How sneaky is this? I recently received a letter from my former direct mail pharmacy, CVS Caremark-I seem to still be in their database. Thankfully, I am no longer in their plan.

The letter lets me know that they’re making some changes in how they pack and ship insulin vials. I quote from their letter:

“Our new process will check the National Weather Service forecast for your area for the time period that we expect your order to be delivered. Based on the temperature range during that time, we will determine the best shipping method to use to protect your insulin. The chart below explains the different shipping methods based on the weather forecast.” Their chart indicates: 

86 degrees or higher gets next day delivery with a cold gel pack

78 degrees to 85 degrees, gets second day delivery with a cold gel pack

32 to 78 degrees gets regular delivery without a cold gel pack

Now, what if we have a temperature snap, hot or cold, which happens frequently today? More critical, and likely, what if your insulin sits in a postal place overnight in a hot room with no air conditioning? Or a cold room and it freezes? While Caremark is checking the weather, are they checking the storage areas where insulin will sit before it is delivered? Hmmmm….no mention of that, I think not.

The best part of the letter for me was this: “Even though insulin manufacturers say that it is okay to store insulin for limited time periods at temperatures up to 85 degrees, CVS Caremark is taking extra care to make sure that your insulin is protected by shipping insulin with a cold gel pack if the temperature in your area is forecasted to be 78 degrees or higher.”

In other words, aren’t we great?  CVS Caremark is saying. Here we’re going above and beyond what’s called for to protect your insulin. Guess what? Before I received this letter, my insulin ALWAYS arrived with a cold gel pack regardless of the weather. 

I get it. The economy is contracting and here’s another way to save bucks. But when companies begin fooling around with our medicine it’s unconscienable.  

It wouldn’t hurt to send Caremark a letter, especially if you received this one, letting them know how much you do not appreciate what they are trying to pass off as extra care. Now I think lack of “care” is what  “marks” Caremark.