Accredo is a specialty pharmacy that delivers medications to your home

Accredo is a mail-order pharmacy owned by Evernorth (a CVS Health company) that ships specialty medications directly to patients. Unlike a corner drugstore, Accredo handles drugs that need special storage, careful handling, or ongoing clinical support — things like injectable biologics for rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia treatments, or immunosuppressants after transplant. The pharmacy fills prescriptions from your doctor, coordinates with your insurance, and sends the medication with instructions and sometimes nursing support.

You do not walk into an Accredo location. Instead, your doctor's office or a hospital sends your prescription to Accredo, the pharmacy verifies your insurance coverage, and the medication arrives at your home in a temperature-controlled package. Accredo also staffs pharmacists and nurses who can answer questions about how to use the drug, what side effects to watch for, and whether it is being stored correctly.

Key Takeaways

  • Accredo delivers specialty medications by mail and handles insurance verification, so you do not have to coordinate with your insurance company yourself.
  • Your doctor sends the prescription to Accredo directly; you do not order the medication yourself.
  • Accredo pharmacists and nurses are available to answer questions about your medication, how to inject or infuse it, and what to expect.
  • Specialty medications often cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per dose, and Accredo helps navigate copay programs and manufacturer information if your insurance does not cover the full cost.
  • Medications arrive in insulated packaging designed to keep them at the right temperature during shipping.

How your prescription gets to Accredo

Your doctor does not send you to Accredo with a paper prescription. Instead, the doctor's office or hospital pharmacy contacts Accredo electronically or by phone and sends your prescription details directly. This is called a transfer or referral. You may receive a call from Accredo asking you to confirm your address and insurance information, or you may be asked to sign a consent form at your doctor's office authorizing the transfer.

Once Accredo receives the prescription, a pharmacist reviews it to make sure the dose, frequency, and drug name match what your doctor intended. Accredo then contacts your insurance company to check whether the medication is covered and what your out-of-pocket cost will be. This step can take a few days. If your insurance denies coverage or requires prior authorization (a pre-approval from the insurance company), Accredo's team works with your doctor to provide the medical information the insurance company needs to reconsider.

After insurance approval, Accredo prepares and ships your medication. Depending on where you live and how urgently you need the drug, delivery typically takes three to seven business days. Accredo will give you a tracking number so you can monitor the package.

What happens when your medication arrives

Your package will arrive in an insulated box with ice packs, dry ice, or gel packs depending on the temperature the medication requires. Some drugs must stay frozen, others refrigerated, and some can stay at room temperature. The package includes a label on the outside telling you the storage temperature and a printed insert inside with the same information.

Open the box in a location where you can when ready move the medication to the correct storage spot — your freezer, refrigerator, or medicine cabinet. Do not leave it sitting on the counter. If the medication has arrived damaged, leaking, or warm to the touch when it should be cold, call Accredo when ready. The pharmacy can often replace it the same day.

The box also contains written instructions on how to use the medication — whether you inject it under the skin, inject it into a muscle, or infuse it through an IV line. If you have never used the drug before, Accredo can arrange for a nurse to call you or visit your home to walk you through the first dose. This service is often covered by insurance and is included at no extra charge.

Insurance coverage and copay information

Specialty medications are expensive. A single dose can cost $500 to $5,000 or more. Your insurance may cover part of the cost, but your copay or coinsurance can still be substantial. Accredo works with your insurance to determine your exact out-of-pocket responsibility before the medication ships.

If your copay is high, Accredo can tell you about copay information programs run by the drug manufacturer. These programs reduce or eliminate your copay if you meet income and insurance requirements. Accredo's team can help you understand whether you may be may be able to access and can submit the paperwork on your behalf. Some programs cap your annual copay at $0 to $100 regardless of how many doses you receive.

If your insurance denies coverage entirely, Accredo can also discuss manufacturer patient information programs, which provide the medication for free or at a reduced cost to uninsured or underinsured patients. These programs have their own income limits and requirements, and Accredo can walk you through the process.

