Had a prescription filled at my local CVS. I normally have drugs mailed to me thru Express Scripts. But I needed this prescription cream now. The pharmacist took my cards, inputing the info. She looked at my Medicare card and said "you know you have Part B?" I said yes I did. Why did she mention this? Is there a reason I should or should not have it? I have Tricare as my secondary. I have heard that people do not HAVE to have Part B. I didn't think about it until I got home or would have questioned her.
My mother has Tricare4Life. Most drugs are through ExpressScripts, but they will pay for prescriptions that go through a pharmacy, it just costs a little more and is usually meant more for the drugs you needs once in awhile rather than the long-term ones.
However, pharmacies are obsessed with getting everyone on Part B or a variety of prescription drug plans through the various drug programs. They mean well, but they don't understand that, just because you don't have Part B doesn't mean you're not covered.
They will urge you strenuously to check to see whether you could get a better deal elsewhere no matter how many times you tell them that you're covered.
I've gone through this many times with my mother's TriCare coverage at the pharmacy. The new role of the pharmacy seems to be to take a more active role is keeping us healthy, both physically and financially. While they take it seriously, they can also be obtuse and annoying about it.