CVS Aetna merger

[Clipper]

wibx950.com/brindisi-asks-feds-to-block-cvs-aetna-merger/


I would hope that the merger is not allowed. I feel sorry for all involved if it is allowed to go through. a few years ago the NY State Retirement System contracted with CVS for all prescription coverage. It has been a comedy of errors ever since. Our local CVS stores (their are 3 and we have tried 2 of the 3) provide sketchy and marginal service. Kathy had always used Walgreens and got excellent personal service from them. CVS is a pain in the ass. They are supposed get in touch with the doctor if you need more refills added. A couple of times her medication has run out and WE ended up having to call the Dr after CVS claimed that they had. Secondly, they keep a limited inventory in stock. It is not at all unusual to have them tell you that they are out of a very common medication and that you will have to wait a couple of days for it to come in. Walgreens would always call another store and get it at least overnight. Kathy has arthritis in her hands and needs the non-childproof caps. It has been on her profile ever since she started getting her medications there, and 2 out of 4 times they will neglect to put the correct lids on. It may seem like minor problems but it is my opinion that if they can't read her profile and put the correct lids on, they may at some point fail to read her profile and might possibly ignore an allergy or give her something that reacts badly with something else she is taking. Their pharmacy counters are always under staffed and chaotic. Bottom line. Customer service simply does not seem to be their highest priority.

I don't know much about Aetna other than my dad was insured by them through his Univac retirement plan and had little problem. I would hate to see anyone's insurance adversely affected by the less than stellar performance tha CVS might bring to the merger.

[Deleted]

When I came home this afternoon there was a message on the answering machine. It was from Caremark CVS concerning a service they offer called Prescription Management and it is free. They left a number for me to call. I dialed the number and it was some security company. I thought I made a mistake so I dialed the number again and yup a security company. So I replayed the message just to make sure I wrote down the correct phone number and yes I did write down the correct number. I then deleted their message.

[Clipper]

On another note, Walgreen's has bought a couple of the Rite Aid stores here. Are they buying out the Rite Aid stores in the Utica area? Rite Aid stores here just don't seem to compete with Walgreen's and CVS in this particular area. Their parking lots are never very busy when I drive by.

[clarencebunsen]

Walgreen's and Rite Aid had a proposed merger a few years back. It was held up pending regulatory approval. Last year Walgreen's pulled the merger proposal and instead bought something like 2000 Rite Aid stores.