Cause

Healthcare

Drug pricing, insurance reform, vaccine policy, mental health access.

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by Buckoff View campaign

Objective

Make Healthcare Affordable

Targets

CVS Health (Aetna / Caremark)

CVS Health operates the largest pharmacy chain in the U.S., owns Aetna health insurance, and runs CVS Caremark, one of the biggest pharmacy benefit managers in the country.

Why this is a target

The combination of retail pharmacy, insurance, and PBM under one roof makes the affordability harm narrative especially compelling. CVS has one of the most powerful consumer-facing surfaces of any healthcare company — retail pharmacies in nearly every community, plus insurance and PBM. Consumers can switch pharmacies immediately to Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, or independents.

Sources

https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/04/22/tennessee-passes-bill-targeting-pharmacy-benefit-managers-cvs-plans-to-sue/

Alternatives

Independent/local pharmacies (community-owned, patient-focused care) Costco Pharmacy (significantly lower drug prices, transparent pricing) Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs / Cost Plus Pharmacy (radical price transparency, generic drugs at cost + 15%) GoodRx (prescription discount platform, not a pharmacy but reduces out-of-pocket costs) Kaiser Permanente (integrated nonprofit-model health system, available in select regions) Health Partners / Group Health cooperatives (member-owned, nonprofit health plans) Oscar Health (tech-forward insurer with transparent pricing tools) Cigna (competitor insurer — has faced less public scrutiny than Aetna on claim denials) UPMC Health Plan (regional nonprofit integrated health plan) National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) member clinics (free/low-cost care for uninsured) Federally Qualified Health Centers / Community Health Centers (sliding-scale fees, federally funded) Amazon Pharmacy (transparent pricing, Prime discount program for generics) Walmart Pharmacy (low-cost generics, $4 prescription program) Sam's Club Pharmacy (low-cost prescriptions, no membership required for pharmacy)

Do your own research. We provide sources so you can verify and decide for yourself.

Pledges you can make

I pledge to delete the cvs app from my phone easy

Removing the CVS app reduces engagement metrics and eliminates the digital touchpoint CVS uses to drive pharmacy refills, ExtraCare loyalty spending, and front-store purchases. It signals disengagement from their retail ecosystem.

I pledge to stop using my extracare loyalty card easy

CVS's ExtraCare program drives repeat visits and provides valuable consumer data that CVS monetizes. Stopping use withdraws both your spending signal and the data revenue tied to your purchase history.

I pledge to stop buying front-store products at cvs retail locations medium

CVS stores generate significant revenue from general merchandise, health products, and beauty items — all of which can be purchased elsewhere. Redirecting this spending to independent retailers or competitors removes a meaningful consumer revenue stream.

I pledge to switch my prescriptions to an independent or competing pharmacy medium

Caremark and CVS pharmacies account for a massive share of CVS Health's retail revenue. Transferring your prescriptions to a local independent pharmacy, Costco Pharmacy, or Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs directly reduces their dispensing volume.

I pledge to request my employer or union stop offering aetna as a health plan option medium

Aetna is one of CVS Health's largest revenue drivers. Formally requesting that your HR department or union benefits committee evaluate and drop Aetna at the next plan renewal period applies direct pressure on the insurance arm.

I pledge to switch away from aetna health insurance at my next open enrollment hard

Aetna contributes billions in premium revenue to CVS Health annually. Choosing a competing insurer during open enrollment is one of the highest-impact individual actions available, directly reducing the premium base Aetna depends on.