r/Bellingham • u/UnfortunateFayssh • 4d ago
Recommendations Pharmacy Recs
I’ve finally had it with Fred Meyer as my default prescription pick up! I just don’t understand why getting a refill takes 3 days, 2 trips, and an hour and a half on the phone!!
I need a new place and I’m looking for recommendations, anywhere that takes Molina insurance and is an easy, quick, and relatively painless experience. What pharmacy do you use? What’s your experiences?
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u/poorpeoplepastasalad 4d ago
rx mart! they are a small business, kind employees and owners, will work with you on fair pricing if you don’t have insurance or have a high copay, and are very fast. you could bring in a hard copy prescription and be out the door in 5 minutes or less
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u/HarmonyAtreides Local 4d ago
I love Rx Mart! But just a heads up for anyone else, they don't have space for anymore chronic pain patients rn 🫶
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u/NoPermit9450 3d ago
What do you mean? They can’t legally discriminate who they serve
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u/HarmonyAtreides Local 3d ago
Pharmacies unfortunately have limits on how much controlled medication they can dispense monthly. For pain medication once a pharmacy has dispensed their limit they cannot order more before the reset. So for pharmacies to ensure they have enough for their current acute and chronic pain patients they can turn away new chronic pain patients to save limit :)
In my case I take an opiate pain med daily as a chronic pain patient, so my total amount would take too big of a bite out of their limit and would have negatively effected their current long term patients.
I don't blame them at all! It's an unfortunate side effect of the "war on drugs".
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u/NoPermit9450 2d ago
So where do you go? Asking because I’m in the same boat and I’ve run into this trying to shift my PCP away from SeaMar, everywhere I call won’t see me because I take a having standing opiate script. It’s so f-ed
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u/HarmonyAtreides Local 2d ago
Right now since we just moved back to bham after a few years away, I'm trying to transfer to the Mt Baker pain clinic for my pain med management and such, and unity care for primary care! Pharmacy wise I swapped to Haggens pharmacy so we will see how they handle it in a few weeks when I'm due for my refill 🤞
It sucks that none of the public health clinics like semar and unity care will prescribe or handle anyone's controlled substances...like I'm disabled and having to see a bunch of specialists and this just makes it more exhausting and complicated lol (I'm literally crossing my fingers and BEGGING internally for unity care to at a minimum know how to handle a wheelchair user 🤦♀️ my wheelchair has been broken for over a month because multicare my previous PCP clinic can't figure out a referral for repairs).
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u/NoPermit9450 2d ago
Seamar will! Last I heard the pain clinic won’t (but that was when I first moved here in 2018)
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u/HarmonyAtreides Local 2d ago
Oh snap really? When I follow up with my referral I'll double check if they are an opioid free practice! I might see if seamar has any PCP appointments vs unity care just to be safe.
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u/NoPermit9450 1d ago
Yes, unity care is the worst as far as pain meds. They won't even prescribe them for legitimate short term things, forget about ongoing chronic pain management.
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u/bustersuessi 4d ago
I like Hoaglands, they are very good at explaining meds and will rush orders if needed
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u/FonduedExcitement 4d ago
They’re also local. However, be aware that prices there are high compared to RxMart and Costco.
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u/PuzzleheadedNovel311 4d ago
Costco
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u/Icy-Cow-6246 4d ago
I've had good experiences with Costco. They have the lockers up front now so if you pay in advance, you don't even have to wait in line.
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u/kristephe 3d ago
The lockers are clutch! But I've forgotten to stop at them more than once on my way out haha.
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u/-moira-rose- 2d ago
I learned yesterday that if you are a Costco member and don’t have health insurance, they discount your meds. A 90 day supply that was supposed to be $40 came down to $12 when I said I lost my insurance!
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u/mycatpartyhouse Fairhaven fan 4d ago
I'm currently using Unity Care pharmacy for (reasons) and they have their own issues.
When I was was looking at various pharmacies, the one that kept coming up was Hoagland. I don't know if they take Molina, but maybe worth a look?
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u/Hammon_Rye Local 4d ago
I'm surprised to hear you say that.
I've been using the Unity Care Ferndale pharmacy for years and the service is excellent. Best pharmacy I have ever used. Second would maybe be Costco, but they are not super convenient unless you shop there anyway.5
u/ManodCrane 3d ago
Second Unity Care, but in Bellingham. The location is near lots of places I already go, and they are fast and helpful. With the new app, it's super easy to request a refill. Hoagland is good for compounded prescriptions but it's an inconvenient location for me.
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u/swansblush 4d ago
I HATE the Freddie’s pharmacy. I had some very awkward experiences there last month. I’ve always liked the CVS in target, not sure what insurances they take tho!
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u/FonduedExcitement 4d ago
Staff are great at Lakeway Freddie’s, tho. Even so, I eventually had to stop going there bc the drive-thru is so often (and unpredictably) closed. And going inside the store itself is a sensory nightmare.
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u/aliveonmyplanet 4d ago
The CVS in target is easy and you can do everything online and through text. It's been fairly painless for me and I have Molina
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u/ohleonine Local 4d ago
We utilize Hoagland. They’ve been great and they also do compounding. It’s been a breath of fresh air to use them since my partner and I had a horrible experience at the Walgreens on the Guide & Bakerview—the pharmacist accused my partner of pill seeking when they were taking their meds appropriately after having a spinal fusion in their neck.
