You may have noticed that while your NYSHIP card has a category labeled “Rx benefits,” it doesn’t name the insurance program that administers prescription drug service. This can be an issue when you go to get a prescription at the pharmacy for the first time and need to provide specific information about your Rx coverage to get your prescriptions. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The prescription benefits are administered by CVS Caremark.
  • When getting a prescription with NYSHIP for the first time, you need to present your NYSHIP card AND a temporary ID card from Caremark, which includes the various account numbers that have to be provided to the pharmacy the first time to set up the account. This temporary ID card “can be used by all your covered dependents”
  • The temporary ID card, and the letter explaining the process, are attached to this post (as is the mail order form, if you want your prescriptions shipped!).

[gview file=”http://opencuny.org/healthdsc/files/2014/09/CVS-CAREMARK.pdf”]