tramadol part two

[Guest guest]

File this under the heading of idiots who scare me.

I needed my tramadol badly so thought I would go with the husband person to

speak with the pharmacist about the price and then to request my written script

back to take it to Wal Mart. (see part one of the great tramadol problem from

yesterday)

I was shaking and sweating by the time we got there so had the husband

get my wheelchair out of the back of the truck. I hate having to use

it since it took a lot of work to learn how to walk and everything

again, but pain was bad.

So got to the counter and had to go through the usual routine of

telling the clerk what I wanted. She ignored what I was saying, turned

around, got the bag with my medications and rang it up, saying it would be $50.

I said that I was not prepared to buy it then but would like to know

why it was only 4 bucks at a couple other pharmacies and $50 there.

She gave me the blank stare. Finally got to speak with the pharmacist who

frowned at the receipt and said “That’s what your insurance copay is.”

I said, “OK, how much if we DON’T use our insurance to buy it?”

She answered, “Oh, that would be four dollars.”

So I said, “OK, then I don’t want to use my insurance.”

Got the blank stare and then she said since we have insurance, we’d

have to USE the insurance.

I gave her the irritated teacher look with my glasses on the end of my

nose and stared at her before finally saying “That is just about the

dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life. I am NOT using my

insurance so either you charge me what everyone without insurance pays

or you hand me back my paper copy of the prescription.”

Got the blank stare again while she thought about what I had said.

Other customers chimed in trying to explain that it didn't make sense

to make us pay $46 more than other people pay just because we have

insurance.

FINALLY light dawned, angels were singing hosannas on high and she

understood. “OH, I get it. If you use your insurance you pay more than

if you don’t use your insurance!”

I got my tramadol but now I’m out of Neurontin and I’m betting we have

to do the same song and dance to get it for what other people pay. I’m

not even thinking of getting my Crohns meds there.

Jeanne B in GA