* * * * *
                                        
                       Ah, the joys of medical insurance
                                        
> I was there to pick up a renewal on a prescription and the man behind the
> counter fetched it and announced, “That'll be $91.88.” I said … well, here.
> I'll let you listen in on what I said …
> 
> > ME: What? I've been getting that prescription for two years and it's
> > always been ten bucks.
> > 
> > PHARMACIST: (after consulting his computer) You're renewing it ahead of
> > schedule. Your insurance doesn't pay unless you're within seven days of
> > running out.
> > 
> > ME: And when will I be within seven days of running out?
> > 
> > PHARMACIST: (after consulting his computer again) June 20.
> > 
> > ME: It's 11:54 PM. In six minutes, it'll be June 20.
> > 
> > PHARMACIST: And in six minutes, it'll be ten dollars.
> > 
> > ME: I suppose there's no point in mentioning that I'm not going to be
> > taking that pill tonight. I am just as “out of it” as I will be in six
> > minutes.
> > 
> > PHARMACIST: Right. There's no point in mentioning that. At this moment,
> > it's $91.88.
> > 
> 
> I went to the end of the line and saved eighty bucks. Makes you wonder what
> the mark-up is on these pills. And the funny/sad part of it is that this
> particular drug is also sold over-the-counter without a prescription for
> $23. I'd hate to think there are uninsured people out there who don't know
> that and are paying the $91.88, but I'll bet there are.
> 

“news from me: Odds 'n' Ends [1]”

My take: the pharmacist probably had to enter the prescription on a computer
and couldn't fudge the time and date (much like in the 70s, people would get
a bill for $0.00 and when they didn't pay, got sent to collections until they
actually sent in a check made out to $0.00—yeah, probably an urban legend,
but computerized systems are often funny like that).

[1] http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2006_06_20.html#011655

Email author at sean@conman.org