9 Ways to Help Your Pharmacist Fill Your Prescription
Key takeaways:
Come to the pharmacy prepared with your insurance card (if applicable), any discount cards you plan on using, and any other information your pharmacist may need to process your prescription. It’s best to give them this information before they fill your prescription.
Call your healthcare provider’s office ahead of time if you need more refills. This will help make sure you receive your medication in a timely manner. You can also call the pharmacy before you pick up your prescription to make sure it’s ready when you get there.
Let your pharmacist know if you’re taking any other medications, over-the-counter products, or supplements. These may interact with other medications you have been prescribed.
Your pharmacist works diligently to make sure you get the right medication — with the right dose and the right instructions. And among all healthcare professionals, pharmacists are unique due to our deep knowledge of medications, vaccines, and much more. Help us help you by using some of the following pharmacist-friendly tips.
1. Visit the pharmacy earlier in the day
Pharmacies are generally less busy in the morning. This is before the day’s prescriptions start to filter in. To reduce your time at the pharmacy and make everyone’s lives easier, think about bringing your prescription or picking up your medication in the morning.
We do our best to fill prescriptions in a timely manner, but pharmacists and pharmacy technicians get hundreds of prescriptions a day. Issues with insurance or refills can delay the process for hours or even days. The problems are usually tougher to deal with in the busier parts of the workday.
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2. Let your pharmacist know if you’ll be using GoodRx
If you’re bringing a paper prescription to the pharmacy, and you plan to use GoodRx, tell the pharmacist you’ll be using a GoodRx discount before they start processing the prescription. This way, they’ll be able to quickly process the discount at the same time they prepare your medication. When you pick up your medication, the discount will be automatically applied to the price.
If your prescription was sent directly to the pharmacy from your provider’s office, let your pharmacist know you want to use a GoodRx discount before they ring up your prescription.
3. If you plan to pay with insurance, bring your insurance card
If you’re using prescription insurance to pay for your medication, be sure to bring your insurance card. This is especially important at the beginning of the new year when new cards are sent out. Even though many insurance cards look similar year to year, there are often slight changes in the numbers that are used for billing and processing.
It will save everyone time if you have your card on hand, and we don’t need to contact your insurance company to verify or obtain any new information.
4. If you have Medicare, bring your Part B and C cards
If you have Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the pharmacy team may ask to see your Medicare B or Medicare C (Medicare Advantage) card. This is especially important if your prescription is for diabetes test strips, breathing medications used in nebulizers, or a vaccine — many of these need to be billed to your Medicare Part B insurance. Medicare Advantage coverage varies by plan.
5. Call your prescriber for refill prescriptions
If you’re out of refills, you’ll need a new prescription. Pharmacists are willing to place a refill request with your provider’s office, but more often than not, we have to leave a voicemail or send an electronic request. It may take some time for the pharmacy to get a response.
In most cases, it’s better if you speak with your provider directly about refills — especially since they like to check in with you regarding necessary blood tests or other requirements before sending off the new prescription. This will help save time by reducing back-and-forth communication between the pharmacy and your provider.
However, if your prescription still has eligible refills remaining, feel free to contact your pharmacy directly. You can do this over the phone, in person, or online (for some pharmacies).
6. Call the pharmacy to check if your refill is ready
Before you head to the pharmacy, be sure to call your pharmacy ahead of time to check if your medication is ready. If they have a mobile app or website, you may be able to check your prescription status there as well.
This is especially important for refills of medications that you take regularly, just in case there’s an unexpected delay. Don’t wait to try and refill your medication until the last minute. Having a buffer of even a few days allows the pharmacist to contact your provider’s office, insurance company, or order the medication if it’s out of stock — whatever the need might be.
7. Let your pharmacist know about your other medications and supplements
This is important for your health and safety. Prescription drugs can interact with other prescription drugs. And certain supplements and over-the-counter medications may interact with prescription medications, too.
All of these issues could potentially cause side effects. In some cases, they could be life-threatening. To avoid dangerous side effects, always tell your pharmacist about any medications, over-the-counter products, or supplements you may be taking.
8. Understand who’s involved in medication pricing
If your medication costs too much, or your insurance requires a prior authorization before you can get your medication, remember that pharmacists dispense medications and evaluate them for your safety. They don’t set prices.
Although medication prices can sometimes be out of our control, pharmacy teams try to do everything we can to point you to helpful resources, let you know if cheaper alternatives are available, or share other savings tips.
9. Get to know your pharmacist
Once you begin to use one pharmacy regularly, get to know your pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Not only does this make for a more enjoyable experience at the pharmacy, but this helps us ensure you get the best personalized care. Your healthcare provider knows you, and so should your pharmacist.
The bottom line
You can help your pharmacist by being prepared and proactive. Come to the pharmacy ready with your insurance card (if applicable), discount card, or any other information they may need to process your prescription. Call your provider’s office ahead of time to request a refill before you run out of your medication. Talk to your pharmacist and let them know if you take any other medications or supplements. Not only will these tips help your pharmacist, but they can help you get your medications efficiently and safely.
Why trust our experts?
References
Medicare.gov. (n.d.).What Part B covers.
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