Filling prescriptions every 30 days gets old fast — the trips, the wait times, the occasional stockouts. CVS Caremark mail order pharmacy eliminates most of that hassle by delivering up to a 90-day supply of your medications directly to your home. If your health plan uses CVS Caremark as its pharmacy benefit manager, you likely have access to this service, and it could cut your prescription costs significantly. Here is everything you need to know about getting started.
What Is CVS Caremark Mail Order Pharmacy?
CVS Caremark is one of the three largest pharmacy benefit managers in the United States, serving more than 110 million plan members. Its mail order pharmacy operates under the CVS Caremark name and ships prescriptions from centralized fulfillment centers across the country.
The CVS Caremark mail order pharmacy handles maintenance medications — drugs you take regularly for chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or thyroid disorders. Instead of filling a 30-day supply at a retail pharmacy each month, mail order lets you receive a 90-day supply in a single shipment. Most plans offer financial incentives for using mail order, often charging two copays for a three-month supply rather than three.
How to Enroll in CVS Caremark Mail Order
Getting started requires a few straightforward steps. First, verify that your health plan includes mail order benefits through CVS Caremark. Check your plan documents or call the member services number on your prescription card.
Once confirmed, you have several enrollment options:
Online: Visit Caremark.com and create an account if you do not already have one. Log in, navigate to the mail order section, and follow the prompts to transfer an existing prescription or request that your doctor send a new 90-day prescription to CVS Caremark.
By phone: Call CVS Caremark at 1-800-875-0867 to speak with a representative who can walk you through the setup process. Have your member ID, prescription details, and prescribing doctor’s information ready.
Through your doctor: Ask your prescribing physician to send a 90-day prescription with refills directly to CVS Caremark via electronic prescribing. The doctor’s office will need the CVS Caremark pharmacy information, which you can provide from your account or by calling member services.
CVS Caremark Mail Order Phone Number and Contact Options
Reaching CVS Caremark is straightforward, though hold times can vary. The primary CVS Caremark mail order pharmacy phone number is 1-800-875-0867. Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for most plan types.
Beyond the phone, CVS Caremark offers multiple contact channels. The Caremark mobile app includes a chat feature for quick questions about order status, refill requests, and coverage inquiries. You can also manage most aspects of your mail order through the website without speaking to anyone.
For hearing-impaired members, CVS Caremark provides TTY services at 1-800-231-4403. If you need to reach the specialty pharmacy division for high-cost medications, a separate number — 1-800-237-2767 — connects you to Specialty Pharmacy Services.
Delivery Timeline and Shipping Details
Standard delivery for CVS Caremark mail order prescriptions takes 3 to 5 business days from the time the order is processed. First-time orders may take slightly longer — up to 10 business days — because the pharmacy verifies your prescription, contacts your doctor if needed, and sets up your account.
Shipping is free via standard delivery for most plans. Expedited shipping is available for an additional fee, typically $15 to $20 depending on your location and plan. Temperature-sensitive medications, such as insulin and certain biologics, ship with insulated packaging and cold packs at no extra charge.
Tracking is available through your Caremark.com account and the mobile app. You receive notifications when your order ships, along with an estimated delivery date and carrier tracking number. CVS Caremark uses USPS, UPS, and FedEx depending on the medication and shipping speed.
Cost Savings with Mail Order
Switching from retail to mail order typically reduces your per-dose medication cost. According to the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, mail-order pharmacies can save plan members 10% to 40% on maintenance medications compared to retail fills.
The savings math is simple. If your plan charges a $10 copay for a 30-day generic supply at retail, you would pay $30 for three months. Through mail order, many plans charge only $20 for a 90-day supply — saving you $10 every quarter. For brand-name medications with higher copays, the savings can be substantially greater.
Some employer plans mandate mail order for maintenance prescriptions after the first two or three retail fills. This is called a mandatory mail-order provision. If your plan has this requirement and you continue filling at retail, you may face higher copays or even full out-of-pocket costs. Check your plan documents carefully to avoid surprise charges.
Managing Refills and Automatic Delivery
CVS Caremark offers an automatic refill program called ReadyFill at Mail. Once enrolled, the pharmacy automatically processes your refill before you run out and ships it to your door. This removes the need to remember refill dates or manually reorder each quarter.
You control which medications are enrolled in automatic refill. Controlled substances and certain other drug categories are not eligible for auto-refill. You can pause, skip, or cancel automatic refills at any time through your online account, the mobile app, or by calling customer service.
For prescriptions that are not on automatic refill, you can order refills online, through the app, or by calling the CVS Caremark mail order number. Refill reminders arrive via email or text message, giving you time to reorder before your current supply runs out.
What Medications Can You Order by Mail?
Most maintenance medications are available through CVS Caremark mail order. Common categories include blood pressure medications, statins, thyroid hormones, diabetes drugs (including GLP-1 medications), antidepressants, and asthma controllers.
Certain medications have restrictions. Controlled substances in schedules II through V may be available through mail order, but state laws vary. Some states prohibit mailing certain controlled substances. CVS Caremark’s system will flag any restrictions during the ordering process.
Specialty medications — high-cost drugs that treat complex conditions — are handled separately through CVS Specialty, not the standard mail order pharmacy. If you take a specialty medication, you may be directed to work with a dedicated specialty pharmacy team. Learn more about specialty pharmacy services in our OptumRx specialty pharmacy overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use a retail pharmacy if I have mail order?
Yes, you can typically fill prescriptions at retail pharmacies even if you use mail order. However, your copay at retail may be higher, especially if your plan has a mandatory mail-order provision for maintenance drugs. Acute medications — short-term prescriptions like antibiotics — are generally filled at retail regardless.
What happens if I am not home when my medication is delivered?
Most mail-order prescriptions are delivered by USPS and left in your mailbox or at your door. If the package requires a signature — which is common for controlled substances — the carrier will leave a notice with instructions for redelivery or pickup. You can also arrange to have packages delivered to an alternate address.
How do I transfer a prescription from retail to CVS Caremark mail order?
Log into Caremark.com, select the prescription you want to transfer, and request a mail-order fill. Alternatively, call 1-800-875-0867 and a representative will handle the transfer. In some cases, your doctor will need to send a new prescription written for a 90-day supply.
Is CVS Caremark mail order the same as CVS Pharmacy?
No. CVS Caremark is the pharmacy benefit management arm of CVS Health. CVS Pharmacy is the retail chain. While both are under the CVS Health umbrella, mail order prescriptions are fulfilled by CVS Caremark’s centralized facilities, not your local CVS store.
Getting the Most from CVS Caremark Mail Order
Start by reviewing which of your current medications qualify for mail order. Any drug you take daily for an ongoing condition is a candidate. Enroll those prescriptions in ReadyFill to avoid gaps in your supply. Compare your mail order copay to your retail copay — the savings should be immediately apparent.
Keep your account information current, especially your shipping address and payment method. If you travel frequently, plan ahead by requesting early refills or temporary address changes. For a broader understanding of how pharmacy benefit managers like CVS Caremark fit into the healthcare landscape, visit our healthcare policy guide.