Expedite-RX Frequently Asked Questions
- An Initial Prescription Order Form that you will need to complete;
- A Medical History Form that you will need to complete;
- A Customer Agreement form that you will need to sign.
- Virtually all the drug brands are of common manufacture, and
- In a published statement a FDA spokesman said that the federal government "has not enforced any existing laws affecting such importation in years", and that it has instead taken "a compassionate approach (to enforcement) (that is) intended to help people with serious health problems".
What
is Expedite-RX?
Details of the Expedite-RX Importation-Assistance Program!
Can I save money on all my prescriptions?
Why is a safety link important?
Why Canada?
What drugs are offered from Canada?
Can Expedite-RX honor my insurance card?
Does it cost me more to use Expedite-RX?
Don’t be intimidated!
What forms need to completed for the Expedite-Rx service?
How long will it take to receive my original order and refill orders?
How much is charged for shipping?
Why is it to my advantage to order a 90-day supply than a 30-day supply?
What about the safety of ordering my medications from Canada?
Is there a limit on how much I can buy at one time?
Why get my generically-available prescriptions in the local US retail pharmacy network?
Am I able to check the status of my order?
What
is Total Care Pharmacy’s return policy?
What
if my International medication looks different from what I have been getting
in the US?
What is Expedite-RX?
Expedite-Rx is a USA-based intermediary that can assist you to safely take advantage of huge savings by your directly obtaining prescriptions from Canadian sources.
For years, border-state Americans have crossed into Canada for medications they could not afford at USA prices. Now, special mail-delivery programs have been developed to accommodate Americans who cannot travel out of the USA for prescriptions. However, without certain safeguards, this practice could do you more harm than good. Unless a dispensing pharmacy has a real-time patient-protective technological interface with your up-to-date drug history, you risk serious drug interactions and up to 200,000 people die each year from such "adverse events".
Expedite-Rx links its USA network database with the Canadian pharmacy, and it immediately warns the Canadian pharmacy of drug interactions, medication incompatibilities, duplicate therapies and misuse before your prescription is sent to you. And - Just as important when you get other prescriptions at your local network pharmacy, the same process is applied against your Canadian-obtained medications.
As a bonus, since Expedite-Rx makes the Canadian pharmacy’s job easier, the pharmacy gives Expedite-Rx affiliated plans and their members cheaper prices than it gives other customers.
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Details of the Expedite-RX Importation-Assistance Program!
You do not need to be reminded of the rapidly rising costs of healthcare or that the most dramatic of those costs increases is that of prescription medications - making today’s high drug costs create a severe drain on the pocketbooks of most Americans. It is indeed rare when consumers can be informed about programs that can offer them huge savings. At this site, eligible members can get information about this program.
Required forms are:
You are encouraged to read all of these documents. If you choose to take advantage of this unique mail-order program, simply follow the directions on the Initial Prescription Order Form and transmit it and the other required documents as instructed. (Because mail delivery of orders containing new prescriptions will take about 21 days and delivery of subsequent refills will take about 7 to 10 days, the processor will relax "early refill" standards for this pharmacy provider. Also, if you deplete your current supply of medication while waiting for your orders, you may get supplemental supplies at your local network pharmacy that has been providing those drugs. To receive maximum savings through the Expedite-Rx program, you will want to order the largest quantity of medication allowed a 90-day supply.)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION SOURCES
…On-line prescription pricing Click on the "Can I Save
Money…" topic of the Expedite-Rx home page and go to the
"Prescription Price Comparison" line in the narrative. Click on to
see: (a) The average retail price for a prescription (b) the average price in
the retail pharmacy network; (c) and if applicable, the Expedite-Rx price for
an eligible brand name drug obtained through the Expedite-Rx importation-
assisted option. Also, if there is an available generic option for the drug
selected, its average retail network price appears. You may want to share
these cost differences with your doctor.
…Retail pharmacy locator - At your Sponsor’s web site, you can check to
find a network pharmacy near you, and you can also link to this Expedite-Rx
site. not limit any refund that you may receive on the drug dispensed.
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Can I save money on all my prescriptions?
Traditional USA-based mail-order pharmacies generate their huge profits by a "bait and switch" process. Patients are lured in by the promise of low prices for some popular brands. These "discounts" are recovered by charging higher prices for generic prescriptions and by switching patients to alternative drug brands that the mail order pharmacy can buy cheaper.
