Prescription for Health Insurers

About three weeks ago, I went to the Rite Aid Store here in Moorpark to pickup a prescription.  I was feeling pretty smug at the thought that having recently fulfilled my deductable, I would be off the hook for any charges incurred.  The pharmacist pulled the prescribed medication, came back to the register and informed me that I owed $12.87.  This was dramatically less than the usual charge, but still, this was the first time ever that I was being asked to pay for meds after reaching the deductable on the policy.

Quick as lightening I whipped out my cell phone and called my prescription administrator and was informed in somewhat of a perplexed tone that "yes, I had reached my deductable and that I should not be paying this charge."  Then after a moment’s hesitation, was told that I should call my insurer.  Confidently, I hung up thinking it a glitch no doubt in the system, this unfortunate oversight would be cleared up straight away and I would be on my way to having the drugs in my hand without the nefarious monetary charge to plague my already depleted pocket book.  Truly, relief was only a phone call away!

I felt my muscles relax as the customer service attendant’s voice pleasantly answered my call to the afore mentioned insurer.  As I rattled off my insurance id number I felt a certain uncertainty… "Yes the attendant informed me, you have reached your deductable."  Ah yes, redemption, I thought they have realized their error of their ways and will be willing to call the pharmacy and wave the charge.  But, the Customer Service Representative went on to say, "your employer has chosen coverage that only covers three annual refills at your local pharmacy.  The remainder must be done though the mail order program with your prescription administrator or you will be assessed a service charge, that is what the $12.87 is for."

Whattttt?!  The healthcare people aren’t making enough money?  Now they are trying to squeeze out the local retailer?  Whatever happened to the slogan shop local? Guess it has been changed to shop Corporate and save! I not only need to track my deductable but now also what refill number I’m on to avoid the charge of shopping local?  Free enterprise at it’s best?  Guess it can’t be too bad or the retailers would be complaining.  Ho Hum, just another drab day in the corporate healthcare world never mind!