Mr. Lamblam wants to get one of them a flu shot. Sure, it's that time of year, right? Of course, he's shown up at the worst time to get a flu shot. I have people in line at both windows and a stack of scripts to fill as high as the Eiffel Tower, but that's ok. The Authorities don't want us to ask people to come back at a more convenient time. Oh no, that's an unacceptable offense. I heard about a guy on the other side of town who was setting up an appointment schedule for his patients. That pharmacist disappeared. He was actually trying to manage the situation. The Authorities will have none of that.
Mr. Lamblam and his partner both work and the address is in a really nice neighborhood, but this particular daughter is on a Medicaid prescription plan for some reason. In case you haven't heard... I really despise Medicaid. It gives people a false sense of entitlement and along with that a real attitude. I don't fault people who are really in need and I'll be the first to step up and help those people with a portion of my taxes, but more and more I see people that for one reason or another are taking advantage of the system.
I attempt to run a claim on the Medicaid plan for a flu shot for this little girl. It won't process... not covered in a retail pharmacy. This particular Medicaid plan wants the parents to take their daughter in to the provider to get a flu shot. I have no doubt that this would NOT be cheaper for a number of reasons, but you know our efficient government.
I've already prepared the syringe and I'm feeling rather generous this particular day, so I offer to give the flu shot to the child at no charge to Mr. Lamblam. Due to the time of day and present conditions, I likely would have had to waste the shot anyway. I might as well use it, right?
The little girl screams her bloody head off while Mr. Lamblam desperately tries to show her something on his iPhone. Yes, your contact list will really distract her. After jerking around all over I finally grab her arm and give the shot. It's done. I leave the waiting room to help the next person in line.
About ten minutes later, here comes Mr. Lamblam. What's wrong now, I thought. Is he going to ask me to give the OTHER kid stuff in the grocery cart a shot now? Or is he going to complain about how I had to hold the girl's arm to give her the shot. My mind is racing with all the thoughts.
"You know that 10% off coupon for getting a flu shot?" he asks.
"Yes," I reply. I know what he's going to ask but I'm too stunned to say anything else.
"Well my daughter got a flu shot. Don't I get one?"
I reach into the drawer and pull out a coupon. I give it to Mr. Lamblam. Oddly, he doesn't even thank me as he walks away.
Remember the sense of entitlement I mentioned earlier? This guy has done NOTHING to get that grocery coupon. NOTHING. We're not only out the money from the flu shot, we're out the 10% on a grocery purchase. And if you, dear reader, don't see the problem here, please, please, please go get sterilized before you breed more like you.
This guy sounds like an as shat but many kids that are adopted from the foster system "come" with medicaid. Or if you have a child with mental health issues they often qualify for Medicaid based on the diagnosis. There are mental health programs that are only offered to kids on medicaid. We are at that point now. Financial we don't qualify but it may be what our child needs.
ReplyDeleteNo good deed goes unpunished, Crazy.
ReplyDeleteIn my state, children adopted from the foster system receive medicaid until adulthood. I assume it is seem as an "incentive", especially to encourage adoption of children who may have underlying medical conditions.
ReplyDeleteI think in this case, you may be off in assuming they are taking advantage of medicaid. Although, they did seem to take advantage of the gift card offer!
Did you even tell the family that you weren't getting reimbursed for the flu shot and it was free? If you are advertising coupons to entice people to get flu shots, people are going to want the coupon when they get the flu shot. That's the entire point of the advertising campaign. I get that you disagree with the campaign but that is a complaint with your corporation, not the people that use the offers presented to them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as others have stated, there are programs for certain illness that are only available through medicaid. Private providers do not provide these services or they are not covered under private insurance. This led to the very sad situation of people surrendering their children to the state so they could get the medical care that they needed. Many states have come around and now if you have a child with one of these diagnosis, you may keep your child and access those services via medicaid.
Lastly, choosing to adopt a special needs child is a huge commitment. I can't believe you would see this person as entitled. The child likely came from the foster system which is why she has Medicaid. This parent should be applauded for adopting this child, not shunned for using the benefits the child came with. Lastly, even people in nice neighborhoods have bills. Maybe they can afford to live in that nice neighborhood because they live frugally. That includes using coupons when they are available.
Usually your blog highlights the true asshats. This post makes me think you have become jaded and cynical and look for the worst in everyone. If this is the case, seriously consider if there is something you can do to improve your own happiness.
I have a sincere question for you. I am not trying to be thick or dim, I just would like to understand how my family would be perceived in your pharmacy.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your opinion of SSDI (the form of disability available only to those who have worked for many years prior to becoming disabled, and wherein he payment amount is a portion of the pre-disability income), and of Medi*care* (not Medicaid), for which you become eligible after two years of COBRA payments?
