NUSS - Prescription Drug Coverage
When you enroll in any Columbia University medical plan, you are automatically enrolled in the Prescription Drug plan, administered by OptumRx.
Accessing Your Benefit
To find participating pharmacies or enroll in the OptumRx mail-order program, log in to myuhc.com and choose “Manage Your Perscriptions” or call 800-232-9357 for assistance.
Using Your Benefit
All prescription drugs are subject to a copay, and that copay accumulates to your out-of-pocket maximum. Once you reach the annual out-of-pocket maximum, the Plan pays 100% of the cost of prescription drugs*.
Copays
All prescription drugs are subject to a copay, and that copay accumulates to your out-of-pocket maximum.
Prescription Drug Copays
* $30,000 lifetime Maximum for Infertility medication
Note: Eligible specialty medications will be processed through PillarRx with a 30% coinsurance, offset by the manufacturer discount. You will be notified in advance if you need to enroll.
You need to present your UHC ID card the first time you fill a prescription. You can have up to a 30-day supply of your prescription when filled at a retail pharmacy.
- In New York, New Jersey and other states, a pharmacy is required by law to substitute a brand name drug with a generic. Your copay is $10 or the cost of the generic drug, whichever is less.
- If no generic is available for your prescription, your drug is “single-source” and you will pay $25.
Using the prescription drug mail-order program, you can order up to a 90-day supply. Recommended for people who use medication on a regular basis, mail-order should be less expensive than retail pharmacies and offers easy refill—online or by phone.
To enroll, log in to myuhc.com and choose "Manage Your Prescriptions" then "Order Prescriptions" or call 800-232-9357 for assistance.
Specialty medications must be purchased via mail-order from Optum Specialty Pharmacy. Optum Specialty Pharmacy will mail your prescription in an unlabeled package to you at the address of your choice.
Call 855-427-4682 to speak to a patient care representative to get started. Typically, you will receive a 30-day supply of the prescription at the retail pharmacy copay.
Note: If you use any pharmacy other than Optum Specialty Pharmacy, you will be subject to the full cost of the medication, not a copay.
As of February 19, 2026, Optum Specialty Pharmacy has transitioned its fertility pharmacy services to Fuze Health. Optum Specialty Pharmacy no longer dispenses fertility medications; all active prescriptions and refills have been transferred to Fuze Health for ongoing fulfillment.
Fuze Health is a full-service, digitally-powered fertility pharmacy that provides fast and reliable prescription delivery, as well as empathetic patient clinical education and support, including:
- 24/7 expert support: Patients can call or message Fuze Health pharmacists anytime.
- Self-service and flexibility for patients: Prescriptions will continue to ship directly to patient homes. Fuze Health offers a seamless digital experience, empowering patients to manage everything end-to-end using the Fuze Health app, from payment and delivery scheduling to education and support.
- Speed to outreach: Fuze Health's automated prescription processing enables rapid outreach to patients. More than 85% of patients receive their first contact from Fuze Health within 10 minutes of their physician submitting a prescription, ensuring timely support and a seamless start to their treatment journey.
Which medications are transitioning to Fuze Health? Will updates to the formulary/specialty drug list be needed?
The following medications are transitioning to Fuze Health: Follistim™, Menopur™, Ganirelix™, Ovidrel™, Pregnyl™, human chorionic gonadotropin (HcG), Gonal-F™, Novarel™, cetrorelix and Cetrotide™. In addition, medications taken in conjunction with fertility medications filled by Optum Specialty Pharmacy will also be transferred to Fuze Health.
Fertility regimen medications not used for fertility will still be dispensed through Optum.
Columbia University partners with the IPC Copay Assistance Program administered by PillarRx to reduce your costs for certain eligible high-cost medications that you may be taking to manage your health. This is a confidential program managed directly by PillarRx.
ID Card
UHC ID cards have member information for medical, vision, and prescription drug coverage. You do not need separate cards for each benefit. After enrolling in a medical plan, it can take three weeks for a UHC ID card to arrive in your mail.
If necessary, you can print a temporary UHC ID card two weeks after enrolling. Create an account on myuhc.com to print a temporary ID card. Use your Social Security Number, date of birth, and Group number 712790.