Expedite-Rx protects benefit plans and plan members from this ploy. Your plan’s USA network’s generics prices are very competitive, so the Expedite-Rx program does not allow the Canadian pharmacy to fill prescriptions for generics or other drugs that can be purchased cheaper at a USA network pharmacy. In fact, there is a Basic list of eligible Brand-name drugs and drug strengths that the Canadian pharmacy is allowed to fill. Check our home page to see if your medication is on this basic list. Compare the Expedite-Rx assisted import price with the Average Usual and Customary Price and the discounted Network Price for your prescription.
If your brand-name drug does not appear on the basic list, check the Expanded List of Brand Drugs Available in Canada screen to see if it may appear. If your specific drug doesn’t appear on list, email info@myrxcard.com with the brand-name drug you wish to purchase, and we will notify you if your drug can be added to the eligibility list.
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Why is a safety link important?
Because today’s drugs are extremely potent and may interact dangerously with other drugs, there are serious and legitimate concerns about potential health problems that may be caused when pharmacies do not have complete drug data.
Expedite-Rx interfaces with the USA network’s prescription claims processor to coordinate its participating plans’ USA data with data from a Canadian pharmacy. Whether from within the USA network or from the Canadian pharmacy, state-of-the-art computer technology searches your centralized personal medication file. The dispensing pharmacist is immediately warned of any potential drug interactions, medication incompatibilities, duplicate therapies, and misuse before your prescription is delivered to you. This technological coordination gives you the option of safely getting the best price on all of your medications. Whether your medication is one that costs less when you obtain it from a local pharmacy using our prescription card, or if it is among those offering a deep discount when delivered directly to you from the Canadian pharmacy, safety checks can now be performed on all your prescriptions.
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Why Canada?
For years, Americans have crossed borders to buy medications they could not afford in the USA. Now, innovative mail-delivery programs have been developed to accommodate Americans who do not have the ability to physically travel out of the USA to get their medications. For most Americans, Canada is the most desirable source for their medications because:
Canada’s patient-protective drug controls are most like those in the U.S.
Canadian medication information is printed in English.
The Canadian health-care team is dedicated to patient safety.
The USA/Canadian currency-exchange rate is essentially stable.
Canadians are "American-friendly".
Canada is a long-term firmly established USA trading partner.
"(Prescription) price differences are remarkable. Medication for illnesses like arthritis, allergies and depression…(are) sometimes half the price. How? Canada has drug price limits. Drug companies don’t hike up prices like they do in the U.S., and the American dollar is worth more in Canada." -- NBC -- Spokane, Washington, (2/13/2002
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What drugs are offered from Canada?
To See Complete List
Can Expedite-Rx honor my insurance card?
Yes if your plan uses our USA processor and participates in the Expedite-Rx program, your co-pay is established when the Canadian pharmacy processes your prescription. Your cost is determined by your applicable co-pay. Your insurer will pay the remainder of the total amount of your prescription. Therefore, in addition to helping you personally obtain large out-of-benefit savings, Expedite-Rx’s ability to coordinate data can enable your prescription plan to pay its share of the cost for eligible in-benefit prescriptions that you receive from Canada.
As a bonus, since your Canadian-purchased medications cost the plan less, you can get more medication while in-benefit - and you can stay in-benefit longer! Also, since your prescription plan can save money on eligible in-benefit Canadian purchases, using Expedite-Rx gives your insurer the option to reduce your basic co-pays for those prescriptions saving you even more money. To see if your prescription plan participates in the Expedite-assisted program, proceed to Sign Me Up.
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Does it cost me more to use Expedite-RX?
No. Members and plans assisted by Expedite-Rx are offered prices lower than their customary rates by the Canadian Pharmacy. If your have an myRxcard™ prescription benefit card, there is NO CHARGE for your participation in this program.
Your charge will be determined only by the cost for the prescription, postage and handling, and your credit card upcharge of 2%. If yours is an insured prescription benefit, the amount charged to you will be determined by your applicable plan copay; postage and handling; and your credit card upcharge of 2%. Your insurer will be charged no more than its contractually-established processing and administration fee.
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Don’t be intimidated!
Large multi-national drug manufacturers are spending huge sums of money lobbying Congress to discourage actions that would encourage US citizens to import prescriptions. Because these manufacturers stand to lose billions of dollars of their excessive profits, they and others who place their own self-interest over that of consumers, are trying to intimidate individuals who choose to save money by importing medications. Their threats range from disparaging the quality of imported drugs to dire predictions of legal action by the federal government. The truth is that:
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What forms need to completed for the Expedite-Rx service?