Because if we were to decline Medicare once eligible, our future costs for it would be a large percentage higher, no matter what our change in circumstances?
Again, I'm not trying to troll, I legitimately would like to understand?
Thank you for your time.
I don't have a problem with people that have legitimate needs to be on Medicare or Medicaid. The original purpose of Medicare was a government-run system to provide retirement for workers. It's been expanded so dramatically over the years that the original intention and means to provide that intention are constantly under fear of disappearing.
ReplyDeleteIt is appropriate to seek whatever benefits are available legally. However, there certainly is a moral obligation for everyone to NOT take advantage of the system as that ultimately amounts to stealing from other taxpayers. Moreover, I am disgusted with the entitlement that's engendered from freebie programs. It's one thing to get help, it's another to just expect it, as this blog post points out.
You got into pharmacy when? 1945? I'm sure your judgement is nothing more than the SAME THING YOUR PROTESTING ....ENTITLEMENT! WHAT ALL THROUGH COLLEGE YOU NEVER LIKED FREEBIES...DO YOU PUT YOUR TRASH IN YOUR NEIGHBORS BIN ON TRASH NIGHT SO YOU DONT HAVE TO PAY ? THEY NEVER USE THE WHOLE BIN AND THERES PLENTY ROOM...DO YOU NEVER JUST WANT A FEMALE FOR SEX WISH SHE WOULD SHUT UP?...OR TAKE WHATEVER TAX BREAK YOU COULD FIND A LOOPHOLE FOR, YOUR JOB ISNT TO JUDGE THOSE WHO ARE GETTING PHARM NEEDS MET. DO YOUR JOB AND WILLING OR NOT TO MOT BE A JUGEMENTAL MAN THAT IS OBVIOUSLY PAYING TO MANY TAXES W/ NO BREAKS & MUST BE NEVER MARRIED 1ADULT KID & RESENTS PAYING CHILD SUPPORT OR ANY OTHER THING ..DO YOU OPEN CAR DOOR FOR YOUR MOM? YOUR WIFE IF YOUR MARRIED OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT ? I BET NOBODY VISITS YOU UNLESS THEY NEED SOMETHING,AND YOUR HOUSE IS IN NEED IF LOVING WOMANS TOUCH..ITS OBVIOUS YOU HAVE NOT CARED FOR ANOTHER PERSON FROM BIRTH EVER, GO ADOPT GO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT AND ACTUALLY HELP WITH A HUMAN BEING IN NEED OF HEALTH CARE THATS JUST"so affordable?"get down of your podium & act not give LIP SERVICE & BLESS YOUR TAX PAYING SHIT MOUTH ,YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU GREW UP IN ?WHAT DIDN'T YOU GET ? WHY? TO MANY OF YOU OR NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND OR ? FOLKS YOU CANT TEACH SOME THINGS AND ONE IS TO MORAL OBLIGATION....DAN YOUR NAME IS NOT GOD & VIRTUE IS. Sounds like you also can't follow policy ,but still want to take credit for being such a good doer by administering the flu vaccine.
ReplyDeleteOrganizational skills NEED IMPROVEMENT, as does your stress management skills, you should not have prepared the vaccination without a green light,there for not putting you or your company at risk of looking like a heartless buisness. It does save money ,YOURS ON THIS DAY FOR SURE ,to have patients get all thier care from primary care providers. If not its more time ( as you spent) & paperwork & you hated it being taken advantage of but are then ENABLING IT TO HAPPEN...OHyour such a good guy ,blag blah blah...your a judgemental lip service who obviously obtains a narrcacistic level of ego, I would like to see you at the end of those that try to budget health care for Americans who are not in your bracket of income, UNTILL then learn to follow protocol & not administer anything to a person who could come back and sue the shit out of you or the company or both!what would you have done mr GENEROUS goody guy if that innocent little girl had an adverse reaction....and that list goes on & on ? Ever hear of the god complex? Your lonely too huh? Not nice to assume that anyone is taking advantage of healthcare just because your a tax payer, I pray for people including my own not perfect butt...I'm going to set aside a special occasion prayer for pharmacy man Dan that feels he pays for all Americans..but really its just the allegiance of the flag that we pledge as americans and your tax my tax dollars might get split & put here & there , but atleast I can tell you this, I hope you bring your wife and kids and coworkers flowers,TOOTSIE rolls, & gratitude for chosing you to be part of their world ...or let's get it together we are all going to be in need of one another soon..sooner than we relize. P.s. a good deed isnt spoke of its unspoken, your a jerk.