collection agency. I called Express Scripts, and after much effort finally reached the collections department. Many minutes on the phone resulted in only rudeness and arrogance from an agent - and a complete refusal to even consider what I was saying. No apology or explanation for the lack of response to my submissions per their request. After repeated requests, I finally got to speak to a manager who was equally rude and unresponsive until he actually hung up on me. Never deal with Express Scripts. They lie, double-bill, and I didn't mention that they once sent my wife a prescription which was four times her proper dosage. We discovered the error at once, but Express Scripts would neither acknowledge nor correct the error. At that point, we stopped using them. Be forewarned.

I spend 3 to 5 hours a month on the phone with these idiots. After they find the fax from a doctor, they then claim the doctor did not fill out the prescription properly. Then they claim (lie) that the doctor's office is not returning their calls. Then it takes about 7 days for them to process the script through the pharmacy, and another 7 days to mail it. God forbid if your doctor includes more than one script on a fax. They will fill one and lose the other. Then you get to start the above process from step one. Their online service has lost prescriptions from my past history (i.e., they falsely claim I've never filled a particular script with them). Also, God forbid if you have to have a controlled substance script filled through them. They refuse to contact the doctor's office for a refill. You have to obtain a new written script and mail it in. Then you get to wait 3 weeks while they slowly fill and package and mail it. That's if you're lucky. They also change their minds as to what a controlled substance is, and will tell you a different story each month.

Don't believe anything they tell you about what the law is about prescriptions. They talk out their ** about that and deceptively try to blame federal law for anything they don't wish to do. Their phone reps are also vacuous and rude. Last month, I had a fellow named Chris tell me something particularly absurd. I started laughing, and he proceeded to attempt to lecture me about what a serious matter this was! These are not drugs I take for fun. I need these scripts to function and stay alive. This company is a travesty. I have complained to my husband's benefits VP's office, but I doubt many folks at his employer have the ability to get through to that person. So, they think all is going well. I am seriously thinking of suing these idiots for gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Maybe we should file a class action?

My wife went to our United Healthcare website to find that the 24-hour nurse line phone number was disconnected and the live chat nurse could only ask stupid questions and then tell us to contact Poison Control center. So we called Poison Control and thankfully found out that since I am a diabetic, I can monitor skyrocketing sugar levels with my current glucose meter gear to try and control the overdose side effects. So in an effort to save money, these cheapskates at Medco now have to send me another prescription to make up for the amount accidentally injected as an overdose, and I have to pay another $100 co-pay. I cannot wait for this greedy and poorly run company to be regulated out of existence by the government when socialized medicine takes over!

I received an email reply from Express Scripts Customer Care Team on 4/1 informing me that they, by law, cannot answer my questions because it is clinical in nature and that I could call one of their pharmacists for answers. Really now, my questions were that I wanted to know why Express Scripts Customer Care Team lied to me and wanted information on the recall ... This is clinical? Anyway, I asked them for an address, either snail mail or email of their pharmacy department as I will only communicate in writing because I do not trust them. As expected, they have not provided me with this contact information as they never want a written record of such problems.

Bottom line is, Express Scripts is one of, if not, the largest Prescription Benefit Manager in the country and they will continue to be until health plan providers no longer find it mutually financially beneficial to do business with them. The bottom line is always about providing the least to derive the most or, greed and money! Thank God my prescription in question was only for Nitroglycerin which I only have to take when I experience cardiac pain for whatever reason. It's not that important, I guess, in the eyes of the FDA, Ethex Corporation, Express Scripts or Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts who in the end will do nothing with my current complaint, I've been down this road with them before with no results.

Just the amount of paperwork on 8 different mail ins. would be a full time job. Medco has led me to the conclusion that no insurance company should ever be allowed to also provide the thing they insure against. They are just a giant pharmacy who feeds on the sick and injured. Here's the thing, if they would just deny the coverage outright, the secondary insurances would pay the full cost at the pharmacy for every single one of them.

It is not for lack of trying. I have called and pleaded with them to refuse coverage - to refuse it - which you think they would be happy to do, but they won't. I have tried to go to a more personal pharmacy that helps manage 12 prescriptions only to discover they require me to go to Walgreens, where I stand behind a little plastic stop sign. A few years ago, my doctor and I filed all kinds of forms and had a bunch of phone calls and faxes and jumped through a number of flaming hoops, just to get permission or an exception to get one of my prescriptions filled at the local pharmacy. 90 days later, naturally, it was denied. When I called to find out why, they said that I had only gotten permission to take the drug, not get it at the pharmacy. From that moment on, I have changed my personal policy and I no longer send Medco any mail whatsoever.

They do not care one tiny iota about me or my decade-long struggle with disability and pain, nor the 19 years of surviving a terminal diagnosis. They clearly do not care if I can digest my food, or control my bowels, or lay flat. They happily even acknowledge my anxiety or stress but that doesn't change the policy. After one long conversation, they called the police to come over and check on my safety. Wasn't that just so thoughtful?!

