How to change the pharmacy I use?

Before you switch

A pharmacy can be preferred in network, standard in network, or out of network for your specific Medicare drug plan. Those labels can be different for another person’s plan and can change from year to year.

1. Check the pharmacy’s network status. Use your plan’s current pharmacy directory or call Member Services at the number on your plan card. Ask about the exact location—not just the pharmacy chain.
2. Check the price of each prescription. A preferred pharmacy may cost less than a standard in-network pharmacy, but compare the actual medications you take. Mail order is not automatically the least expensive choice.
3. Check supply and timing. Ask whether the new pharmacy has your medication available, how long the transfer will take, and when the next refill can be processed.
4. Gather your information. Have your Medicare drug-plan card, photo identification, medication list, allergies, current pharmacy information, and prescriber information ready.

Switching from CVS, Walgreens, or another retail pharmacy

Start with the new pharmacy. For example, if you have been using CVS and want to use Walgreens, contact the Walgreens location where you want your prescriptions filled.

1. Tell the new pharmacy what you want moved. You can ask to transfer one prescription or all transferable active prescriptions.
2. Give the new pharmacy your details. It will usually need your name, date of birth, phone number, current pharmacy, medication names, and insurance information.
3. Let the pharmacies handle the transfer. In many cases, the new pharmacy contacts the old pharmacy for the valid prescription and its remaining refills. You usually do not need to move the prescription yourself.
4. Ask about anything that did not transfer. An expired prescription, a prescription with no refills, or a prescription restricted by law or pharmacy policy may require your prescriber to send a new prescription.
5. Wait for confirmation. Do not assume the move is complete until the new pharmacy confirms that it can fill the prescription and tells you when it will be ready.

Starting mail-order pharmacy

Use the mail-order service that participates with your Medicare drug plan. Some plans offer mail order for up to a three-month supply of certain covered drugs, but eligibility, supply limits, and cost vary.

1. Call your plan first. Ask which mail-order pharmacy works with your plan, whether each medication is eligible, what quantity can be mailed, and what each fill will cost.
2. Create your mail-order account. Provide your plan information, shipping address, contact information, and payment method if required.
3. Arrange the prescription. The mail-order pharmacy may request a transfer, or your prescriber may need to send it a new prescription. Ask which method the pharmacy requires.
4. Confirm the first shipment. Verify the medication, strength, quantity, price, delivery address, expected shipping date, and whether automatic refills will be used.
5. Keep using your current pharmacy until the first shipment is confirmed. Coordinate the timing with both pharmacies so you do not run out or accidentally request two fills too close together.

Moving from mail order back to a retail pharmacy

1. Confirm that the retail location is in your plan’s network and check your price there.
2. Ask the retail pharmacy whether it can transfer the prescription from mail order or needs a new prescription from your prescriber.
3. Confirm when the retail pharmacy can process the next fill. A recent mail-order fill may make the refill too early.
4. After the retail fill is successfully arranged, turn off any mail-order automatic refill you no longer want.

Prescriptions that need extra steps

• Controlled substances: Federal and state rules limit some transfers. An electronic prescription for a controlled substance may be transferred only in certain circumstances, and state law or pharmacy systems may be more restrictive. Ask the new pharmacist whether the prescription can transfer or whether your prescriber must send a new one.
• Specialty medications: Your plan may require you to use a particular specialty pharmacy. Confirm the required pharmacy and shipping or pickup process with your plan.
• Refrigerated, compounded, or limited-distribution medications: Not every pharmacy can dispense or ship them. Ask about availability, handling, delivery, and plan coverage before moving the prescription.
• Plan-directed pharmacy use: If your plan has told you that a medication must come from a specific pharmacy, call Member Services before making a change.

After the switch

• Give the new pharmacy your complete medication and allergy list. Transferring prescriptions does not necessarily transfer your entire patient profile.
• Confirm the drug name, strength, directions, quantity, prescriber, remaining refills, and price before taking it home or accepting delivery.
• Cancel unwanted automatic refills at the old pharmacy only after the new arrangement is working.
• Tell your prescribers which pharmacy to use for future prescriptions.
• Keep your old pharmacy’s information until every prescription you wanted to move has been accounted for.

How HeyMOE can help

HeyMOE can help you compare estimated prescription costs at your selected pharmacy and up to 20 pharmacies near your home ZIP code. Compare the same plan, medication, strength, quantity, and days’ supply before deciding where to fill a prescription.

To change the pharmacy used in your HeyMOE comparison:

1. Log in to HeyMOE.
2. Select the orange Change link under Your Pharmacy.
3. Enter the ZIP code for the pharmacy you want and select Search.
4. Choose the pharmacy from the list.
5. Select Next to confirm the change and run your results again.

Official resources

Medicare: What pharmacies can I use? DEA: Controlled-prescription transfers

Last reviewed: October 2026. Pharmacy networks, preferred status, prices, transfer rules, and mail-order procedures can change. Confirm the exact pharmacy location, prescription, and cost with your Medicare drug plan and pharmacy before switching.