CaptWill

I had to get a prescription filled today. The doctor told us it was a "cheap generic", and where did I want it filled? At first, I said Walmart, but then immediately changed my mind, because they can be pretty slow, and I didn't want to wain an hour. So I said Walgreen's.

I went to pick it up, ended up waiting quite a while anyways, and when she rang it up, it was $40.00. I reacted, saying the doc said it was a cheap generic. She didn't respond.

When I got home, I told my wife, and said I was calling Walmart to checdk their price. She said check with Super-G (Giant Supermarkets). So I did. The lady told me that drug is on their free list. FREE!!! She said that it's been on the "free list" all year, and didn't see that changing anytime soon. I asked how much it would cost normally, and she said.... $3.99.

I hope they spend it wisely, because Walgreens just saw the last dollar they will get from me! What a rip!

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Capt Will, 2002 G/W 282 Sailfish, F225's
USCG Master, 50 Ton; Towing endorsement
Indian River, De

twentynine

Okay! Something like this happened to me. I got a presciption for a cheap generic, cost $5.50 but when I used my insurance card the copay for that particular generic was $10. The pharmacy charged me the copay price even though the actual cost of the presciption was cheaper.

I did this for over two years, until a new pharmacy opened near my home. When the pharmacist charged me $5.50 I questioned what was going on. He explained that they always checked actual price verses insurance copay, and the customer is allowed to pay the cheapest cost.

The next day I returned to the original pharmacy and questioned cost of the generic. Low and behold it also cost $5.50 there, but the phamacist told me that it had been my descission to pay with my insurance rather than pay out right. When I questioned him concerning how would I know how much a prescription drug cost without him telling me he just shrugged his shoulders. Then he told me that he did not have time to check the price on every prescription verses insurance cost. And it was an issue that should be discussed with my insurance carrier. Needless to say I have not darkened the door of that pharmacy since that incident. I realise that the difference between $5.50 and $10 once a month for 2 years is not likely to make any one rich. Think for a moment if my copay was the same as the OPs copay. The pharmacy would have been reaping a $34.50 windfall everytime I chose to trust them. Now multiply that by a couple 10 customers a day, each with a couple of $40 copays on a $10 prescription.

By the way this was not one of those big corporate pharmacies, Right Aid, Walgreens, or Walmart. Both of the pharmacies in question were Mom and Pop's.

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Cape Horn 17, Yamaha F115
with
Elmo the Boat Dog

amarcafina

I first started mine at Wal-mart and it was 54.00 , after 2 times I went to a Mom & Pops it is 11.65, I asked him why the big difference, he said wall mart always charges the insurance price even if you don't have coverage which I don't !!

SeaJay

None of these companies, big or small can stay in business by only charging $4 or less for every prescription filled. They have to make up the difference somewhere. Pays to shop around at each company for their loss leaders.

My Gal

Things are changing for the good with med prices. So fast you need to call around first with a scrip in your hand. I wouldn't bust on Walgreen's to hard, they tend to stay on top of things. You just didn't check.

bsmit24

When Wal mart started this one of the stations did just as you suggested and called around and found that they each play games with their prices and that you could buy your prescriptions cheaply but that you may have to have certain perscriptions filled at certain stores to take advantage of their different prices.

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"Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by
other men, but a right that belongs to us by the
laws of God and nature." ~ Benjamin Franklin