Complaint Review: Medco Mail Order Pharmacy

I was laid off from work on 1/16/09, so my insurance would expire 2/1. On 1/29, I obtained a prescription for pain medication for chronic pain--thirty days after I had previously obtained and filled a prescription for the same medicine. Medco refused to fill the RX for one week.

Their stated basis was that since I had refilled the prescription early [but within Medco's rules/regs and federal law] a few months earlier, I should have enough to wait another week or so. This in spite of the fact that for the past 3 or 4 months, 30 days had lapsed between each refill. And any early refills were in compliance with their regs against premature refills [and federal law].

I went back to get the prescription filled per their directions, but by then it was a new month. My regular insurance was no longer in effect (and I have not yet been offered the chance to continue it through COBRA). So now Medco won't cover it at all.

The difference in cost is $4 vs. $150--so it isn't an option for me to fill it now. B/c of Medco's refusal, I will continue to attempt to manage the pain on a daily basis using about 20 X-strength acetaminaphen tabs, 800 mg. Ibuprofen tabs, and OTC Naproxyn Sodium tabs. These take the edge off the pain, barely.

They also lack customer service. My first dealings with their telephone personnel were also extremely unpleasant. They were so rude, that I ended up refusing to deal with them, but had my husband talk to them instead.

They were w/o basis in refusing to fill it on the 29th. Any insurance co. considering switching to Medco should reconsider: their customers WILL be dissatisfied, and that will reflect on the insurance co. itself.

Mc Kat
Kaysville, Utah
U.S.A.