Ongoing support and refills

Accredo does not just ship your medication and disappear. The pharmacy maintains a record of your prescription and automatically refills it on schedule unless your doctor changes the dose or stops the medication. Before each refill, Accredo checks your insurance coverage again to make sure nothing has changed.

You can also call Accredo's pharmacists or nurses with questions about your medication at any time during business hours. Common questions include whether a side effect you are experiencing is normal, how to store the medication if you are traveling, or what to do if you miss a dose. Accredo also coordinates with your doctor if there are concerns — for example, if your insurance requires a new prior authorization or if your doctor wants to switch you to a different drug.

If you need to pause your medication temporarily (for surgery, for example), tell Accredo and your doctor. Accredo will hold your refill and restart it on your signal. If you are switching to a different specialty pharmacy or back to a local pharmacy, Accredo can transfer your prescription electronically.

What specialty medications Accredo typically handles

Accredo ships medications across many therapeutic areas. Common examples include biologics for autoimmune diseases (like adalimumab for rheumatoid arthritis), clotting factors for hemophilia, immunosuppressants for transplant recipients, cancer drugs that require refrigeration, growth hormones, and specialty antibiotics. The pharmacy also handles some oral medications that are expensive or require close monitoring.

Not every specialty medication goes through Accredo. Your doctor chooses which pharmacy to use based on your insurance network, the medication, and your location. Some insurance plans have a preferred specialty pharmacy, and using that pharmacy may lower your copay. If your doctor sends your prescription to Accredo but your insurance prefers a different specialty pharmacy, Accredo can transfer the prescription to the other pharmacy at your request.

Common reasons to use Accredo instead of a local pharmacy

A local pharmacy can fill many prescriptions, but specialty pharmacies like Accredo exist because some medications need informed and infrastructure that a small pharmacy does not have. Accredo employs pharmacists who specialize in specific disease areas and can answer detailed clinical questions. The pharmacy also has the equipment and cold-chain logistics to ship medications that must stay frozen or refrigerated without damage.

Insurance companies often direct patients to specialty pharmacies for expensive drugs because the pharmacy's clinical team can help reduce waste and side effects, which saves the insurance company money in the long run. For you, this means your medication is more likely to arrive in good condition, you have informed support available, and your insurance paperwork is handled behind the scenes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Accredo if my insurance does not cover specialty pharmacies?

It depends on your insurance plan and the specific medication. Some insurance plans require you to use a specialty pharmacy for certain drugs; others allow you to choose. If your insurance does not cover Accredo, ask your doctor whether a different specialty pharmacy is in your network, or whether the medication can be filled at a local pharmacy instead. Accredo can also discuss copay information or patient information programs that may reduce your cost.

What if I miss a dose or forget to refill my medication?

Call Accredo as soon as you realize you missed a dose. The pharmacy can often ship an emergency supply within one or two business days. For future refills, Accredo sends reminders before your medication runs out, and you can set up automatic refills so you never run out. If you are traveling or your schedule changes, call Accredo to adjust the refill date.

Can Accredo ship my medication if I am traveling or moving?

Yes. Tell Accredo your temporary address or travel destination, and the pharmacy can ship to that location. If you are moving permanently, update your address in Accredo's system and the pharmacy will ship to your new home. Accredo can also discuss how to store your medication during travel, especially if you are crossing time zones or going somewhere very hot or cold.

What happens if my medication arrives damaged or too warm?

Call Accredo when ready. Do not use the medication. Accredo will document the damage, contact the shipping carrier, and usually ship a replacement the same day at no cost to you. Keep the damaged package and packaging materials until Accredo tells you what to do with them.

How do I switch from Accredo to a different pharmacy?

Contact Accredo and tell them you want to transfer your prescription to another pharmacy. Accredo will send your prescription electronically to the new pharmacy. Your doctor can also send the prescription directly to the new pharmacy. Make sure the new pharmacy receives your prescription before your current supply runs out.