Walgreens to Provide Up to 30-Day Prescription Supply at No Upfront Cost for Public Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollees Who Have Not Been Assigned an Identification Number

DEERFIELD, Ill., January 6, 2014 – As newly insured Americans begin using their 2015 benefits under the Affordable Care Act, Walgreens will again provide medication assistance to those patients who may have difficulty using their new insurance coverage. Through the end of January, patients who haven’t yet received a plan identification number from their insurer or are otherwise having difficulty can bring confirmation of their Marketplace enrollment to a Walgreens pharmacy, and Walgreens will provide up to one month of a traditional[1], brand or generic medication at no upfront cost.

Walgreens offered a similar assistance program for newly insured Americans last year.

“We recognize that some newly enrolled individuals will need medications while their benefits information is being updated with their new insurer,” said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of pharmacy and retail operations. “Last year, we were able to help many new and existing patients get their prescriptions filled without interruption, and we’ll continue to provide assistance to support another influx of newly insured customers as we begin the New Year.”

To help achieve the smoothest possible transition for newly insured customers, Walgreens is reaching out to insurance companies’ operations groups to request nightly eligibility file updates on health insurance marketplace plan enrollees, helping ensure Walgreens pharmacy teams have the most up-to-date coverage information. Walgreens is also encouraging patients who enrolled through the public marketplace to confirm coverage with their insurance company and bring their benefits information to the pharmacy. With that plan information, Walgreens pharmacy staff can individually review patient benefits and work with the patient’s insurance company directly to confirm benefit eligibility.

To assist newly insured patients, Walgreens is working with United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the White House and will remain in frequent conversation to raise any common issues that may arise.

Walgreens is uniquely positioned to support newly insured Americans, improve health care delivery and help meet the needs of patients, payers and the health care system at large through its health care assets and expansive retail footprint. Walgreens offers more than 8,200 points of care conveniently accessible within three miles of 63 percent of the population, and two-thirds of Walgreens stores serve medically underserved areas throughout the U.S.

About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), the nation’s largest drugstore chain, constitutes the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,229 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.

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Traditional prescription excludes complex therapy medications.

SOURCE: Walgreens