Pharmacy Programs
If you're a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IllinoisSM member with pharmacy benefits through us, you may have access to certain pharmacy programs. They focus on making specialty prescriptions easily available. They help deliver medications to your home or doctor. And they give you access to vaccines at pharmacies near you.

Specialty Pharmacies
Specialty prescription drugs are used to treat conditions that are any of the following:
- Rare or less common conditions like multiple sclerosis
- Serious conditions like cancer or hemophilia
- Long term conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
Drugs that treat these conditions often have special handling or storage needs. Retail pharmacies may not be able to stock these types of drugs. That’s why members may need to use a specialty pharmacy to get these medications.
- How They Work
- Ordering Through Accredo
- Getting Support
- Split-Fill Program
- Select Specialty Drugs
Home Delivery / Mail Order Pharmacies
Why You Should Use Mail Order Pharmacies
- Using mail order services to fill your maintenance or long-term prescriptions may reduce out-of-pocket costs.
- Using this service is a convenient way to get medications you may take long-term such as drugs that treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
- You may be able to order a 90-day supply. Get the Maintenance drug list to check if your medication is included.
- Short-term prescriptions, such as a 10-day prescription for antibiotics or acute pain medications, should be filled at your local pharmacy.
Depending on your plan, your options may vary.
Members with HMO2 Plans
Looking for a pharmacy? If you have a BCBSIL health plan with Prime as your pharmacy benefit manager, log in to your member account to find in-network pharmacies.
The 90-day supply benefit program can save you both time and money. With this program, you have the option of getting up to a 90-day supply of long-term (or maintenance) medications through a network of contracting extended supply retail and mail service pharmacies. Maintenance medications are those drugs you may take on an ongoing basis to treat conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
For more information, get the 90-Day Supply Program Member Flier .
Mail Order Tips:
- If you need to start your prescription right away, ask your doctor for a one-month supply you can fill at a retail pharmacy.
- You can order online, through a mobile device or over the phone. Some pharmacies offer a form you can send through the mail. Find more information when you log in to your member account and click on the Pharmacy tab.
- Keep in mind that medicines can take up to 5 business days to deliver after the pharmacy receives and verifies your order.
Members with non-HMO Plans
Express Scripts® Pharmacy3
Express Scripts® Pharmacy is a mail order pharmacy for members with our prescription drug coverage. It provides mail order services that can save you time and money.
Getting Started Online
You have more than one option to fill or refill a prescription online or from a mobile device:
- Visit express-scripts.com/rx and follow the instructions to register and create a profile.
- Log in to MyPrime.com and follow the links to Express Scripts® Pharmacy.
Order Over the Phone
Call 1-833-715-0942, 24/7, to refill, transfer a current prescription or get started with home delivery. Please have your member ID card, prescription information and your doctor’s contact information available.
Through the Mail
To send a prescription order through the mail, log in to your account and click the Pharmacy tab. Complete the mail order form. Mail your prescription, completed order form and payment to Express Scripts® Pharmacy. For more information, download the Express Scripts® Pharmacy flier .
1 Accredo is a specialty pharmacy that is contracted to provide services to members of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. The relationship between Accredo and BCBSIL is that of independent contractors. Accredo is a trademark of Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
2 For members with Metallic individual and family plans (also called ACA, Marketplace or Obamacare plans) this information is for those with either HMO or POS Plans
3 Express Scripts® Pharmacy is a pharmacy that is contracted to provide mail pharmacy services to members of BCBSIL. The relationship between Express Scripts® Pharmacy and BCBSIL is that of independent contractors. Express Scripts® Pharmacy is a trademark of Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
4 This applies to BCBSIL members with prescription drug benefits that include coverage for these vaccinations. Coverage for these vaccines can vary according to the type of plan you are enrolled in. If you are a member whose prescription drug plan is not administered through BCBSIL, or coverage for these vaccinations are not included in your particular plan, please contact your employer group benefits administrator for information about the availability and coverage of vaccinations under your plan.
Prime Therapeutics LLC is a separate company contracted by BCBSIL to provide pharmacy solutions. BCBSIL, as well as several independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, has an ownership interest in Prime Therapeutics. MyPrime.com is a pharmacy benefit website offered by Prime Therapeutics LLC.