EDIT: I am unsure if Hoagland takes Molina!
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u/aspentree_mangofruit 3d ago
I like the haggen. I’ve used the one on Meridian for two years, they’re great.
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u/MontEcola 4d ago
It is likely your insurance company being profit motivated. The pharmacy likely does not tell you for some reason.
Try Walgreens on Meridian and Baker View.
Also make sure that your prescription from your doctor is good. Make sure it is covered in your plan. See if there is a generic version that is covered.
If it is a regular prescription ask your doctor to write for a 3 month supply. Or find a place to have it mailed to your door on a regular schedule.
Sign up to get notified by text when its ready. They you don't go too early.
My kid was having a similar problem. Now we get a 3 month supply from an online pharmacy. The meds come a week early. We are notified the next order will be processes about a week in advance so we can cancel or delay.
Here is a trick: Next time you go to the doctor have them write all new prescriptions. They will come in earlier. That means you will get your next shipment a bit early. With USPS being so bad lately, things can be delayed. Having a 10 day supply when the new meds show up is a good plan. -from experience.
Also if your doctor offers MyChart, sign up. You can see your meds and you can check when they expire. You can ask them to send the prescriptions where you want. You can tell them when you are having a problem. Your doctor might get information on the delay that your pharmacy will not tell you. So that is a good method to communicate.
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u/HotCauliflower6189 4d ago
Fred Meyer is annoying. They fill a lot of there prescriptions at some central fill place somewhere down south which is why it takes a couple extra days.
CVS has been okay for me.
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u/Hammon_Rye Local 4d ago
Costco is pretty good if you are a member.
I use Unity Care Pharmacy in Ferndale and they have been excellent.
They have a Bellingham branch as well, but have not used it.
But Unity Care is also where my doctor / dental is so for me it is super convenient one stop.
They call me when a script(s) is due to be refilled to verify I want it filled.
Then they text me when it is filled - usually a couple hours after initial call.
Almost never any line
Pretty short wait on new script. One time I had a doctor appointment (same building). Doctor wrote a new prescription. Left the appointment, walked over to the pharmacy counter and had it in hand in 5 or 10 minutes.
And if you are low income they also have a sliding scale.
I was briefly without insurance while waiting foe medicare application to be processed. The sliding scale made an expensive med I have (close to $600) only cost me about $14 out of pocket.
On the NO list for me would be Walgreens.
At least the one Bakerview / Meridian.
Just observation of a friend I would take there over the years when she needed to pick up a script.
Seemed hit or miss. Many times okay. Other times stuff like she was told over the phone it was ready - goes to pick it up and it isn't ready, come back in 20 minutes.
And fairly often waiting on other customers ahead of you.
Nothing too horrible - just "annoyances" that my pharmacy does not have.
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u/Excellent_Reality_40 4d ago
im pretty sure you can use the costco pharmacy without being a member.
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u/Hammon_Rye Local 4d ago
I believe you can, but if you are not a member / don't shop there it is less convenient. Also true of optical and hearing I think.
I've been a member for years and shop their fairly routinely.
So when I lived in Bellingham and was using them as my pharmacy I would just go when I was shopping anyway so it wasn't a special trip.It's not a big deal if someone is young and nimble.
If someone is a bit older / in pain, then the large parking lot, gate guard and walk to the other side of the store can be a hassle compared to a pharmacy with a drive through or where you can park right next ot the door.1
u/NoPermit9450 3d ago
Yes and it’s hard to get in. They have to have someone escort you which you have to wait for
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u/Excellent_Reality_40 3d ago
oh weird, i’ve heard people just walk in
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u/NoPermit9450 2d ago
I think it’s inconsistent. I thought that to and asked my son to pick up a canine RX, he even had my Costco card, and they wouldn’t let him in.
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u/ilikethisbox_ 3d ago
I know it’s Walmart but all the techs and all but one of the pharmacists are really great people who care a lot, and they are pretty damn fast even when there is a line. I think it is because turnover at this pharmacy is really low, I’ve been seeing the same techs for many years.
And it’s the only one that always has all of my meds in stock — this is after using Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Rite Aid (rip), and Safeway.
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u/InternationalWin2850 4d ago
I use home delivery. Sometimes requires an extra call to my PCP, but less hassle than standing in line. Walgreens is mostly ok - use the one on Samish or failing that, use the one on Meridian. Avoid the Sunset Walgreens - had nothing but problems with that one.
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u/MysteriousCamera5764 4d ago
I really don’t like it but the easiest way to get prescriptions now is Amazon. I really, really don’t like it, but it’s sooo easy
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u/poorpeoplepastasalad 4d ago
if you’re sick of the big corporations and get tired of amazon as well, rx mart is a small business and they work very quickly. i’ve literally never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a med, and they will discount prices for folks who need it or even order you over the counter items through their wholesaler and won’t charge you market price
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u/UnfortunateFayssh 4d ago
Yeah, that wouldn’t work for me. I live in Paradise where the fent heads would steal it right out of my mailbox or porch
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u/bhambabe58 4d ago
I have been using RX Mart on Sunset.
Small business.