The Importance of Taking Your Medications
When your doctor prescribes a medication, it’s for a very good reason. Your medications help keep your symptoms under control, even if you aren’t experiencing any right now. They also help treat your condition or prevent it from getting worse.
You may not always take your medications as prescribed, for a number of reasons. The cost can be a concern, or there may be unpleasant side effects. You may not fully understand the medication and how it manages your condition. Going to the pharmacy may also be an inconvenience, especially if you’re taking several different medications and have to make multiple trips.
UPMC Health Plan offers many options that should make it easier for you to take your medications.
- Automatic refills: Ask your retail pharmacist to sign you up for automatic refills on your prescriptions. This free program (at participating pharmacies) allows the pharmacy to automatically fill your medications when they are due. The pharmacy will even call or text you when it’s time to pick them up.
- 90-day prescriptions: We encourage filling 90-day supplies on your medications for your convenience and for reducing the number of trips to the pharmacy.
- Mail order: You can sign up for mail-order service with Express Scripts by calling
1-877-787-6279, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users should call
1-800-899-2114. You’ll receive a three-month supply of your medication sent directly to your home. Your medications should arrive within 15 days. If your medications do not arrive within this time frame, call the phone number above.
If you always fill your prescriptions on time, great! But maybe you need help remembering when to take your medications, especially if you have several prescriptions. There are a few things you can do to make sure you take your meds when you’re supposed to:
- Use a pillbox to help keep your medications organized and to remind you to take your pills each day. You can get one at a pharmacy or discount store.
- Set an alarm to remind you to take your medications at the same time each day.
- Place sticky note reminders where you will see them the most.
- Combine with a daily task like eating a meal or brushing your teeth.
If you ever have questions about your medications or need help filling your prescriptions, please call us at 1-844-800-9406. You can call us Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. TTY users can call 711.
