Holdiong
Down Prescription Costs
Brother's
and Sister's, as you all are aware the costs of prescription drugs and
health care are right out front with all of the political debates that
have been going on and will continue to be a very burning issue in our
contract negations and with the political elections in November.
I went on line and have been doing some investigations about drug prices.
Most of us use the MEDCO mail in prescriptions to save money on the 90
day supplies. WELL, I have had my eyes opened during my investigations!
First of all the $4.00
lists that Walmart (I know I can hear the groans already and wondering
WHY WOULD ANYONE GO TO Walmart! Those of us who are retired and on fixed
incomes will tell you one word MONEY! That's why.) and TARGET have out
there are the SAME! So if you don't want to shop Walmart you can go to
TARGET and spend the same amount for generic prescriptions. So what I would
recommend everyone to do is print out a copy off the Internet and take
it to your doctor and have them put the list in your file and when it comes
time for a prescription have the doctor look to see if the medicine is
on the list and go that route for your prescription instead of MEDCO by
mail. Now another interesting bit of information that I discovered a medicine
that I take is $50.00 for a 90 days supply at Met MEDCO, at Target the
same medicine is $4.00 a 30 day supply making a 90 day supply $12.00 a
difference of $38.00. HELLO - Where am I going to get that medicine?
Also I had heard that you
didn't need to be a member to use the Costco pharmacy. Well that did turn
out to be TRUE! Since the pharmacies are state and federal regulated you
have everyright to use them WITHOUT A MEMBERSHIP. To stare and compare
prices you can access the information at www.costco.com
and look for the pharmacy and access it that way. The same medicine at
Medco again was $50.00 and at Costco it was $16.50 so again it was cheaper
than MEDCO and some were cheaper than Target so again SHOP AROUND for the
best "deal".
So if you are out traveling
and need some prescriptions or are at home you have more money saving options
at your fingers. It's also a way to help lower the high costs of prescriptions
that the company will be saying is killing them. So again if you know of
any retirees that don't have access to the Internet please pass this along
to them so we can help everyone save some money. After all that's the name
of the game!
The
Wal*Mart $4 Perscription web site.
The
Target
$4 Perscription web site.
The
Hy
Vee $4 Perscription web site.
If you have any questions
please contact jimperkey@cwa7102.org
In Unity, Jim Perkey EVP,
7102
Note: The Medco section
on www.myuhc.com
has an option "My RX Choices" that will check your current drugs
and tell you what they cost and if there is a generic that has a lower
co-pay cost to it. Also by going to "Claims and Balances" on
the site it will show what the plan paid and what you paid on
the drugs you ordered.
Hints for Dealing with Benefits
Department.
When dealing with Medical
or the Qwest Service Center, have a pen and paper handy and take notes.
REMEMBER
the W's:
Who did you talk
to?
When did you talk
to them?
Why did you talk
to them?
What did you ask
them?
What did they say?
When you talk to the Qwest
Service Center
(1 800 729 7526) they will
give you a tracking or case number -- very decent of them and VERY helpful!
Keep your receipts, insurance
papers and notes in a file folder - this can be REAL helpful.
Health Benefits
Coordinators
Are available to assist
the Locals and Members with any health care problem or issue.
Carla Floyd
phone: (503) 251-7026
fax: (503) 252-3364
email Carla.Floyd@qwest.com
Sean Morrow
phone (509) 455-2162
email sean.morrow@qwest.com
Do
not hesitate to use the HBC if you need assistance. |
The new Qwest Health and
Life Web site
www.qwesthealthandlife.com
This site will be available
after 05:00 AM CST on 01-Aug-2010.
Qwest Savings
& Investment
Plan, Life Benefits
http://qwestbenefits.ingplans.com
The current ING site will
be unavailable for transactions between July 28 and August 1.
United Health
Care Medical and Prescription Drugs
www.myuhc.com
For Retorees
This fall, information will
be sent
regarding Annual Enrollment
for 2011 benefits.
Make sure ypur address is
current
by either updating your
address on www.qwest
healthandlife.com or by
calling the Qwest
Service Center at 1 800-729-7526
on or after
August 2, 2010.

Qwest
Tuition.com
https://www.qwesttuition.com/
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
http://www.cms.gov
Forms
CWA/Qwest
Grievance Report
Qwest
Time in Title
Debit
Authorization Form
for
the Qwest Benefit Plan
The following have assisted
our members with questions on pensions
and reitrement. Feel
free to take advantage of their services.
Chris
L. Weston ChFC,CFP
3112
E, Titus Ave
Des
Moines, IA 50315
Telephone
515 953-6477
Email
chris@firstprioritywealth.com
Web
site www.firstprioritywealth.com
Dale
A.
Roshek
Senior Finacial Services
Representative
454 Walnut, Suite 100
Des Moines. IA 50309
515 246 4076
800 543 4015 ext 64964
roshek.dale@principal.com
Vincent
P. Sturm
Division
Manager
2700
Westown Parkway, Suite 260
West
Des Moines, IA 50266
515-278-2347
Fax 515-278-4324
Toll
Free 800-959-0881
vsturm@wradvisors.com
www.waddell.com
Waddell
& Reed does NOT support, in any way, privatizing Social Security
Whelan & Associates
Wealth Managemenent
Leading the Way to Financial
Independence
Kyle
Whelan Financial Advisor
14225 University Ave, Suite
200
Waukee, IA 50263
515 223 2265
800 943 5269
kwhelan@whelan-axxos.com |