The real story is the one about Provigil. Many years ago, my doctor thought that even though not directly indicated for my condition, it might help. I am able to get around pretty well (at one point I could not walk 2 steps) but after about 10 blocks, the pain becomes overwhelming. It was truly like a miracle. After about a week, I could walk as far as I wanted or even run or dance! Going into that third month my life had totally changed. I even thought at one point I might go back to work! But the results are not what mattered; it was the price. All appeals were denied.

When I went to renew one of these prescriptions, after two online rejected attempts I contacted Express Scripts via a nasty email to complain that their system was dropping my orders for **. I received an email from them stating that the ** orders were being dropped because they no longer carry that product due to a packaging change and they told me I had to get a new script from my doctor. I immediately wrote them back and told them it was their responsibility to contact my doctor when they discontinue a product, I called them incompetent and informed them I will be filing a complaint/grievance with my health care/prescription plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield. The next day I received a call from Express Scripts who tried to lead me to believe that they had no knowledge of my nasty email and that they call everyone when they discontinue a product. Yeah! Right!!!

Anyway, I did a little research and discovered that two of my medications were not simply discontinued due to a packaging change but were recalled with the FDA's approval due to possible defects. I demanded an explanation from Express Scripts as to why they would lie to me about the reason they no longer carried a medication but they chose to not address this issue at all instead rambling on and on about how they never received my email, blah! blah! blah! Ad nauseam. My inquiry is this - Did anyone out there receive any communication from Express Scripts within the last six months informing you that one or more of their prescriptions was either discontinued or recalled?

I am unable to perform my job properly without the prescribed medication. The risk of my operating any type of vehicle without my prescribed medication is risky, so each time they play with my prescriptions they are putting anyone on the road with me at risk! I can't not drive and give up my employment based on their incompetence!

I also found out they contacted my local CVS pharmacy and got patient information regarding my son's medication. This is how they practice their business. When you switch to them for benefits, they are allowed to look up your past medications with your previous pharmacy. Then supposedly, on your behalf, they contact the doctor and get an authorization to refill. This letter is written with verbiage to look like it comes from the patient. My son is 4, and he did not write this letter. They are misleading the doctor's office this way. They get the doctor's office to authorize the maximum refill, and then ship it to patient and then bill then. This is NOT ethical. I spoke w/Diana, Chelsea and Deb at Express Scripts, and they still deny given us a refund for the medication! DON'T USE THIS COMPANY IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO...THEY LACK in customer service and ethics!

I checked my order online and notice it was indicating Zocor not the generic. The difference in price was significant, $366 vs. approx. $9. The order at that point had not been shipped and I immediately called Medco Customer Service. Customer Service transferred me to the pharmacy. The person in the pharmacy I talked to said there was nothing I could do. My doctor had signed below the line and the circle of the generic allowed, was part of how to use the drug and not an indication that generic was allowed. I mentioned that the order was not shipped and could it be held. He said no. I asked if I could send the order back unopened. He said no. He told me if the order was sent back, it would be trashed and I would still need to pay for it. Several days later the order came to the house and I have yet to open it.

I understand my doctor may have been careless in writing this prescription, but this could have easily been fixed with a phone call. I am sure if there was a question on the drug I would have been called. Medco on their site talks a lot about buying generic and how much money you can save by buying generic. I would think that as a courtesy, they would have questioned the drastic difference in cost, when generic is available. My medical plan required me to use Medco mail order for my maintenance drugs. Now I feel it may be worth the additional cost, if any to talk live to the pharmacy, ask needed questions and be sure my order is filled correctly.

After TEN days, they rejected that order. I was told by a case manager pharmacist that he had my file and instead of the meds which work, I should just take beta blockers for my pain. The SECOND THING on my chart is that I AM ALLERGIC TO BETA BLOCKERS!!!! My doctor let them know this. They are still refusing to fill my pain meds, and I am in indescribable pain every minute. They don't care, they lie. They say someone will call and no one does. They even THREATENED MY DOCTOR! WHY can a company like this stay in business?

While I was on the phone, the doctor's office confirmed that they had successfully faxed over a prescription days earlier. I finally gave up after numerous fruitless calls to Express Scripts, including returning a message at 4 pm to call a number. No answer. I had to wait all weekend to call. I finally called Blue Cross this morning and actually spoke to a helpful person who confirmed after checking that the prescription claim had been processed by Blue Cross and was in process at Express Scripts. It still says the same thing on the Express Scripts site, no progress at all. By the way, the first request on the Express Scripts site to contact my doctor was on February 6. It is now February 16. Someone needs to do something.

Since the 6th I have called Express Scripts many times, including today. Today, 2/13, I am still showing inactive in their system. Also today, Ceridian is sending a second e-mail stating that I still remain in good standing. I have also contacted the Dept. of Labor who suggested I contact my former employer, Toys R Us. Because I am no longer employed, they do not handle the administration of my benefits. Ceridian now is responsible. I will contact Express Scripts early next week to see if they have received the second e-mail. If not I will, again, contact the Dept. of Labor.

As a result, 2 $35.00 OVERDRAFT Fees, and $7.50/day overdrawn fees were deducted from her account. On 1-29-09, Robert, and his supervisor at Medco admitted Medco's error and promised to fix it within 48 hrs. I immediately faxed the bank statement to Medco's Accounts Receivable as directed. NOTHING HAPPENED... 96 hours later, 2-2-09, I called Medco to complain, and was again promised by Deb, that not only would it be resolved that day, I would receive a callback with the details.

