Monday, October 15, 2012

If you don't think the system is broken...

...take a look at this.  I have a patient that by looking at the address lives in a really nice part of my pharmacy's neighborhood.  She's on a state funded Medicaid program which recently told us she's been approved for Diovan FOR LIFE.  Diovan is expensive and there ARE alternatives which cost less.

Anyway, she pays $4 for a month supply.  We take it in the shorts.  But what's really annoying is that this same lady stepped up to the counter to pick up her prescription then paid cash for two jars of Olay cream.  Here's an actual copy of the receipt:



Doesn't that make you feel good to know that this lady gets her Diovan for practically nothing... WE PAY FOR IT FOR HER, so she can have plenty of money to pay for her face cream?  

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's a scam. Maybe not. Sometimes when you're poor, you make enormous sacrifices to be able to keep getting something that is important. Maybe she eats cat food in order to be able to afford her face creams. (After all, they don't see what you eat.)

Mary said...

I was on Diovan because the cheap alternatives made me cough until I gagged and vomited, then cough some more. Got off it after losing weight and not needing it :) I live in an expensive house that I can barely afford because my income went down very, very significantly when I became disabled. I wear nice clothes because I shop thrift stores and I have a generous same-sized sister who gives me hand-me-downs. Although, I do agree that often times this kind of thing is a scam, you never know for sure. I worked in the medical field and made judgments about the people "on disability"....unfortunately I became one (through no fault of my own). I try very hard not to fit the stereotype though!

slknapp78 said...

I just have to add my two cents. When I filled in at the pharmacy once when they were short handed, one of my favorite customers (I worked the front end of the store) came to pick up a prescription. I was so insulted when he said he couldn't afford his FIFTY CENT co-pay. I had to ask the pharmacist what to do, and apparently there was a code for us to put in that waived the fee. The customer went on his merry way, but I could never look at him the same way when he came in to buy his Winston Select CIGARETTES!!!

Grasshopper said...

The insurance and medical business is broken. nobody is making it better...only adding to the buacrazy ....the misspell was intended.....to many people think.its there lets see if I.can get it. Once on they rarely get off even when it isn't needed. If you can afford cigarettes....getting your nails done....going to.the tanning salon...spa...massage...out for cocktails...a pool man or landscaper every week...let alone a weekly maid service you have no business being on the system.
my great aunt was poor and received help....she stayed with my grandma on occasioned had a locked trunk. once the trunk was open and a girl my grandmother babysat looked in. only to get caught and scolded. after my grandma pulled the girl aside and asked what was in the trunk? She said toilet paper and a baby Ruth bar. that is poor and those are the people who need help....not people who don't want to give things up to pay for their.meds....or can't downsize to live a better life. this is the only time in history when a family if 4 needs 3,000 sq feet. my mother ,grandmother greatgrand parents and uncles lived on one lot in south Phoenix.....6 or 7 people in less than 1000 sq feet and they were the rich ones with a tv. ok I'm done now.