The Pharmacy Chick

Flying the Coop in Retail

The circular conversation

Filed under: Uncategorized — pharmacychick at 11:34 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2008

It drives me nuts frankly– but I have this conversation over and over–goes something like this:

“How much will this prescription cost me?”

“Do you have Insurance?”

“Yes”

“May I see your card?”

“I dont have it with me”

“Ok, then this prescription is $42.99 cash”

“But I have insurance”

“Ok, may I have your card then?”

“I dont have it with me”

“OK, then its $42.99 cash”

and so it goes …..

I dont play insurance detective anymore. I simply dont have time. Don’t tell me where you work. I don’t care if you work for the biggest employer in the city, you have only one stinkin responsibility when you come to the pharmacy: Bring your insurance card! How hard can it be? I’ve seen some seriously ugly wallets, stuffed full of worthless receipts, old library cards, tattered business cards, 25 year old photos, expired coupons, 5 or 6 credit cards and where in all this is your insurance card? At home somewhere in a file cabinet?

Once in a while I get a trip down memory lane: “oh I think this is last years card” (sorry that wont help THIS year) “Here is the card from my last job” (only if they hire you back and enroll you in the next 10 minutes sir)or “Can you call Bob’s Drugs? Thats where I usually go” (thanks for sharing that tidbit and I am sure Bob will be thrilled to help out a competitor) or my personal favorite “Can I bring in my card later? my copay is $10″ (sure, just put down an additional $140 for collateral on this Cialis rx you hope is covered)

I’d like to see how far I’d get with that crap at my local mall: “I’d like to buy these pants” “Cash or Credit” “Credit please” “Can I have your card?” “I dont have it with me…I used it at Home Depot yesterday. Can you call them and get my number?” I can just see the cashier looking around for a hidden camera somewhere.

Doesn’t that sound stupid? So why must I hear it day after day in the pharmacy?

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2 Comments »

3

Comment by retailpharmacytech

February 4, 2008 @ 11:07 pm

Why is it sooo hard for people to understand that! I hate the whole ‘how much is this gonna cost? ive never been here and i have blue cross blue shield. ‘ Afterwards, you get asked ‘well how much is it if I wanted to get *another drug*’ It’s as if we’re supposed to have a database where we select a certain insurance company and see the drugs and cost!

4

Comment by FuturePharmer

February 18, 2008 @ 7:16 am

Unless I am already on the phone transferring a perscription, and only if it is from somewhere far away for a traveling sick person (did this some over Christmas), I will not ask some other pharmacy for anyone’s insurance. You know there are exceptions, that girl who is a brand new freshman who is not able to make it home the weekend they run our of insulin. Thats fine I’m already on the phone getting the Rx, I might as well ask about insurance, but don’t expect me to make a special phone call.

I will, however, help any pharmacy that calls us for such information. Even if it is the dreaded 24h down the street. I have sympathy for them, and I am not usually unhappy to be rid of the patient. It also gives me the chance to warn them and thank them for taking them off my hands.

FP

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