Again, Nothing happened. Yesterday, I again called Medco, and Fay and Vicky said they would look into it. Nothing happened. Calling again, Mrs. ** assured me it had been fixed, then stated they never received the fax and gave me the direct number to A/R. I called the number again and again, busy, no answer, or hangs up on me. I faxed the statement again, and was promised she would call A/R and ensure a solution. Nothing happened. Talking with the bank manager this AM, 2-4-09, no activity has occurred on the account from MEDCO except for accumulating charges.

Most recently, they changed the formulary so that with my plan has a co-pay of $85 for branded formulary items and $160 for branded non-formulary items. Sure enough, I check the formulary that is attached to my plan and the product is not there. Could they not have called and notified me before filling and sending it? No way, baby! So upon inquiring about another of my medications that is branded, I did not find it on their formulary; however, they looked it up and told me it was $85 co-pay and they would send me a formulary list. Well, lo and behold! The formulary they sent me had two drug items for which they charged me $160 each; that's $150 over what I should have paid according to the formulary they sent me.

Will I be calling them? For sure I will. Don't let them bully you or stall you. Complain, complain, complain. Write your congressman or senator. And please, whoever you are, please spell prescription correctly (it’s not a “perscription ” or a “subscription”). You will appear more informed and sound more intelligent to whoever you complain to.

Express sent the medication back to us saying that the order was placed correctly. AARP gave us no help in resolving this nor did Express Script help. I complained to Express during several phone calls. I received a return call for Ernest who claimed to be the senior billing recovery. I have tried to call him back three times. I keep getting his answering machine. I left my number each time with no return call from him. On the bill that we receive, I call the number listed on top. AARP recorded message answers. It gives no mention of Express Scripts. At this point, AARP gives me no help resolving this matter nor do I have a number to call Express.

I have today filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Texas regarding this. From what I find on the Internet, there are many complaints as far back as 2005 on the net. Today, I have received 33 calls on my 800-number. Their website shows the Board of Directors, a smooth-looking bunch to say the least, but not one has a contact number in St. Louis or elsewhere. Good luck.

On 12/29/08, I called back and spoke with Ashely and then Alicia. They said the prescription would be replaced and I would be sent a return package and label. I was given the reference #**. On Jan. 4, someone named Ernest left a message on my VM telling me that a return package label was being sent out and they would not replace medication without receiving that. Today is Jan. 8 and I have received nothing from Express Scripts regarding this matter. I will have to have the prescription refilled at Walgreen's for a higher price.

The point here is two months prior to them sending me generic drugs in the mail, I requested that they do not send me anymore prescriptions. Now in Dec., they charged my credit card $238.39 for a prescription that my Doctor never authorized. I called them about it and was told once the drug is sent out, its against Federal Law for us to accept them back. So now we had to report this as fraud to our bank and will be getting our money back. But I don't think it is right for this Express Scripts to operate in the background and make unauthorized charges to people's credit cards. They later claim that they sent letters to you for you to cancel a fill order, in which they clearly had never sent me. If you were a previous customer of Express Scripts and no longer use their services, beware and check your credit card statements, because they will sneak in there and scam unauthorized charges to you.

In any event there are obligations imposed on the health provider to give more detailed information as to the Plan... the Plan Documents including recorded conversations with the patient... the name and address and person (by name) who is the plan administrator etc etc. It may not produce anything...but a lot of mail but I guarantee you it will drive them more crazy than their unilateral decisions, disrespectful decisions drive us. Anyone who wants to talk more about this can call me... if they wish. I have had personal experience with ERISA in our local, sixth circuit, Federal Court as I work for a small town attorney who is NOT looking for business... by the way, not at all or whatsoever. There is a chink in ERISA's armour...including not following the very law they use to protect themselves and the breech of fiduciary duty. It is tough to get to but sometimes persistence pays off.

At 12:05 pm (Calif time) I placed a call to my Medical Insurance Co Health Net 1-800-522-0088, playing punch the number in order to speak with a real person. Got Karen C/S tried to explained the problem I am having with Express Scripts. Of course she stated I must contact Express Scripts because her records indicates my prescriptions were ordered on 10-10-08 which is too soon to refill again. I asked how can that be if (1) I had to call my own doctor for an emergency refill) which was done on10-14-08 and Karen states that she will make an attempt to contact Express Scripts Pharmacy and get this problem resolved. So no help even from my health care provider -- Healthnet.

The dosage isn't the same, the efficacy isn't the same, it doesn't have this two-layer feature of keeping you asleep. I have had non-restorative sleep for weeks (with their substitute medication)... I'm in the midst of an appeal and am helpless in fighting them. But I just don't get it... of course I understand the saving for pharmacy companies in getting away from brand names - but this substitute med is just not the same. I'm an RN by trade and am responsible in my work for quick and accurate decision making... which I feel is compromised due to Express Scripts now filling the medication ** as my MD prescribed. Is there anything I can do? Again, I wrote my appeal letter and their answer to me was to have my MD appeal for me. WHY? My MD isn't taking the medication I am. He prescribed it to begin with... I'm so confused and aggravated with drug companies... and just wonder as a consumer if there is anything I can do?

