What pharmacies are in network with CVS Caremark?

You can use CVS Caremark at over 68,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, including most major retail chains and many independent local pharmacies.

Major Participating Chain Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (including CVS inside Target)
• Walgreens
• Walmart
• Kroger
• Publix
• Costco
• Sam's Club
• Rite Aid
• Albertsons and Safeway
• H-E-B
• Giant, ACME, and Wegmans

Other Ways to Fill Prescriptions

• Independent Pharmacies: Most local, non-chain pharmacies accept CVS Caremark.
• Mail Order: You can use the CVS Caremark mail service for 90-day supplies of long-term maintenance medications.

Note: Specific coverage can vary depending on your employer or health plan's exact tier rules (some restricted or "narrow" networks exclude certain chains like Walgreens or Walmart).

CVS Caremark—the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) subsidiary of CVS Health—has faced major controversy over allegations of anticompetitive practices, artificial inflation of drug prices, and conflicts of interest arising from its control over both drug pricing and retail pharmacy networks.

Core Controversies and Allegations

• Anticompetitive Hub Restrictions: A House Judiciary Committee report accused CVS Caremark of violating antitrust laws by forcing independent pharmacies to stop using third-party digital "hub" services that lower prescription costs, thereby protecting CVS's own competing services.
• Insulin and Drug Pricing: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued major PBMs—including CVS Caremark—alleging they used unfair rebate practices to artificially drive up the list prices of life-saving medications like insulin.
• Patient Steering and Differential Reimbursement: State investigations, such as probes by Florida and audits in Tennessee, scrutinized CVS for allegedly reimbursing its own corporate stores significantly more than independent rivals for identical prescriptions and unfairly steering patients to CVS locations.
• Government Overbilling Audits: An audit by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management claimed CVS Caremark overcharged the Blue Cross Blue Shield program by nearly $479 million, though CVS disputed this as a retroactive contract dispute.

Settlements and Response

• FTC Settlement: CVS Caremark reached a global settlement with the FTC on July 14, 2026, agreeing to resolve the litigation by moving away from certain rebate guarantee models, capping monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs at $25, expanding price transparency, and halting restrictions on independent pharmacy hub access.
• CVS Defense: CVS has consistently denied wrongdoing on core price inflation charges, arguing that pharmaceutical manufacturers alone set list prices for drugs and that PBMs function to negotiate lower net costs.

Yes, prescriptions are often cheaper or covered at CVS if you have CVS Caremark, because CVS is a core in-network pharmacy for the Caremark prescription benefit program.

How CVS Caremark Pricing Works at CVS

• Network Status: CVS pharmacies are part of the primary CVS Caremark retail network, meaning your insurance copays or coinsurance apply directly.
• Maintenance Choice: Many plans offer lower copays (such as 90-day supplies) when filled specifically at a CVS location or through their mail-order service rather than a 30-day fill at an outside chain.
• Caremark Cost Saver: If your employer plan opts in, CVS integrates GoodRx pricing automatically at the counter, giving you the lowest available price on generic drugs even if it beats your standard copay.

Tips to Verify Your Cost

• Check Online: Log into your account using the CVS Caremark portal and use the "Check Drug Cost & Coverage" tool before your visit.
• Ask the Pharmacist: Present your standard prescription benefit card at the CVS counter to ensure all automated discounts and tier pricing apply.

Yes, Amazon Pharmacy accepts most major health insurance plans, including CVS Caremark.

What You Should Know

• Coverage Verification: Insurance coverage depends on your specific employer or health plan rules, as some specialized or restricted plans may exclude out-of-network options or require specific mail-order providers.
• Adding Insurance: You can check if your specific CVS Caremark plan covers a medication by entering your insurance details directly into your profile on the Amazon Pharmacy site or app.
• Prescription Transfers: You can transfer an existing prescription by providing your medication details and current pharmacy information.

CVS-affiliated pharmacies refer to the broad network of retail chains, independent stores, and mail-order services that accept CVS Caremark prescription insurance benefits or belong to the CVS Health National Network.

Major Participating Retail Chains

• Target: CVS operates the in-store pharmacies inside Target locations.
• National Supermarkets and Grocers: Chains like Kroger, Publix, Costco, and Albertsons participate in the network.
• Regional Drugstores: Participating regional stores include Rite Aid, Kinney Drugs, and Discount Drug Mart.

Types of Affiliated Services

• CVS Pharmacy: The primary brick-and-mortar retail storefronts.
• CVS Specialty: Pharmacies that handle high-cost, complex therapies and rare diseases.
• Omnicare: A subsidiary pharmacy provider focused on long-term care facilities.
• Mail-Order Network: Direct home-delivery fulfillment services managed through CVS Caremark.