Forms to access our Expedite-Rx service will be mail once you become a purchase our prescription benefit card. Please remember our regular contracted network prescription benefit are filled at your local pharmacy and requires no forms or additional costs.
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How long will it take to receive my original order and refill orders?
It takes time to validate your medical information and register you as a new customer. Your initial order may take a maximum of 21 days to arrive. However, history shows that the International provider pharmacy usually ships to you in 12-14 days.
Refill orders should take 14 days at most to arrive. Again, the provider pharmacy that dispenses your Canadian prescriptions – Total Care Pharmacy Ltd. – is usually able to ship your refills in 7-10 days.
Please note: If impounded, US Customs can hold any package for up to 30 days!
The International pharmacy can accept Visa, MasterCard, and online checking. Online checking is done by entering important numbers from a blank check (routing number and bank account number), along with the name of the account owner, your driver’s license number, or your mother’s maiden name. Please call 1-888-431-1142 if you need help finding the right information for online checking.
How much is charged for shipping?
There is one shipping charge per parcel, not per prescription. If all your prescriptions fit in one parcel, you will be charged only one shipping and handling fee. The current fee is $9.95 per parcel.
Some funded (insured) plans may pay part or all of the shipping and handling charges for their members. Check with your Plan Sponsor to see if this applies to you.
Why is it to my advantage to order a 90-day supply than a 30-day supply?
Each prescription charge includes a professional dispensing fee. That fee is the same for a 30-day supply or a 90-day supply. So if you buy a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply you avoid - and thus save - two dispensing fees and two shipping fees!
If yours is a funded benefit plan, you may also get a 90-day supply for the same copay as you would if you purchased a 30-day supply.
What about the safety of ordering my medications from Canada?
Total Care Pharmacy Ltd. (licensed by The Alberta College of Pharmacists, License #1537) dispenses all your Canadian prescriptions. Total Care has on-staff pharmacists and quality assurance technicians who take many steps to ensure your safety:
Trained, quality assurance technicians review all of your information; If you place an order by phone, they verify your customer information then.
A health care professional will call you to double-check the information you send and then answer any questions you may have.
All new prescriptions are verified by a Canadian physician who reviews your medical information.
Qualified pharmacy technicians check all prescription information yet again when filling the order.
Licensed pharmacists verify your prescription a final time before your order is shipped.
Is there a limit on how much I can buy at one time?
Yes. By law, Total Care Pharmacy Ltd. can send you no more than a three-month supply of each of your medications, provided you have a valid prescription for that amount of medication and they are for your personal use only.
Total Care Pharmacy Ltd. will not ship any habit-forming medications. Legally, they are prohibited from shipping narcotics and controlled substances across the US border.
Why get my generically-available prescriptions in the local US retail pharmacy network?
Your benefit plan concentrates on saving you money on your most expensive brand name medications from the International Pharmacy.
Mail-order pharmacies, whether International or the traditional US types, cannot supply generic drugs that are available in the US at a cost that is competitive with your plan’s local US retailer network pharmacies when you use your benefit card.
Yes. You can check the status of your order by phoning Toll-Free 1-888-431-1142 and giving the customer service representative any requested information.
What is Total Care Pharmacy’s return policy?
The Pharmacist can not legally accept the return for use or re-use of any portion of any drug or non-prescription medication (Alberta College of Pharmacists Standard 5.1 (m) Standards of Practice – The Pharmacist, Jan. 1, 1996).
What if my International medication looks different from what I have been getting in the US?
Although generally of common manufacture and being exact chemical equivalents, some International products may differ from a US product in color, dosage form (tablet vs. capsule), or markings on the product.
To help alleviate concerns, prescriptions may be shipped in their original manufacturer’s container, and/or physical differences will be noted on the "patient information sheet" that will accompany your prescription order.
However, if you have reasonable doubts about your medication you may consult with the Canadian pharmacy Toll-Free at 1-888-431-1142.
You have misspelled the name of the drug. You can find the correct spelling by clicking on the List of Qualified Drugs icon or the Complete List of Canadian Drugs icon.
You may also enter the first four letters of the medication name, and all drugs of similar spelling will appear.
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