The two letters dating October 13, 2008 stated that two of my prescriptions could not be refilled until dates showing 10/19/8 and 11/14/09 (these just happen to be the refill dates on a SEPT list. Funny these two prescriptions are for ** which shows on my empty bottles needed new prescriptions, both bottles dated received 8-14-08. The letter dating October 16th is for **. I placed a very urgent phone call to my Doctor ** to re-fax the prescription orders and mail them the hard copy.

I know for a fact that Express Scripts is a CLEARING HOUSE that only RECEIVES phone calls and that their so call pharmacy is also a CLEARING HOUSE. They do not have any phones to call out on to any doctor, strictly e-mail and FAXES. I feel that Express Scripts is ripping me off and not willing to deal with the proper forms that my Doctor has faxed them. The letter mailed out does not even have a representative's name written on it so there is no one person any customer can call upon to handle their account.

My suggestion is Express Scripts in Tempe AZ get a pharmacy right there in AZ to fill all their prescriptions instead of out of state (back East). No wonder it takes over 12 days by regular mail to get one prescription and only Express Scripts takes additional days and weeks to place the order even if called in and additional time by the pharmacy additional time. What do they care if the patient has to suffer!!!

My question is what if I do not follow their suggestions? What if they suggest I have a lap band surgery and my doctor says I am not fit to have any surgery? What is the insurance going to do then? Drop me from their plan because I am not participating and working with them? A friend of mine has a similar problem like that except it's her doctor that is reporting to her insurance company. He reports to her insurance company that she refuses to take the prescription because it upsets her stomach too much. Her insurance tells her that if she does not follow her doctor's orders she will be dropped from the insurance. So she goes to him for a while and finds a new doctor.

Express Scripts latest pain for me was that I was waiting for a shipment to arrive so I went online to check the status. I found out that my ** 300 mg was $377.66. Now last time I ordered it was $160.00. The time before that it was $80.00. This was all in this year. I immediately call Express Scripts and told them that they should of call me or my husband that we can not afford it and we were sending it back. Why didn't they call us? They then said that the doctor did not write DAW. Well, he did too! He writes on carbon paper. She says "Well he did not!" You know how it continued. Then she said "Have your doctor call this number." I then hung up and of course it was 5:30 pm and the office was closed. So I waited until Thursday - the next day. Called the doctor. The rep calls Express Scripts and calls me and tells me to call a certain number and for me to send the package back with a new script. Okay!

So I call the number - they say the Rep did not call! Oh boy! Do I have to go through this again? Which I did. Hung up and called the Prior Approval Number and asked "Did my doctor call you?" "No" they replied. I start complaining, ask to speak to a Supervisor and she passes me back to one regular Express Scripts people. I explain my whole story over thinking it's a Supervisor and then she tells me she not and I exploded. I ask for again for a Supervisor and I get this man who I don't remember his name. We start talking and I tell him that "I can't pay this amount and I did not open the package. We'll be shipping this back." He told me he can not receive it. I said "Why? I did not open it!" He replied "It's the law!" I said... and hung up.

Called the credit card company and they can not do anything until 15 days after the order was cancelled. I went to a notary of public on Friday to have them see the bag that it was not opened and I signed a document that I typed up stating that it was never opened. It should be received by Express Scripts by Tuesday. I wonder what they are going to do.

Unfortunately, it is simply economics. If your company is doing well and/or is generous with benefits, your coverage and certain services with us will be more advantageous to you. Not surprisingly, if your company is not doing so well, or is stingy, don't be surprised if your coverage is lackluster. That said, the customer service aspect doesn't differ, but unfortunately, the PBM's rep's hands are tied if your company can't or won't pay for every med you want/need. It's common sense.

I called my physician the same day. They said the only faxed authorization they sent Medco was for my original request for Medco to fill prescriptions back on 7/11/2008. They did not fax an authorization to Medco for a refill in September. I called Medco back a couple of days later. The person I spoke with was trying to help me, but again I was told that I could not return the medicine and that I had to pay the bill. That went on for about 1/2 hour. Finally, I asked to speak to a supervisor. I told that person that if I wasn't credited for meds not authorized by my physician, I was going to write to Chevron, the Better Business Bureau and any other agency I could identify and complain about Medco sending out meds without authorization. When I told her that, she agreed to credit me for the meds. I offered again to send the meds back but was told they could not accept them. It took me an hour's phone call to get them agree to crediting me.

Yesterday, 10/3/08, I received a voicemail from Medco asking me to call them. I called them the same day. The person I spoke with said that they were requesting I return the meds in order to give me credit for them. I told the person I spoke with that credit was supposed to have been issued to me over a week ago. She kept repeating that she only knew what was written on my record. She offered to send a postage free envelope in which to return the meds. I told them I would take care of returning them myself. After having the meds now for almost three weeks, I'll return them at my expense tomorrow so that I can be done with Medco.

Why do their customer service agents lie about information and why don't they just admit that Medco made a mistake? Why are they sending out unauthorized meds? Why do they say they won’t accept meds back and then ask for the meds back? Why do they only issue credit after threats of contacting consumer protection agencies? I won't do business with Medco again. I am sending a letter to the Better Business Bureau and Chevron. Shame on Chevron for using Medco.

