You’re walking through Target, sipping a Starbucks latte, and you suddenly remember you need that blood pressure refill. You spot the red sign in the back. But wait. Is it Target? Is it CVS? Honestly, even though this deal happened nearly a decade ago, people still walk up to the counter and try to use their Target Circle rewards to pay for amoxicillin. It doesn’t work like that.
Back in 2015, CVS Health shelled out about $1.9 billion to take over Target’s pharmacy and clinic business. This wasn't just a little "brand partnership" or a co-marketing stunt. It was a total acquisition. Target basically handed over the keys to its 1,600+ pharmacies and said, "You handle the medicine, we’ll handle the throw pillows."
Today, if you visit a CVS inside of Target, you’re stepping into a weird little jurisdictional bubble. One foot is on Target’s polished concrete, the other is technically in a CVS leasehold. This distinction matters more than you think, especially when your insurance company starts asking questions or when you’re trying to figure out why your pharmacy hours don’t match the store’s closing time.
The weird reality of two companies under one roof
Most shoppers assume the pharmacy is just another department, like electronics or the deli. It’s not. When you go to a CVS inside of Target, you are interacting with a completely different corporate entity. The pharmacists aren't Target employees. They don't get the Target employee discount. They use CVS software, CVS vials, and CVS pricing structures.
This causes a lot of friction.
Have you ever tried to return a prescription at the main Target guest services desk? They can’t help you. Have you tried to buy a bottle of Gatorade at the pharmacy counter using your CVS ExtraCare Plus (formerly CarePass) rewards? Usually, they’ll tell you to go to the front. It’s a bit of a dance.
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The most common headache is the "out of sync" schedule. Target might be open until 10:00 PM, but the CVS inside might pull the gate down at 7:00 PM or close for a lunch break between 1:30 and 2:00. This is a CVS corporate policy that applies to most of its locations to ensure pharmacists actually get a chance to eat, but it drives Target shoppers wild when they realize they missed the window by five minutes.
What actually changed after the acquisition?
Before the flip, Target Pharmacy was legendary for its design. Remember the "ClearRX" bottles? Those red, flat-sided bottles with the color-coded rings? They were a masterpiece of functional design, meant to prevent people from accidentally taking their spouse's pills.
When CVS took over, they killed the ClearRX bottle.
People were legitimately upset. There were petitions. But CVS moved everyone over to their standard round amber vials because it fit their automated filling systems. It was a move toward efficiency over "Target-style" aesthetics. If you’re a long-time Target shopper, you probably still miss those rings.
Navigating the insurance and rewards nightmare
Here is the big one: insurance. Because the pharmacy is CVS, it is treated as a CVS by your PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager). If your insurance plan has a "preferred" relationship with Walgreens or Rite Aid, you might pay more at a CVS inside of Target than you would elsewhere. Conversely, if your employer uses CVS Caremark, you’re in luck.
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Then there’s the rewards situation.
- Target Circle: You don't earn Target Circle points on the actual cost of your prescriptions.
- CVS ExtraCare: You can earn ExtraCare rewards, but you have to link your account specifically for pharmacy rewards.
- The "Target Reward": CVS usually offers a "fill 10 prescriptions, get a $5 Target coupon" deal. It’s a way to keep you shopping in the main store while you wait for your meds.
It's a clever ecosystem. CVS gets the foot traffic of the "Target Mom" demographic—people who are already in the store buying organic milk and $12 candles—and Target gets to offload the massive regulatory headache of running a pharmacy.
Why some CVS locations in Target are disappearing
You might have noticed your local CVS inside of Target recently vanished. In early 2024, CVS announced they were closing dozens of these "store-within-a-store" locations. It wasn't because Target was failing. It was part of a larger CVS strategy to cut costs and "realign" their footprint.
The criteria for these closures usually came down to volume. If a specific Target pharmacy wasn't hitting a certain number of scripts per day, it got the axe. This has left some shoppers in a lurch, forcing them to transfer their prescriptions to a standalone CVS down the street, which—let's be real—is usually less pleasant than a Target.
The "MinuteClinic" factor
Not every CVS inside of Target has a MinuteClinic, but the ones that do are a godsend for minor stuff. We’re talking strep tests, flu shots, and camp physicals.
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The beauty here is the pager system (or text alerts). You check in, and instead of sitting in a sterile waiting room next to someone coughing their lungs out, you can go look at the new Magnolia Home collection. It makes the "patient experience" feel a lot less like a doctor's visit and more like a chore you’re knocking out between grocery runs.
However, keep in mind that MinuteClinic operates on its own staff. They are Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants, not MDs. They’re great for "convenience care," but they aren't meant to be your primary care provider. If you have a complex chronic condition, the CVS inside of Target is just your pickup point, not your medical hub.
Practical tips for a better experience
If you want to avoid standing in line for 20 minutes while someone argues about their copay, you have to play the game.
- The App is King: Use the CVS Pharmacy app, not the Target app. You can prepay for your meds, see if they’re actually ready, and bypass the "is it done yet?" conversation.
- Timing the Lunch Break: Almost every CVS pharmacy inside Target closes from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM. Do not show up at 1:25 PM. You will be staring at a closed gate while the pharmacist eats a sandwich three feet away from you.
- Transferring is Easy: If you're tired of your standalone CVS being chaotic, you can usually move your scripts to a Target location via the app in about thirty seconds. The vibe is usually much calmer.
- Vaccine Appointments: Don't walk up. Just don't. Book it online. CVS inside Target is often understaffed—sometimes just one pharmacist and one tech—and walk-in flu shots can throw their entire workflow into a tailspin.
Is it actually better than a regular CVS?
In many ways, yeah. The parking is usually better, the lighting is brighter, and you can grab a pack of toilet paper on your way out. But the "human" element is stretched thin.
CVS has faced significant criticism recently regarding pharmacist burnout. Because the Target locations often have lower staffing levels than the giant 24-hour standalone stores, the employees there are doing a high-wire act. They are answering phones, filling vials, giving shots, and ringing up customers simultaneously.
So, next time you're at the CVS inside of Target and things seem a little slow, just remember: that person behind the counter is essentially running a mini-hospital inside a department store.
Actionable steps for your next visit
If you are planning to switch your meds to a Target location or you're already a regular, here is how to streamline your life:
- Link your accounts immediately. Go into the CVS app and toggle the "Pharmacy Rewards" setting to ensure your fills are actually earning you those $5 Target certificates. They don't apply automatically; you have to "send to card."
- Verify your insurance network. Before transferring a high-cost medication, call the number on the back of your insurance card. Ask specifically: "Is the CVS inside Target considered an in-network or preferred pharmacy?"
- Check the specific pharmacy hours. Do not trust the "Store Hours" listed on the front door of Target. Search for the specific CVS store number on the CVS website to see when the pharmacy gate actually opens and closes.
- Use the QR code pickup. If you've set up "Express Pickup" in the app, you get a QR code. When you get to the counter, show that code. It saves the tech from having to ask for your name, address, and date of birth while three people behind you listen in.