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Home > For Members > Get Care > Prescription Drugs and Pharmacy Benefits

Get Care

Prescription Drugs and Pharmacy Benefits

If you need medications to treat your illness or condition, your doctor will give you a prescription. Once you choose a pharmacy, take your prescription to that pharmacy to get your medication. Your doctor may also send it to the pharmacy for you. Make sure the pharmacy knows about all of the medications you are taking and any allergies you have. If you have any questions about your prescription, make sure you ask the pharmacist.

If you are told that a medication is not covered by your insurance or if you are asked to pay for a medication, here is what to ask:

  • If the pharmacy tells you the drug is not covered, ask the pharmacy staff why the drug is not covered.
  • If the pharmacy says the drug has been denied, ask if the medication needs prior authorization from the Alliance or MediCal Rx. The pharmacy staff will need to let your doctor know to request prior authorization and include any needed medical information. Your prescription might get denied because it is not in our list of covered medications. You can find more information in our Filling Your Prescription section below.
  • You can also call your doctor to ask if there is another drug that would be covered instead.

Always follow up with your doctor or the Alliance if you cannot get a medication that has been prescribed by your doctor. If you need help or have more questions, call Member Services.

Medi-Cal Prescriptions

Medi-Cal prescription drugs are covered by Medi-Cal Rx, not the Alliance. Learn more on the Medi-Cal Prescriptions page.

Alliance Care IHSS Prescriptions

The Alliance covers prescription drugs for Alliance Care IHSS plan members. We contract with a company called MedImpact for pharmacy services. Learn more on our Alliance Care IHSS Prescriptions page.

Medications and Your Health

Our Medications and Your Health page shares information on medications and tips on how to use them safely.

Alliance policy and procedures

If you would like to see a copy of the Alliance pharmacy policy and procedures, please call Member Services.

Additional Information

Prescription drugs given in a doctor’s office or drugs covered under the medical benefit

Your doctor will know what drugs these are. If your doctor prescribes these, they can contact us for more information about getting these drugs for you. These drugs can be given to you in different ways. Sometimes, they are given through an injection in your vein, skin or other body part. There are no coinsurance amounts for these drugs on the Alliance Care IHSS health plan.

If you have questions about coverage for drugs given to you in a doctor’s office, you can call Member Services. These drugs are not listed on the formulary.

Where to drop off medication and sharps

It is important to safely get rid of any unwanted or expired medicines and sharps.

Sharps are:

  • Hypodermic needle.
  • Pen needles.
  • Pre-loaded sharps.
  • Auto-injectors.
  • Intravenous needles.
  • Lancets.
  • Other devices used to pierce the skin for drawing blood or for the delivery of medications.

Sharps must be kept in sharps containers approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Your county has drop off locations for both medicines and sharps:

Mariposa County

  • Medication drop-off sites for Mariposa County
  • Sharps drop-off sites for Mariposa County

Merced County

  • Medication drop-off sites for Merced County
  • Sharps drop-off sites for Merced County
  • Merced County Department of Public Health

Monterey County

  • Medication drop-off sites for Monterey County
  • Sharps drop-off sites for Monterey County
  • County of Monterey Health Department

San Benito County

  • Medication and sharps drop-off sites for San Benito

Santa Cruz County

  • Medication drop-off sites for Santa Cruz County

Contact Member Services

  • Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Phone: 800-700-3874
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Assistance
    TTY: 800-735-2929 (Dial 711)
  • Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Phone: 800-700-3874
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Assistance
    TTY: 800-735-3000 (Dial 711)
  • Nurse Advice Line

Resources

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