COVID‑19: Ensuring access to medications during the outbreak

This article was originally published on March 24 and updated on June 12.

The global pandemic of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and news of its ongoing spread, is stressful. We know that you and your plan members, especially those on maintenance medications, or who have complex, chronic conditions, may be concerned about ongoing access.

CVS Health has already taken steps to help ensure patients of all ages have every option available to them when it comes to filling prescriptions.

Making sure your members have access to their medications is our priority.

We’re also committed to helping your members and their families to stay safe as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.

Here are ways in which your members can obtain their medications from the comfort of their homes while following appropriate social distancing guidelines.

Home delivery from CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy

Because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying at home to help prevent exposure, remind your members that they can have 90-day supplies of maintenance medications delivered to their home, or any other address they choose, by mail with no delivery fees. Mail service can even save members money.¹ Medications are delivered by mail in secure, tamper-resistant packaging. Members can sign up to have their medications delivered by mail at Caremark.com by selecting “Request a New Prescription.”

Your members’ shipments are safe. All of our facilities, including our mail service pharmacy, are taking precautions recommended by the CDC, including hand washing, use of gloves, and frequent cleaning and disinfecting of all commonly touched surfaces.

Home Delivery from CVS Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy is waiving charges for one- to two-day home delivery of prescription medications. With the CDC encouraging people at higher risk for COVID-19 complications to stay at home as much as possible, this is a convenient option to avoid coming to the pharmacy for refills or new prescriptions. Members can visit CVS.com or use the CVS Pharmacy mobile app to set up free one- to two-day delivery.*

Waiving Refill-too-Soon Restrictions

Under normal circumstances, refill-too-soon limits on 30-day prescriptions for maintenance medications require members to use most of their medication prior to obtaining a refill. For the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, for plans that have adopted the refill-too-soon override, we are waiving these limits for all in-network pharmacies. This allows members to refill most maintenance medication prescriptions ahead of their normal schedule.

UPDATE, JUNE 12: Beginning June 15th, members can call their pharmacy and ask if they are eligible to refill their prescription early due to COVID-19.

MinuteClinic and Video Visits

Virtual care options like video visits can be an effective way to minimize exposure to other potentially contagious viruses.** For members who need to see a provider for minor, non-coronavirus related illnesses, MinuteClinic offers the option of a Video Visit in 40 states and Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, at this time MinuteClinic Video Visits are not covered by insurance but many plans offer telemedicine through third-party services as part of their covered benefit.

We are in this with you. As long as COVID-19 continues to pose a threat, we will remain relentlessly focused on how best to meet your needs and those of your members, as they evolve.

*Free one- to two-day delivery from CVS Pharmacy has been extended through December 31, 2020.

**At this time, MinuteClinic Video Visits are cash-only and not covered by insurance.

Image source: Licensed from Getty Images, 2020.

©2020 CVS Health. All rights reserved.