Another reader did the Mars Halloween candy deal, in which buying $20 worth of candy generates 5000 Balance Rewards points. Her coupons took her total below the $20 mark, and she did not receive her 5000 points. I asked Walgreens if they could provide additional information on both of these scenarios. Walgreens’ answers are below, and they’ve given permission for me to post them publicly:
Balance Rewards Points for Prescriptions
Balance Rewards members receive 500 points per prescription. Some exemptions do apply but they are not related to pill form. The official exemption language is pasted below. Please encourage your reader to call (855) 225- 9225 to speak with a customer service representative to ensure he/she is awarded the proper points.
Exceptions:
Due to state and federal laws, points cannot be earned on some items. Points will not be awarded to anyone who currently is or was at any time in the 6 months prior to purchasing Pharmacy Items covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare or any other government-funded healthcare program. Pharmacy Items must be purchased at participating Walgreens Drugstore, Rxpress, Duane Reade, or Walgreens Pharmacy locations (“Participating Stores”) to earn points. Excludes Pharmacy Items purchased from AR, NJ or NY pharmacies and prescriptions transferred to a Participating Store located in AL, MS, OR or PR. See Balance Rewards terms and conditions for full details.Multiple Promotions
Walgreens’ loyalty program rewards its best customers by offering exclusive savings and endless rewards. Walgreens understands that many of its customers use Register Rewards and other coupons, and is pleased to honor these coupons. For the Mars/Hershey deal you referenced and all other total spend offers, the value of Balance Rewards points is awarded on the total purchase price after coupons and other savings have been factored in. This has been the Balance Rewards policy since the program launched nationally in September and has not changed.I also wanted to assure you (in reference to your post from Thursday), Balance Rewards has not affected Register Rewards. Customers may still use Register Rewards and a Balance Rewards membership is not required to use Register Rewards. For all other coupon and sale promotions, a Balance Rewards account is required and coupons have to be clipped and scanned at the register along with a Balance Rewards card, key fob, member phone number, or virtual Balance Rewards card in the Walgreens app in order for a customer to get the sale/coupon price.
Please continue to reach out and ask any questions that you and your readers may have. We really appreciate it.
To summarize: There are some prescriptions that will not accrue Balance Rewards points. And, Balance Rewards offers of “Spend $20, Get 5000 points,” are figured on a $20 total after coupons. I’m sure this information will not be popular with shoppers, as it’s the opposite of the way that similar Register Rewards deals have worked in the past.
I did ask for clarification on whether the $20 total after coupons means after all coupons, or only after Walgreens store coupons; I’ll post that answer when I receive it. But I wanted to get this information posted for you as it will affect any spending-threshold offers you do with Balance Rewards.
poetangel says
Jill – you mentioned in a previous post that IVCs may at some point be virtual/tied to the Balance Rewards card. Does this mean that limits will be enforced? As we all know the paper IVCs have a limit on them but the register doesn’t limit it.
Also – has anyone been able to use their virtual Balance Rewards card? I have the app on my iPhone but it simply doesn’t scan. I do have a screen protector on my phone, but regularly have the screen scanned at Target, Starbucks & Dunkin Donuts without issue.
rswehrle says
I have always been under the impression that a manufacturer coupon is like using “cash” to purchase an item. It just replaces the actually US currency to purchase a product. For that reason, I really don’t understand the “after coupon” wording, because the store gets reimbursed really money from the manufacture, so why should it not be considered real tender when purchasing an item.
youngaroo says
I tried calling customer service twice now to get balance rewards for my prescription. Called 10/14 and 10/17. Both representatives said it is showing up in their records that I have government funded insurance. Interesting! I’ve never had medicare, medicaid or any other government funded insurance at any time in my life. Further, on my prescription printout it lists BCHS (blue cross). Obviously their computers in one place know I have blue cross while somewhere else they list government. Apparently there may be problems if one is a federal employee. However, I’m not a federal employee either. Supposedly it will take 3-5 days to restore the balance rewards to my account while they verify my insurance. What?? What else can I do to straighten this out?? I was place on a “long list” of other people experiencing this problem according to one representative. So, others of you may experience this problem.
jenni4c1 says
Honestly, all the “fine print” and inconsistencies is why that was my first attempt at using the Balanced Rewads. Jenni
moredhead says
so their adv. is a waste of time.
i get it sent email so if i don’t have a card
if g is on sale for $2.00 reg 3.00 i will pay the 3.00
if that is the case will just as well off to go to wally or my groc. store.
goldbob35 says
I’ve filled a total of NINE precriptions in the last few months since transferring from Rite Aid, solely for this new balance reward program. Out of NINE precriptions, I’ve only rec’d pts. on ONE. After researching, I’m ready to move all my meds over to Costco where I’ll actually save more money!!
Shirley says
Forget about filling prescription at Walgreens. Last year, I picked up a prescription for one of my kids and asked if I want any flavor added to it but will be $3 extra. Had the same prescription filled at CVS recently and a flavor was automatically added for my kid without extra cost. I believe CVS has a new program that we earn $5 EC bucks for every 10 prescriptions filled.
N.Lane says
Read the terms and conditions for any pharmacy rewards program. You can beat up on Walgreens all you want, but they aren’t the only ones doing it. CVS and Riteaid have the exact same exemptions. Call yourself crafty for switching, but you’ll still get nothing and you’ll give some sales clerk a chuckle at your stupidity. If you get -any- benefit from the government ranging from Medicare to a government job, you’ll not get anything. Those coupons the doc gives you? Government pays for those. You give up any rights to this stuff the second you agree to either accept benefits or take a coupon. Don’t feel entitled to it. I work for a utility company with private insurance and I don’t get it. In any case these programs are stupid regardless and I wish they’d just go back to regular sales. Was much easier back then!
Jac the Clipper says
The Balance Rewards program that Walgreen’s has implemented is far too complicated to make it worth it. I rarely shop there anymore. I much prefer the straight forward program at CVS.