Prescription Drug Benefits

All four Northwestern-sponsored medical plans provide benefits toward the cost of prescription drugs. Express Scripts is the Pharmacy Benefit Manager for all four plans. If you have questions about a covered medication, contact Express Scripts directly at (800) 601-9314 with identification number K9EA.

You can price medications, do a formulary look up, find participating pharmacies, and review plan highlights on the Express Scripts website.

Copays
Generics preferred
If you are prescribed a specialty drug
Smart90: Required 90-Day Supply
SaveOn SP
Price A Medication
Claim forms

Copays

Retail, one month supply

Prescription drug costs for a one-month retail supply by plan type.
Premier PPO, Select PPO and HMO Illinois	Value PPO
You pay a copay of: $10 for each generic drug prescription $30 for each preferred brand name drug prescription $60 for each non-preferred brand name prescription $90 for each specialty drug prescription	You pay the full cost of all prescription medications until you meet the plan's annual deductible After that, you pay 20% of your prescription drug costs (coninsurance) until your total out-of-pocket expense reach the plan's annual out-of-pocket maximum
Other Considerations
Premier PPO, Select PPO and HMO Illinois	Value PPO
Some prescriptions are not eligible for a one-month supply and may only be filled at select pharmacies. See the Smart90 section of this webpage for more information and a drug list. Specialty drugs are filled using Accredo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Express Scripts. Certain specialty medications are assigned a different copay than listed above. See the SaveonSP section of this website for a list of copays and drugs as well as information on how to receive your medications free of charge ($0). These medications will not count towards your deductible or out-of-pocket maximums.	Some prescriptions are not eligible for a one-month supply and may only be filled at select pharmacies. See the Smart90 section of this webpage for more information and a drug list. Specialty drugs are filled using Accredo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Express Scripts. The Value PPO is not subject to the SaveonSP program.

Home delivery, three month supply

Prescription drug costs for a three-month home delivery supply by plan type.
Premier PPO, Select PPO and HMO Illinois	Value PPO
You pay a copay of: $20 for each generic drug prescription $60 for each preferred brand name drug prescription $120 for each non-preferred brand name prescription $180 for each specialty drug prescription	You pay the full cost of all prescription medications until you meet the plan's annual deductible After that, you pay 20% of your prescription drug costs (coninsurance) until your total out-of-pocket expense reach the plan's annual out-of-pocket maximum
Other Considerations
Premier PPO, Select PPO and HMO Illinois	Value PPO
Some prescriptions may only be filled at select pharmacies. See the Smart90 section of this webpage for more information and a drug list. Specialty drugs are filled using Accredo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Express Scripts. Certain specialty medications are assigned a different copay than listed above. See the SaveonSP section of this website for a list of copays and drugs as well as information on how to receive your medications free of charge ($0). These medications will not count towards your deductible or out-of-pocket maximums.	Some prescriptions may only be filled at select pharmacies. See the Smart90 section of this webpage for more information and a drug list. Specialty drugs are filled using Accredo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Express Scripts. The Value PPO is not subject to the SaveonSP program.

Generics preferred

Under this program, if a brand-name drug is dispensed rather than an available chemically- equivalent generic drug, an ancillary charge is applied in addition to the member’s generic coinsurance. Ancillary charges are the responsibility of the employee, regardless of whether the “Dispense as Written” box is checked by your doctor. The ancillary charge is 50% of the difference in cost between the brand and generic product. Ancillary charges do not apply towards the maximum cost per prescription or the $1,500 per person out-of-pocket maximum. It is important to remember that this program still allows you the choice between treatment options but not at an increased cost to the plan and its participants.

If you have questions about the ancillary charge for a particular brand medication you are prescribed, contact ExpressScripts.

*Please note that Prior Authorization may be required for certain medications. When you are prescribed one of these medications, your physician will be consulted. The Prior Authorization telephone number is 1-800-417-1764. Provide this number to your physician if a Prior Authorization is required for your medication.

If you are prescribed a specialty drug

Prescriptions for all Specialty Drugs must be filled through Accredo mail order. They cannot be filled at a retail pharmacy, in your provider's office, or at the treatment facility.

Accredo – a wholly owned subsidiary of Express Scripts – is a mail-order pharmacy whose sole purpose is specialty medication management. Accredo fills prescriptions for Specialty Drugs for oral, injectable, and infused medications and provides on-call nurse and pharmacist support for patients on these complex, expensive drugs.

Because many Specialty Drugs require refrigeration, Accredo takes precautions to ensure product preservation, including using temperature-controlled packaging and working with patients to arrange for safe and secure package delivery. For example, if you are unable to receive your medications at home, you may request delivery to your workplace, your doctor’s office, or a family member’s home.

Smart90: Required 90-Day Supply

This program will apply to select long-term medications, which will now require a 90-day supply. With Smart90, you can conveniently fill these prescriptions with a 90-day supply either through home delivery from the Express Scripts Pharmacy or from any CVS, Walgreens or Duane Reade pharmacies.

Long Term Medication List by Drug Name 2024
Long Term Medication List by Drug Class 2024
Long Term Medication List by Drug Name 2025 [list still pending]
Long Term Medication List by Drug Class 2025 [list still pending]

If you keep filling a 1-month supply of the listed long-term medications at a nonparticipating pharmacy, you could pay more. For example, if a drug costs $75, even if your copay or coinsurance is only $20, you could pay up to the full $75. Additionally, when you pay the full cost on retail maintenance medications, your cost share will not count towards you deductible and or maximum out of pocket costs.

What If You Do Not Switch to a 3-Month Supply

Filling a 3-month supply of your long-term medication can help you save time, money and trips to the pharmacy. If you keep filling a 1-month supply at a nonparticipating pharmacy, you could pay more. For example, if a drug costs $75, even if your copay or coinsurance is only $20, you could pay up to the full $75.

chart

SaveOn SP

Express Scripts’ program SaveOnSP is designed to help you save money on certain specialty medications for those taking a medication on the SaveOnSP Drug list, and are eligible for the program. Note that the Value PPO is not subject to the SaveOnSP program.

If your specialty medication is noted on the 2024 SaveOnSP Drug List or 2025 SaveOn SP Drug List you must participate in the SaveOnSP program to receive your medications free of charge ($0).
Your prescriptions will still be filled through Accredo, your current specialty pharmacy.
If you do not participate in the SaveOnSP program, you will be responsible for the copay listed on the attached SaveOnSP Drug list.
These medications will not count towards your deductible or out-of-pocket maximums.

Contact SaveOnSP at 1-800-683-1074 with questions about eligibility and enrollment.

breakdown of copayment

Price A Medication

Use ExpressScripts online pricing tool to price current or future medications. Shopping around may save you money.