Types of Prescription Drugs
 
The type of prescription drugs that you purchase will directly affect your out-of-pocket expenses. The three types of prescription drugs are generic, preferred (drugs that appear on Caremark’s preferred list, which are also known as “formulary drugs”) and non-preferred (drugs that don’t appear on Caremark’s preferred list and which are also known as “non-formulary drugs”). These three types of drugs will now be linked to a three-tier co-payment schedule.
 
Note: The information provided about prescription drug coverage does not apply to anyone enrolled in a fully insured health maintenance organization (HMO).
 
After Jan. 1, 2007, you can locate the nearest network retail pharmacy by visiting the Caremark Web site at www.caremark.com or calling the Caremark service center at 1-800-378-8851.
 
Guidelines for Purchasing Maintenance Prescription Drugs
 
·           Are you or your covered dependents currently taking a maintenance prescription drug – a drug that is generally prescribed for chronic or long-term medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol?
·           Do you or your covered dependents currently purchase your maintenance prescription drug at a retail pharmacy?
·           Will you or your covered dependents be prescription be prescribed a maintenance prescription drug in 2007?
 
Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, your prescription drug program will cover only the first three times that you fill a 30-day maintenance prescription drug at a retail pharmacy. After the first three fills, all subsequent fills for a rolling 12-month period must be obtained through the Caremark mail order program in order to be covered under your prescription drug program. This means that if you purchase any additional fills of that maintenance prescription drug at the retail pharmacy, you will have to pay the full cost of the drug and you will not be eligible to receive any reimbursement.
 
Before ordering maintenance drugs through the mail order program, you will need a prescription from you doctor. Be sure to have your doctor write your prescription for a 90-day supply before you submit it to Caremark.
 
Mail order medications are shipped directly to your home (or any other U.S. address that you select). There is no annual deductible requirement. And when you use the mail order program, your co-payment will usually purchase more medication. In order to participate in the mail order program, you will need to complete a mail service order form. You can print a mail service order form from the Caremark Web site, or call Caremark to request a form. In addition, you should ask you doctor to write a prescription for a 90-day supply. This way, you will maximize your benefits.
 
Once you complete the form, mail it to Caremark (the address is on the mail service order form), along with your original prescription(s) (not photocopies) from your physician and the appropriate payment for each prescription. You should receive your prescription(s) approximately 14 days after Caremark receives your order.
 
Caremark Contact Information and Mail Service Order Form Requests
 
In mid to late December you should receive a Welcome Booklet from Caremark that will include you ID card, the current Preferred Drug List, a mail order service form and general information on how to access and use Caremark services. Effective Jan. 1, 2007, you will also have complete access to Caremark’s Web site and be able to print a mail service order form. Go to www.caremark.com and after registering, log in by typing you username and password. Click on Prescriptions and Coverage, go to My Coverage on the left navigation bar, and then click on Print Forms.
 

During annual enrollment and after Jan. 1, 2007, you can find out whether your prescription drug is considered a maintenance drug, to request mail service order forms or claim forms, or to fill eligible prescription drug orders or refills, call Caremark at 1-800-378-8851. 
 

You may obtain more detailed written prescription info from AT&T Benefits Update, Fall 2006, pages 7 thru 14.