Could you please explain why sometimes when I take a script to be refilled I am told I am too early?

Answer 1

If you are bringing a prescription to the pharmacy and they tell you it is too soon for a refill, it could be because your insurance only allows a one month supply to be dispensed at one time. If you already have refills on a previous prescription, then ask the pharmacy to place the new prescription on hold for you.

Most insurance companies will allow you to fill your prescriptions 5 to 7 days early, so if you are diligent in requesting refills in timely fashion, you will have saved almost a 3 month supply of medication at the end of the year. If you are calling in for a refill and they tell you it is too soon, it is because of your insurance. Depending on the type of medication, i.e not a controlled substance, you may want your doctor to re-write the prescription for a 90 day supply and either take it to a pharmacy that will honor a generic 90 day Rx for $10 or $12 or connect with a mail order pharmacy. Most doctors are happy to change the Rx for your pocketbook and usually without another office visit! In many cases, if you already have a prescription at a pharmacy, you can ask the pharmacy to send a refill request to your doctor and ask specifically for a 90 day supply...Most pharmacies are happy to do this as well.

The plan is: call around and find out which pharmacies carry your drug in a generic and offer a discount, if money is an issue...many times the generic 90 day discounts are less than your co-pay for a one month supply. It pays to shop around and get the lists of generics from all of your local pharmacies. Be sure to inform the pharmacy ahead of time that you do NOT want the prescription run through on your insurance...that will save a lot of time and frustration at the pick up window!