My doctor would fax them the RX for all of my needed meds, like Plavix, Lipitor, Beta blockers and others. Now my Doctor said IF I MISS 1 DOSE. It may KILL ME. Sure enough, MEDCO dropped the ball, again and again and again. I have spent several hours of the phone with MEDCO and my doctor trying to correct the error. MEDCO is the biggest joke I have ever had to deal with. Talk about STRESS, you call MEDCO and fix a problem and then you wait and call them a find out there is more problems and they never call you to letter you know.

This JOKE with MEDCO started 08/20/2008 the doctor have faxed them the RX 3 times and guess what? Still no medicine. Now they called me and said they are sending out a 28 day supply for now, but it is going to cost me $258.00 for those meds, which at my local Pharmacy would only cost me $140.00 So how am I saving money??? The very next day, I get a automated phone call from them saying there is a problem with 1 of the meds and they need to me contacted by the DR office. and it is for the lipitor. I have already contacted the DR office and was given all the samples he had. Which is not enough to cover until MEDCO MIGHT send me MY MEDS.

They politely offers to cover a another 7 day supply FREE OF CHARGE, JUST GO TO THE PHARMACY AND PICK IT UP........NOPE.... I had to pay for the meds and called MEDCO AGAIN and they said to mail they the receipt and they will reimburse me. I now have 1 day left of Plavix and they will not ship it out until 09/11/2008 I have called and demanded to speak with a supervisor SARA, She assured me she would take care of this personally and see that it gets the highest priority and be processed first......NOPE..... I am wondering what it is going to take? ME DYING TO GET THE MEDS???

Chance of dying from not having my medications, Stress, higher blood pressure, Anxiety, physical headaches, to the point were I just don't care what happens to me anymore.

I do not react to Synthroid the way I react to Levothroid so switching me to Synthroid causes me problems. My complaint, however, is that 90 days of Levothroid costs about $18 while the charge for generic is $25. The people at Medco explained that Synthroid was cheaper than any of the generic choices. After I pointed out that their charge for Levothroid is about 25% cheaper, they agreed to replace the Synthroid with Levothroid for me.

Based on the number of people I know who take thyroid hormone, it appears that collectively patients are being over charged a large amount by Medco using Synthroid and charging $25 instead of using the less expensive Levothroid with an $18 charge.

I do not react to Synthroid the way I react to Levothroid so switching me to Synthroid causes me problems. My complaint, however, is that 90 days of Levothroid costs about $18 while the charge for generic is $25. The people at Medco explained that Synthroid was cheaper than any of the generic choices. After I pointed out that their charge for Levothroid is about 25% cheaper, they agreed to replace the Synthroid with Levothroid for me.

Based on the number of people I know who take thyroid hormone, it appears that collectively patients are being over charged a large amount by Medco using Synthroid and charging $25 instead of using the less expensive Levothroid with an $18 charge.

I called Medco and spoke to Debbie and she stated my doctor did not write a 3 month supply only a 1 month supply with 3 refills which apparently is not the correct way to write the prescription. I asked if I had my doctor correct the prescription, could I get the other 2 bottles. She stated at an additional charge of $75.00. I stated no then I would be paying $150.00 for 4 bottles of 100 test strips and I could get them cheaper by retail at $120.00 for 4 bottles. She stated that's all she could do. I asked if I could send it back and she stated if I did, they will not reimbursement my debit card. I told her I thought this was supposed to be cheaper for me not more expensive and she stated it would have been if your doctor would have worded the prescription correctly.

I also purchased Lantus Solostar Insulin and get a box per month for $30.00 retail. I paid $75.00 for a 3 month supply through Medco and when I received that order, I only had 2 boxes. The representative stated that because I used 30 units per night and 900 units per month that 1 box had 1500 unit and for a three month supply that would be 3000 units or 2 boxes.

Again I stated if I would have purchased this retail, I would have only paid $60.00 not $75.00. Again where's the savings. She stated she apologized if I didn't understand the program and I stated when your representative called me and stated I can save you money on your prescriptions, she never went into detail about these adjustments that Medco makes. I'm not working right now because I am a diabetic and have foot ulcers. My Daughter is helping me out with my medical expenses and I feel like I've been taken by this company.

For the strips I should have only paid $75.00 for 4 bottles and will now have to pay $150.00. For the insulin I should have only paid $60.00 for 2 boxes by retail and I put out $75.00 by mail order for 2 boxes. Also the frustration of dealing with Medco which is not a customer service friendly company. They don't care if you didn't understand their procedures and do not make any concessions to help you out.

I`m on yet another slew of medications as I`m asthmatic, & have severe back pain due to spinal stenosis----the same business aplies for getting these medications. Once I payed the extra money for expeditated services & that was totally ignored nor was my accound credited. What has happened to this company??? I`m really fed up, surprised they are still in business. I`m ready to go to herbs & vitamins & skip these drugs totally. Anyone else out there reached that point yet???

I spend much of my retirement money going from Dr. to pharmachy & am a nervous wreck plus the extra gas money it takes & its a once a month deal each time. I`m giving up on this company.

contact to Medco!

