Pharmacy
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Pharmacy networks
Blue Shield of California commercial plans have two pharmacy network types: Rx Ultra and Rx Spectrum. Both networks provide you with access to over 68,000 convenient retail pharmacies nationwide including grocery, discount, and drug stores.
Rx Ultra network is the pharmacy network type for Individual and Family Plans, Covered California plans, most Small Business plans, and most Large Group plans. This network allows you to visit any participating network pharmacy. You will be responsible for the copay or coinsurance listed in your benefits. If your plan has a deductible, that could impact what you pay.
For Small Business and most Large Group plans, starting January 1, 2022, upon group renewal, you can obtain up to a 90-day supply of maintenance medications from any participating network pharmacy (Rx90 Retail). You will be responsible for the copay or coinsurance listed in your benefits. If your plan has a deductible, that could impact what you pay.
If you already have pharmacy benefits through Blue Shield of California, you can log in to search the pharmacy network that pertains to your current plan.
Rx Spectrum is the pharmacy network type for Small Business Trio HMO plans, and Small Business Tandem PPO plans, and select Large Group plans with the Rx Spectrum rider. This network offers cost savings when you fill a prescription at one of these preferred pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, Costco, Safeway, and Vons. You can still use non-preferred network pharmacies, but you could pay a higher cost share for your prescriptions.
For select Small Business and most Large Group plans, starting January 1, 2022, upon group renewal, you can obtain up to a 90-day supply of maintenance medications from any participating network pharmacy (Rx90 Retail). You will be responsible for the copay or coinsurance listed in your benefits. If your plan has a deductible, that could impact what you pay.
If your Blue Shield Plan has the Rx Spectrum pharmacy network, get started on saving with one of these links:
- Find an Rx Spectrum pharmacy
- RxSpectrum pharmacy directory (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Learn more about Rx Spectrum (PDF, 36 KB)
Saved on average by switching to a generic drug
Supplies at retail and mail service pharmacies
Shipping when ordering from our mail service pharmacy
Drug formularies
Learn about prescription drug coverage and view our formularies. You can also learn about the differences between preferred generic and brand-name medications covered under your outpatient prescription drug benefit.
Our prescription drug formularies are updated monthly and formulary change announcements are updated quarterly. You can read about the recent changes.
Have questions? Check out formulary FAQs.
Member resources
Learn more about your Blue Shield pharmacy benefits and how to use them.
Pharmacy FAQs
We've answered your most frequently asked questions about prescription benefits. If your question isn't listed, check your Evidence of Coverage or call the number listed on the back of your Blue Shield Member ID card for assistance.
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Page last updated: 10/21/2022
© Blue Shield of California 1999-2022. All rights reserved. Blue Shield of California is an independent member of the Blue Shield Association.
This information is not a complete description of benefits.
1 Specialty medications and opioids are limited to a 30-day supply.
The Formulary, pharmacy network, and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary.
The company complies with applicable state laws and federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude people, or treat them differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic group identification, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, religion, sex, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental disability, or physical disability. La compañía cumple con las leyes de derechos civiles federales y estatales aplicables, y no discrimina, ni excluye ni trata de manera diferente a las personas por su raza, color, país de origen, identificación con determinado grupo étnico, condición médica, información genética, ascendencia, religión, sexo, estado civil, género, identidad de género, orientación sexual, edad, ni discapacidad física ni mental. 本公司遵守適用的州法律和聯邦民權法律，並且不會以種族、膚色、原國籍、族群認同、醫療狀況、遺傳資訊、血統、宗教、性別、婚姻狀況、性別認同、性取向、年齡、精神殘疾或身體殘疾而進行歧視、排斥或區別對待他人。
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