Frequently Asked Questions


How do I move my refills to The Drug Store?

If you want to fill your prescriptions at The Drug Store, but you still have refills at another pharmacy, bring your bottles and we can transfer your refills here. If you don't have your bottles, call us, and let us know which medications you need and the pharmacy where they were last filled, and we'll take care of the rest. If you're out of refills, our pharmacist can call or fax your doctor for renewals.
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What is a prior approval (PA)?

Insurance companies sometimes require a prior approval (PA) before they agree to cover certain medications. Usually a PA is required on very expensive medications especially when there are less expensive alternatives available. The insurance company requires that the prescribing doctor or someone in his office call or complete a PA form. In the phone call or on the form, the insurance company will try to determine if you (the patient) have tried a less expensive alternative. If you have already tried the alternative drugs or if you can't take the alternative drugs due to allergies or side effects, usually the insurance company will give an approval. Usually when a medication requires prior approval it will be on the higher copay tier, which means even with approval your copay will be the maximum amount. If you or your doctor have questions about prior approvals, call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card. The customer service department can give you or your doctor information on whether or not your medication requires prior approval and what the copay will be if it is approved. As always, our pharmacists are glad to assist you and your doctor in obtaining a prior approval for your medicine.
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What does "non-formulary" mean?

A formulary is a list of medications covered by your insurance plan. Non-formulary drugs are usually not covered by your plan even if the doctor declares that it's medically necessary. You can still have a non-formulary medication filled, but you will have to pay the full price of the drug. Within a formulary list an insurance company will classify medications with "tiers." Tiers are lists inside of the formulary list. Tier 1 is the list of drugs most preferred, and tier 3 is the list of drugs least preferred. You can expect a lower copay (your cost) and few or no restrictions on a tier 1 medication. A tier 3 drug will have a higher copay and may have restrictions like quantity limits or prior approvals. (see prior approvals) Tier 2 drugs may have some restrictions and will have a higher copay than tier 1 but a lower copay than tier 3 medications. Tier 2 will sometimes contain "non-preferred generic drugs." These are usually more expensive generic drugs. Each insurance plan has it's own formulary, so consult your plan guide or call the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card to see if your medications are preferred on your plan. We are glad to help you lower your out-of-pocket expense by contacting your doctor to change your prescriptions to preferred medications on your insurance plan. Your doctor will decide if you can change to a preferred drug. Sometimes your doctor may feel that the preferred medication will not work as well for you, and he may want you to continue the medicine you're on.
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How do I know if my medicine is causing a side effect or if it's something else?

When you have a prescription filled for a medication you've never taken, ask for a patient information print out. (Also available at the Mayo Clinic's Website.) The print out will have a list of common side effects associated with the new medicine as well as how to take the medicine and other precautions and information. Most side effects will get better or even go away completely after 2 or 3 weeks once your body adjusts to the drug. If the side effect doesn't get better, is bothersome, or gets worse, call your doctor to see if he wants to change your dose or change the medication. If you have a severe reaction such as swelling, trouble breathing, severe rash, or fainting or blacking out, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. If you notice a side effect that is not listed on your patient information sheet, it still may be caused by your medicine; this is especially true of newer drugs that haven't been on the market very long. Report any side effects you notice to your doctor or pharmacist. Or you can contact the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1080 to report a medication reaction.
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Which Medicare D plan should I sign up for?

The answer to this question will be different for everyone. There are hundreds of choices for Medicare part D plans. Each choice has a different formulary and plan rules. A plan that is the cheapest for one person may be one of the more expensive plans for someone else. The best way to decide which plan is best for you is to go to the Medicare website and enter your medication list. The site will generate a list of plans arranged from cheapest to most expensive based on your exact list of medicines. The expense will be based on your out-of-pocket expense for the year including copays, deductibles, gap coverage, and premiums. For more information about Medicare part D plans, go to Medicare's "Prescription Drug Plan" web page. There you'll find answers to lots of other questions as well. As always, we are happy to help you choose a plan by answering your Medicare part D questions.
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What is the Medicare part D "coverage gap?"

Most Medicare drug plans have a coverage gap. This means that after you and your drug plan have spent a certain amount of money for covered drugs, you have to pay all costs out‑ of‑pocket for your prescriptions up to a yearly limit. Your yearly deductible, your coinsurance or co-payments, and what you pay in the coverage gap all count toward this out‑of‑pocket limit. The limit does not include the drug plan premium or what you pay for drugs that are not on your plan formulary. There are plans that offer some coverage during the gap, like for generic drugs. However, plans with gap coverage may charge a higher monthly premium. Check with the drug plan first to see if your drugs would be covered during the gap. For more information on the coverage gap, check out the Medicare website.
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