If I have to listen to one more price complaint…
I need to check the calendar–is it a full moon? Is Jupiter aligning with Mars? Did a comet zoom by and spray us with radioactive dust? Because I have had to put up with some of the most assinine whining about the price of prescriptions this week, more so than their usual rants.
Over the years, my compassion for listening to complaints about pricing has plummeted and is directly proportional to 1)how much they have to pay and 2) the importance of the prescription. For example:
Son comes in and picks up Ma’s Vicodin and Xanax. He brings $8 because thats what Ma gave him. The copays are $4 and $7.26. The copays have been $4 and $7.26 for 5 months and there is no price match or deals on controlled drugs. “Shouldn’t they be $4?” Nope. He huffs away to get more money.
Guy comes in with a transfer for Viagra from my own chain. I call only to find out is has been transferred already to a nearby competitor. Great, a wasted long distance phone call. I call the competitor and bring it over. Its been 6 months and its gone up about $40. Well it is what it is, not covered. He wants to know what it costs and when I give him the price, he launched into a diatribe of how he walked away from Big Box because they were expensive and my price was $2 higher. Being just a little cheeky, I just said “Do you want me to transfer it back?” I couldn’t resist.
Son comes in for his elderly fathers medication. Doctor had left this message. “Cancel Lunesta order for #10 and fill it for #30, one daily at bedtime for sleep wandering/agitation. OhhhKaaay. The Son didn’t want the Lunesta last week because it wasn’t coveredand “$50+for 10 tabs is ridiculous” so I cannot imagine that he will want 30 of them today for 3x the price. Sadly he took it and 2 days later it was changed to Remeron. **Flush** $130 down the tubes. I kinda felt bad for him but in all honesty I did try to tell him of other alternatives before he laid down the cash.
Lady comes in to pick up her rx. I had filled it for cash because the 100ct price was better than using her insurance for 3×30. At the register the tech walks back to the computer ( a HUGE pet peeve of mine) so I ask why. “She wants to use her insurance”. I tell her “its cheaper to get 100 than to use the insurance, LIKE IT SAYS ON THIS NOTE”. But NO, customer pipes up and says ” I’m just curious” So this lady stops traffic like the chick in the VISA check card commercial who wants to pay cash. My tech doesn’t use wisdom and ask her to move aside. We reverse the claim, re run the claim for 30 (her max allowed), just to prove a point. #30 is 9.79 and #100 cash is 13.97. Valuable time wasted and we will probably do it again in 100 days. Customers have lousy memories.
International Man comes in and wants his ”Veepetor” (Lipitor) filled. He has Medicare D and a copay of $38. He brings me a discount card issued by AAA. My man Friday explains that it won’t help him, but IM doesn’t believe it so we waste more valuable time running thru his discount card. Its over $150.00. He completely balks. Friday explains that this card is not insurance. “Can I use both?” no. “So why did they send it to me?”. Cuz there is a sucker born every minute?”
Mr Barrel Chest comes in to pick up his bag of goodies. He’s in the donut hole now and knows it. He does not however miss out on the opportunity to complain about the injustice and tell me that the NEW PRESIDENT WILL FIX THIS MESS blah blah blah, sure he will… Never mind the fact he has all tier 3 type meds where some well chosen generics might do. I make mention of this fact only to be shut down with “I think my doctor knows what he is doing” Then shut your mouth and open your wallet. I am done with ya.
It seems like a good time for a reminder for any reader who might not be a pharmacist: Insurance is a contract between you ( the customer) and your insurance company. I agree to bill the plan but I don’t write the contract. Your copays and plan limits are set by THEM not ME. If you don’t like the price, then complain to them, not me. If it were up to me you could get 360 days worth of your meds, then I’d have to see you once a year instead of 12. I’d never have to request a Prior Auth for non-covered meds, or a vacation override. Every drug would be $1 and everything would be covered…..and while I am at it, I’d like a pony too.
Tags: customer hassles, insurance, pharmacy life, whine whine whine | |