I went on vacation scared with out my medicine due to their inefficiency of not delivering my medicne on time.

As my husband's health took a very precipitous decline, he became unable to eat except when he took a certain medication. When I went in to pick up a refill at the pharmacy, I found Medco had declined payment, and the out-of-pocket costs for us were prohibitive. I immediately called Medco and the CS agent said they would not approve payment regardless of my husband's health condition.

I asked to speak to a supervisor, and I wound up trying to talk to a man who was verbally abusive and yelled at me that he didn't care what I'd been told by anyone there, that he was telling me that my husband's dire health condition was NOT going to sway him, that we could order the prescription the only way we'd been told we could or we could pay for it ourselves.

My husband did without. Within weeks he was dead. The outcome would not have changed had we had been allowed to pick up at the pharmacy a small supply of the stomach medication ordered by his doctor. The irony is that Medco had little or nothing to lose by allowing him to have immediately a smaller quantity from our local pharmacy; he surely had a right to that consideration as he'd paid for the prescription benefit. Medco's cruelty is something I can never forget or forgive.

No medication as of today. I do not know what will happen.

I looked the generics up for him at the Medline Plus website & read what the generics were REALLY for - not MY brand name meds. I feel this is a blatant bait & switch attempt by Medco to switch my medications from what my physicians feel are best suited to me, to medications that cost Medco less money but are potentially dangerous to me. This is the 2nd phone call of this nature from Medco in less than a year. I have now asked the company to cease & desist.

I had the sense to look up the generics while Medco had me on the phone.

When I called to find out why they said the 30 day plus 90 day prescription was 120,000 mg which exceeded the 100,000 mg/ rolling 90 day limit. I spent an hour on the phone with Medco trying to explain why they were miss applying the limit. The resolution was that they would convert the 90 day prescription into a 70 day prescription and expedite it. It would take them 7 days to fill the prescription. Meanwhile, I have ran out of medicine which has required me to take 1/2 day off of work to resolve this. After another hour on the phone Medco authorized a 7 day emergency supply that I can get filled at my local pharmacy.

My doctor now has to request a third prescription. Medco is a huge waste of time for my doctor. Rather than make it a waste of time for me, I am making it a waste of time for my employer. I know my case is not unique. If everyone insisted on time at work to deal with their employer's choice of Medco, then companies will dump Medco. I don't expect Medco will be around much longer. They are very poorly managed.

I do not see the purpose of companies such as Medco. Apparently Medco is saving companies money by denying employees their medicine. Companies such as Medco are just an expense since they do not provide any services.

In similar situations with my local pharmacy I am able to contact my doctor to have the situation resolved, in this situation the medication was sent and I was billed at a 90% higher cost. I keep reading articales about MEDCOs excellent numbers, but find it laughable since I feel taken advantage of by the 'system'.

I have since thrown the medication in the trash, go a month with out my medication, and been forced to pay the bill of $52 for one month (which should have been $20 for three months). They made it very clear they refuse to fill prescriptions with past due balances, and send the bill to collections if refusal to pay is continued. MEDCO is the school yard bully of prescription drug benefits, and if I had ANY other option I would take it.

So they filled the supposed 2nd perscription and again, I called to cancel again. I was informed that it was cancelled and I should have no further problems as they noted my record as not being on Medco's plan and not wanting any perscriptions filled. I got another call stating my perscription was sent out. Despite all the assurances and guarantees, they did not follow through with anything they told me and now want to hold me liable for the cost of the medication.

The bill is over $100, in addition, I have had to waste at least 3 hours of my personal time on the phone adding to the cost of this issue, since they do not handle things in a timely manner. Their customer service is appalling.

I asked for the shipping to be expedited and their explanation was that the order is too far into the automated system to do anything. It should be noted that Medco discourages the use of retail pharmacy's for purchasing prescriptions. For long term medications they only will cover the use of a pharmacy for 3 fills. After that you have to pay full price for medication.

I've had to abruptly stop taking two very potent medications b/c of the delay and am experiencing very uncomfortable physical and mental side effects. It is well known that patients should not abruptly stop taking the medications I am taking.I am extremely stressed out about this. I feel completely helpless and that I am at the mercy of an uncaring, flawed establishment.

I have severa asthama and do not have my maintanance drugs. If I end up in the hospital it will be Express Scripts fault. Hopefully my insurance company will send the bills to them.

Meantime, I told her that she could put something in the mail if she represented a real company and she said they had sent us several pieces of mail, which I did not recall. I said giving personal health information over the phone to strangers is against HIPPA regs, and she said it was all perfectly legal. At the end of our conversation, I told her to go to consumeraffairs.com and look up Medco and find out what customers think of her company. She finally hung up, thank goodness.

However, I have also been lied to: Your order was shipped yesterday. Here is the UPS tracking number. and when I check with UPS, they have no such number in their system. We never recieved the fax from your doctor and not only my doctor has a confirmation, but another customer service (doubtful they even understand the term) acknowledges that the prescription was in the pharmacy being filled at the time. Of course, yet another claimed it was delayed because they need the doctor's approval to fill the prescription he sent them and yet another agreed that it had never been received. They have held prescriptions, claiming they needed authorization (which they did not) or that they had attempted to contact me. As I never got a phone call, fax, email, telegram or knock on the door, I asked what means they used when they attempted, and they could not answer the question.

