What insurance does CVS give their employees?

CVS Health provides eligible employees with comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage primarily through Aetna Health Insurance - CVS Health.

Eligibility

• Hours requirement: Generally available to full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week.
• Waiting period: Varies by role; some benefits begin on day one, while others require completing a standard probationary period. Part-time employees are typically ineligible for standard medical benefits.

Key Health Plan Features

• Medical & Prescription: Multiple plan tiers (such as high-deductible health plans with Health Savings Accounts) that include free preventive care.
• Company HSA Contributions: CVS contributes annually to employee Health Savings Accounts (typically $500 for single coverage and $1,000 for family coverage, prorated per pay period, for eligible colleagues).
• Dental & Vision: Optional complementary plans covering routine dental care, exams, glasses, and contacts.
• Additional Wellness: Access to CVS Health Careers Benefits like virtual care, MinuteClinic services, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counseling sessions.

CVS owns Aetna, but it does not own Cigna.

CVS and Aetna

• Acquisition: CVS Health bought Aetna in late 2018 for roughly $69 billion.
• Operation: Aetna operates as a subsidiary and a health insurance brand under the CVS Health corporate umbrella.

Cigna

• Independence: Cigna (The Cigna Group) is a separate, publicly traded competitor.
• Different Partner: Cigna owns its own pharmacy benefit manager called Express Scripts rather than being tied to CVS.

CVS Health's primary health insurance provider is named Aetna, and they also offer co-branded Aetna CVS Health individual and family plans.

Overview of CVS Insurance and Health Services

• Aetna: Acquired by CVS Health in 2018, Aetna provides commercial health coverage, Medicare, Medicaid (Aetna Better Health), dental, and vision plans. You can explore options directly through Aetna Health Insurance.
• Aetna CVS Health: A specific co-branded insurance line offered on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual health insurance exchange marketplace in select states.
• CVS Caremark: The pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) arm of CVS Health, which manages prescription drug benefits and plans.

It is generally not hard to get hired for entry-level retail roles at CVS Health, but the process can be slow and frustrating due to automated screening and administrative delays.

What to Expect

• Entry-Level Roles: Positions like cashier, retail associate, and pharmacy technician do not require prior experience. Pharmacy techs do not need a certification to start, as training is provided.
• The Application & Assessment: You must apply through the CVS Health Careers Portal. You will likely have to complete an online virtual job tryout or behavioral assessment immediately. Failing or selecting the "wrong" profile responses here leads to instant automated rejection.
• The Interview: If you pass the assessment, the interview itself for store-level jobs is usually short, casual, and straightforward (often lasting 20 to 30 minutes with a store manager).
• The Timeline: While some get hired in a few days, many applicants experience a lengthy onboarding loop involving background checks and drug screenings that can stretch out for weeks.

Tips to Get Hired

• Flexible Availability: Highlight open availability, especially weekends and evenings, which retail managers prioritize.
• Follow Up: Call the specific store or visit in person to speak with the hiring manager after submitting your application online.
• Ace the Assessment: Answer situational questions focusing heavily on customer service, reliability, and resolving conflict.

CVS generally pays slightly higher hourly rates and annual salaries for most common store and pharmacy roles, though pay varies significantly by location and specific market.

Average Pay Comparison

According to industry data from sources like Indeed, average national wages compare as follows:

• Customer Service Representative / Cashier:
  • CVS: ~$17.63 per hour
  • Walgreens: ~$14.43 per hour
• Pharmacy Technician:
  • CVS: ~$18.16 per hour
  • Walgreens: ~$16.93 per hour
• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT):
  • CVS: ~$19.19 per hour
  • Walgreens: ~$18.04 per hour
• Pharmacist:
  • CVS: ~$63.66 per hour
  • Walgreens: ~$57.69 per hour
• Store Manager:
  • CVS: ~$63,450 per year
  • Walgreens: ~$62,575 per year

What Employees Say

• Pay vs. Workload: While aggregate data points to higher base numbers at CVS, employee discussions on platforms like Reddit note that pay experiences are heavily area-dependent. Some individual workers report better localized hourly offers or more stable hours at Walgreens, whereas others point out that both companies can feature heavy workloads and high stress.
• Perks and Discounts: Employee feedback suggests Walgreens occasionally scores higher on localized perks or discount days, while CVS offers a standard employee discount of roughly 30% on store-brand items and 20% on others.