Blue Cross Pharmacy Managing Costs Through New Partnerships
At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, we work every day to keep prescription medication affordable for you and your family.
That’s why Blue Cross is making improvements to our prescription drug plans beginning Jan. 1, 2022, for commercial group and individual members, to expand access and improve prescription drug prices – giving members like you more value and cost savings. The change will take place on Jan. 1, 2023, for our Medicare group and individual members.
As a current member with Blue Cross pharmacy coverage, there are some changes to be aware of.
New ID Card
The updates start with a new Blue Cross and BCN member ID card for 2022, which will be mailed to commercial members before the end of December. If you haven’t received your new ID card, you’ll receive it soon. It’s important to show your new ID card at your pharmacy the first time you fill a prescription in 2022.
Make sure to share your new ID card with your doctor’s office as well.
You can also access your ID card digitally anytime through your online member account at bcbsm.com or on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan mobile app. Your digital ID card is always up to date. It will show your new information starting Jan. 1.
New Home Delivery Pharmacy
OptumRx will be the new home delivery pharmacy for our commercial members, starting Jan. 1, 2022.
If you receive any medications through Express Scripts – our current home delivery pharmacy – most prescriptions with remaining refills will automatically transfer to OptumRx. You’ll receive a call from OptumRx to set up your account, and they’ll send a letter confirming your transferred prescriptions in January.
However, you may need to see your doctor to obtain a new prescription for certain medications to continue home delivery service. You’ll need a new prescription if:
- There are no refills remaining on your prescription.
- Your prescription has expired.
- Your medicine is a controlled substance, which legally can’t be transferred. This includes some medicine to treat chronic pain, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and seizure conditions. Check the label on your medicine bottle, the prescription insert from the pharmacy or your online member account to see if your medicine is a controlled substance.
You will receive letters in November and January with more details about home delivery service, transferred prescriptions and instructions for sending new prescriptions, which your doctor may also submit electronically for you.
Updated Online Tools
Your online member account at bcbsm.com and on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan mobile app will feature updated pharmacy information beginning Jan. 1.
You’ll still get information about your prescriptions, out-of-pocket costs, and your medication history, and you’ll also find tools that help:
- Reference the drugs covered under your plan
- Compare drug prices at pharmacies
- Find in-network pharmacies
- Enroll in home delivery
The online tools will have a new look and share some additional information.
For more information, visit bcbsm.com/rxchanges.
More from MIBluesPerspectives:
- How Your Insurance Company Can Help You Save Money on Prescriptions
- Beware the Dangers of Keeping Unused Prescriptions
- Less is More: You May Not Need an Antibiotic
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I have a Legacy Supplement insurance with BCBS & my account shows that I have coverage on prescriptions but I have never been informed of having any coverage with BCBS. I inquired wen speaking to an agent & was told that it is called Affinity Rx. What is this about & how does it work?
I am low income & have never been advised that I might access some help for prescriptions through BCBS without purchasing a BCBS prescription insurance plan. The ones I have reviewed are way higher than I have right now. Can anyone supply me with more information?
After being advised that “changes are coming”, it is super frustrating (and scary) to not have the new pharmacy information available in advance of January 1. I am worried I will go to the pharmacy the first week in January and have trouble refilling my medications that I use daily. Hopefully the worry in unfounded, however it is ruining my holiday season
Hi Alice. We are committed to keeping pharmacy costs stable for our members. You should receive a new member ID card before the end of the year. Continue to use your current member ID card at your pharmacy and your health care providers’ offices through Dec. 31. Starting Jan. 1, 2022, take your newest card to your pharmacy for your medication to be paid for correctly. If you have any questions, please check your online member account for more information about your plan. – Thank you, James
How can I compare the current cost of my medications with these new changes in prescription coverage?
Thank you!
Hello Richard. Please visit our website for more information on prescription drug coverage. https://miblues.co/3uFUV47 – James
Second paragraph, you have the wrong date. It says the change will take place January 1, 2023.
Thank you for pointing this out, Melissa. We will forward this to our writing team.
Thanks for the new card.
Is there any reason the printing is so small. I can’t read it with reading glasses on. The receptionist at our clinic couldn’t even read it.
Thank you for your feedback, Chris. There is a lot of information that needs to go on your member ID card, but we can understand the frustration and will pass it along.
Yes I found this out the hard way when filling a script and how much they said it would be. It would have been nice to know this in advance to the 1st of the new year. The pharmacy got it all fixed but I just wish I had known!
Hi Joanne. We apologize that you had that experience. We hope everything is resolved, but if you need additional assistance, please visit our Customer Action Center. https://miblues.co/36W9ubU – James
Hi,
I don’t care to use mail order scripts. My pharmacy offers free delivery. And I don’t understand WHY my premium went to over $900. A month?
Thank you
Hi Doreen. Our priority is for our members to have stable access to affordable, quality health care. We would like to talk to you about your plan and help with any coverage questions. Please fill out this short form and a member of our team will be in contact: http://miblues.co/1Bb6oI4
Are you a compounding pharmacy
Hi Cindy. We are not a pharmacy, but we do offer a prescription drug plan. You can learn more about what’s discussed in this article here: https://www.bcbsm.com/rxchanges/index/