Students enrolled in the systemwide UC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) can no longer receive in-network benefits at Walgreens pharmacies.
The Tang Center announced Jan. 1 that SHIP-enrolled students can no longer receive in-network pricing on medical prescriptions filled at Walgreens.
However, Kim LaPean, communications manager at the Tang Center, estimated that the impact of the change on the approximately 22,000 SHIP-enrolled UC Berkeley students will be “pretty low.”
“We’re anticipating this to not have a lot of impact on our students simply because most students on UC SHIP are using the Tang Center pharmacy right on campus,” she said. “For students who used Walgreens, there are about as many CVS stores as Walgreens stores.”
According to Darrel Ng, PR director for Anthem Blue Cross, the Walgreens corporation could not conclude negotiations with third-party pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts, leading to a national contract termination. Because Express Scripts contracts with Anthem Blue Cross, a provider contracted with UC SHIP, all students within the network were affected.
The Tang Center’s website noted that students can still receive in-network benefits at other chains such as CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Target and Walmart. It added that, on average, there is an in-network pharmacy within a half mile of each Walgreens store.
LaPean said Walgreens appears to be in the midst of working out a new contract with Anthem Blue Cross. In the meantime, however, she said she does not expect much of an impact.
For students who still wish to fill their prescriptions at the now out-of-network Walgreens stores, the Tang Center’s website notes that personal out-of-pocket costs will increase.
Correction(s):
A previous version of the article incorrectly stated that Walgreens and Anthem Blue Cross could not conclude negotiations. According to Darrel Ng, PR director of Anthem Blue Cross, it was in fact Walgreens and Express Scripts — a third-party pharmacy benefit manager group — that could not conclude negotiations.
Comment Policy
Comments should remain on topic, concerning the article or blog post to which they are connected. Brevity is encouraged. Posting under a pseudonym is discouraged, but permitted. The Daily Cal encourages readers to voice their opinions respectfully in regard to the readers, writers and contributors of The Daily Californian. Comments are not pre-moderated, but may be removed if deemed to be in violation of this policy. Click here to read the full comment policy.