I have moved all the prescriptions I can afford to over to [another] pharmacy. I may pay a couple dollers more, but knowing that my prescriptions will actually be filled is worth it.

This hasn't been life threatening in my case, but I feel the need to report this because people can die from this inexcusable lack of service in trying to get their prescriptions. I FINALLY reached a supervisor today. She's promised to help. This is the first time any ESI rep has offered to help. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this time someone at ESI actually does something.

Economic because I have been unable to take advantage of the cost savings available when ordering prescriptions via mail.

They initially rejected the claim sent by my doctor on a technicality, which was promptly corrected and resubmitted as an amendment. Subsequently, no service rep can be found who has the foggiest idea what an amendment is or how to find one in the system. Three could find no evidence of a denial of coverage as much as a week after it occurred, two found the denials but couldn't say when or why they happened, three said that amendments weren't even possible and that only an appeal (which we were explicitly told it *wasn't* since we weren't challenging whether the drug was actually covered it its category, but rather were correcting the claim paperwork) could be filed.

I am on a time constraint and will likely have to come out of pocket for upwards of 3 grand to pay for drugs this company is too disorganized to recognize that it should be paying for. I am starting the complaint/appeals process today, but given the intelligence with which they've handled things so far, I'm expecting a very frustrating process.

Businesses that perform at this level should be banned from being involved in any aspect of someone's healthcare. Walmart will fill 3 month prescriptions it takes about 30 minutes. EXPRESS SCRIPTS could take WEEKS to fill the same prescription. BAD COMPANY, LOUSY SERVICE A perfect example of the level that healthcare has sunk to in this country. If you need medication and you do not receive it the consequences could potentially be fatal.

I have had to change some medications because they where nto on the list of drug I could either take or afford.

In February, '08, with forms sent to me by Highmark BC/BS, I submitted over $1100 worth of claims for reimbursment to Medco. All of the claims were rejected. On the phone with a Medco supervisor for 3 hours, the problem of an improper form was discovered, corrected, and I was promised it would all be resolved quickly.

It is now the end of May, 3 further rejections, for illogical reasons, the involvement of two other supervisors promising quick turnaround' and I am still without reimbursement. It has created a financial hardship for me, as those funds were a borrow from Peter situation, and it is getting worse by the day, as Medco keeps promising what they don't deliver: the resolution of claims in 14 days! HELP!

I am getting overdraft fees for electronically withdrawn bill payments, as I was promised these funds would be here months ago. My trip to my son's wedding in Philadelphia was ruined as I counted on this money. I cannot buy the new prescriptions I need, nor gas to go get it. I am now in dire straits, waiting well beyond the time it should have taken. I have worked for hour upon hour, with Medco reps, going over these 12 claims. All of the necessary information is there to complete the processing. It has been sheer negligence and sloppiness that has resulted in the rejections. I am scheduled for knee surgery in two weeks and cannot prepare as I am supposed to for it.

Extremely stressful. Medco advertises fast turn around time. But they apparently lose prescriptions, and make no effort to work with the customer. The impersonal attitude leaves one feeling helpless. I now must take time off work to get the prescriptions again, or at least contact the doctors and explain the situation. Perhaps this tiem the prescritions will be faxed. Is their any way to hold Medco accountable for losing prescriptions ?

I had my physician complete a prescription for the strips in a generic fashion (simply specified as OneTouch test strips) so I could obtain a meter that would work with the strips supplied to me by Express Scripts. Express Scripts, after acknowledging receipt of the order on 4/22 and shipping the strips on 5/5 with my receipt of the strips on 5/8 (rather lengthy compared to other mail order pharmacies), shipped strips that would work with only the OneTouch II or Basic meters. Neither Express Scripts nor any local retail pharmacies stock these older meters (only Ultra meters and later versions are stocked in retail pharmacies and Express Scripts).

After several conversations with Express Scripts Customer Service, I was made fully aware that Express Scripts would not accept return of the strips for credit or exchange the strips for those that work with available meters. My local retail pharmacy (Target) was able to provide an Ultra meter, free of charge (Target obtains the meter rebate from the manufacturer thus providing the customer the service of not having to pay and then apply for a rebate). Express Scripts has offered to sell me an Ultra meter (for an out of pocket cost of $65 USD) to work with the Ultra strips that I have had to now order from them. Express Scripts Customer Service is refusing to assist me with obtaining a Basic meter so that I can at least use the original strips that they had sent

$50 USD out of pocket expenses for strips that cannot be used with available meters.

Worst of all, they do not care to do anything at all to get necessary drugs to the patients. I do not want to file any legal action -- what I do want are addresses of the appropriate goverment agencies or pharmaceutical associations. I would like to file complaints against this company. I believe they should not be able to get away with being so sloppy with people's medications. They should be forced out of business - or at the very least, they should be in trouble.

I have a heart condition and high blood pressure. This company has caused me nothing but aggravation, and worry that I will receive my life-saving drugs. My blood pressure goes up everytime I put new prescriptions in the mailbox. I know there will be problems - as always.

