Posted on 09/01/2016 11:53:56 AM PDT by wtd
That is the problem with mail order med suppliers like Express Scripts, they are very well known for Fraud. We got our neighbor’s meds a couple of weeks ago.
As Ret. Military over 65 we are DOD MANDATED to either use the Military base which has a limited # of meds available by size of base, or ES. ES will over ride a doctor’s Dispense as Written Name brand and sub in generics. Not all generics work or have fillers or dyes patients can’t stand. I take name brand Synthyroid which thankfully the Navy base does have, ES would have sent me the generic form I’m allergic to, which has 30% less hormone in it. NEVER give them approval for auto charge to your credit card, always do checks. The take a month to fill a Escript 2 weeks for a refill. I despise having to use them. We use the Navy base for all but 2 of our daily meds. In case of a urgent need we can use a local pharmacy for a 1 time fill drugs like anti-antibiotics. Other wise all daily meds are to be got at the Military base.
And it is NOT HANDICAP FRIENDLY! They just remodeled our Navy Exchange that just needed a new roof, but didn’t touch the Pharmacy end. We now have less to choose from at much higher prices, practically all they carry now are big name brands you have to have a big retirement to pay for. $200 for a Vera Wang wallet.
I had to have a after cataract eye drop co-pay was $50.
And those coupons are not usable for Medicare/Tricare Life, both are earned or pre-paid benefits. Bet it’s the same way for those on state medicaid.
I went to an Urgent Care place for an ear infection. I knew my deductible wasn’t met and I would be paying. I asked how much the visit would cost. They asked if I had insurance. I asked how much the visit would cost. Etc. After some back and forth, they admitted the price of the service depends on what insurance you have and if you have insurance. As it turns out, when I asked how much the service would cost, they may as well have said: “how much you got.” That is just out and out gouging and insurance fraud if you ask me.
In spite of my pain, I went down the road to another clinic at a Krogers. They told me how much a visit with the nurse would cost and then took my card. They also brought my filled prescription to me in the exam room.
Happy to say my ear is much better. Haven’t had an ear infection in a few decades.
I guess I should get some kind of insurance before I get a real big bill of some kind. The medical clinic did give me a 25% discount for paying cash in full the same day. I never got a straight answer at the pharmacy about where that discount came from.
I don’t know if that’s entirely a matter of price gouging at the clinic. If they get paid through an insurer they spend quite a bit of employee time jumping through all the hoops and then wait to get paid. If you pay cash they spend about five minutes employee time on billing and the money is in their account by the next business day if not immediately.
See my post above this one.
Drug companies provide it. They are making record profits off the drugs, and blaming the ins companies for not letting them reduce the prices so they can keep jacking up the premiums.
A lot of patients are locked into REFERRAL only ins plans, and if you have a Primary that is SUCKY and won’t refer you to a specialist you are screwed. I learned a long time ago a Internist is not much better educated than a GP and can’t read test well, especially Endocrinology test or Liver/Kidney. Oh, they can tell you you have an infection, but beyond that they are clueless how to treat you.
You know that mammogram that is supposed to cost only $50 through ins, well I get Medicare/Tricare Life print outs, that test is well over a GRAND. Cost is why Bone Density test were moved to every 2 years, and nerve blocks limited to 3 per year those are close to 3 Grand each last one I had and it failed to work. But the side effects sure worked OT.
Because the government insurance pays.
If you've got the right insurance, of course.
Say something costs a billion dollars. Well naturally, you couldn't afford to buy it. But, if I bought it for you and gave it to you, no problem, right?
In this case the people with the right insurance gets their device, and the rest of us, through Obamacare, pays for it.
The manufacturer gets a nice, big payout for each pen, brought to them by their paid-for politicians. They can afford to payoff politicians because of the profit.
Buying off politicians to pass laws in your favor is one investments you can make in the USA in the 21st Century!
Last sentence should read:
Buying off politicians to pass laws in your favor is one of the BEST investments you can make in the USA in the 21st Century!
So, Mylan is now becoming responsible for keeping unfit people alive
All I can say is; what a mess!
Thanks for all the information :)
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