To my shock I saw that the ship date on this order was pushed back by another week! So I called Medco to ask why there was such a delay in getting my ** and I was informed that they were trying to contact my doctor to find a cheaper alternative. I immediate informed the customer service rep that I was out of the ** and I needed the prescription filled ASAP (that's why I requested the refill on 4/11). She agreed that the delay was too long and told me to contact my doctor and have my doctor phone in a 7-10 day prescription to my local pharmacy and Medco would cover it no charge to me.

So again I contacted my doctor's office and asked them to call in the prescription. However, when I went to pick up the ** at my local pharmacy I was told the 10 pills would cost me $30. I informed the pharmacist that Medco should be approving it at no cost to me. The pharmacist came back and said Medco was blocking the payment request. I contacted Medco to see why and was informed that I was only approved for a 7-day prescription. In the time it took for Medco customer service rep to look up my account and figure out what was going on, the pharmacy closed. So I was unable to pick up my **.

I asked the Medco rep for a telephone number to call Medco and file an official complaint and was informed that they don't have phone number for complaints. She did however patch me through to a male employee who basically told me there was nothing he could do help and next time I should order my refills earlier. Despite the fact that Medco made several errors in processing my prescription, he made absolutely no effort to help or contact another pharmacy!

After opening the package and discovering it was the wrong medication, I called Medco Customer Service and spoke with Judy Fleming #3342. Judy told me that consumers do not have to approve medication, that any doctor can fax or mail in a prescription for a Medco consumer and Medco simply ships and bills the consumer whether that consumer ever requested the prescription or not. She told me there was no way to return the prescription and that they would not credit my account. She said her supervisor Jenny Sosa could call me back within 24 to 48 hours.

I next called my doctor's office and my doctor's secretary stated the error was due to the doctor's office faxing the wrong prescription to Medco. They had intended to order Ibuprofen but mistakenly requested the Lidoderm Patch 1's. My doctor's secretary said she would fax Medco to tell them it was an error made by the doctor's office and that Medco should take the medication back and credit my account.

On March 11th, I received an email from Medco about my new prescription order. I signed on to Medco's web site and found that Medco was filling a second prescription for the same incorrect medication. I called Medco Customer Service and spoke with Dorla Levy #3206. Dorla told me that my doctor had submitted a prescription for the Lidoderm Patch 1's and they were going to send me a second shipment. She pulled Ed, a Medco pharmacist on the line and Ed told me my doctor had sent in a prescription for Lidoderm and they were sending it whether I wanted it or not.

I contacted my human resources help desk and asked that they contact Medco and see if they could get this corrected. I then sent an email to the vice president of human resources at my company suggesting my company contract with another prescription insurer for 2009. The good news is that my company does not hold its employees responsible for errors outside of the employee's control. The human resources department arranged to have my Medco account credited for the correctly filled prescription (Lidoderm), to send me a mailer to return the Lidoderm prescription to Medco, and to cancel the 2nd correctly filled prescription (Lidoderm).

The bad news is that Medco refuses to accept any responsibility for the way they do business. Medco claims the bottom line is they made no errors in the process and the responsibility for my receiving the wrong medication lies entirely with my physician's office. Further more, they stated it was clear that twice, on March 5th, and again on March 10th, my doctor's office faxed prescriptions for Lidoderm to Medco. Medco states they filled these prescriptions as written by the prescribing physician, Medco fulfilled its responsibility correctly and properly. Medco was correct when they informed me that my prescriptions were properly filled. They never acknowledged that the March 10th fax contained a cover letter stating the prescription on the 5th was an error and to refund the incorrect prescription. This could all be easily fixed if Medco offered its customers an option to opt-in to a must approve prescriptions on their web site. That way whether my doctor faxed the prescription, or I mailed a paper prescription, before Medco actually filled the prescription, Medco would provide me with (1) an image of the ENTIRE prescription they received (2) the cost to me to fill the prescription and (3) the prescription they are going to fill for me - which doesn't always match what was prescribed with generics and substitutions and Medco rules and all that.

8 hours of work-time spent on the phone with Medco, my human resources department or my doctor's office trying to get this straightened out. It didn't end up costing me anything because my company paid my salary for this wasted time and I got a refund for Medco's mistake.

Finally we paid the bill and requested the prescription to be returned for us. Medco's response was No Way! we destroyed the returned medicine and we will not issue a refund. So we were out the $125 and had no prescription to show for it. It's a sad state that we now have a company openly commiting fraud. When I threaten a small claims lawsuit I was laughed at by the MEDCO manager. It just blows me away that some company can send you a product that you didn't order and then force you to pay for it!

Where is my medicine? I had to purchase this at a drug store at a much higher cost.

If this is the way they work, I will not be using the mail order from them and will take the time to go to the drug store to get my meds. At least there I know that they be filled with no hassles. This company should not even be around if this is the way they do business. If this business is ranked 3rd in the US, then how many businesses are there for mailing prescriptions? Must be only 3.

My doctor is 45 minutes away from me, and the pharmacy is another 40 minutes. Their incompetency cost me much wasted time on the phone since Thursday, March 13 until Monday the 17th. I wasted a lot of gas driving around to get prescription and to get it filled.