Walgreen's didn't have the drugs the doctor had called in for me

[goddess40]

so instead of call the doctors office back so they could proscribe something else
or
Calling me so I wouldn't make a wasted trip to the store - or allow me to call the doctor for an alternative or call another pharmacy
or
call their sister store across town
they let me come in only to say - we don't have it sorry. What I heard was - since you have to do business with us because of all the money we give to the republicans along with the insurance companies so we can dictate where you have to buy your medication we just happen to be out of what you need screw you go home and try again tomorrow.

I've had a headache (with pain that goes from being so bad it makes me nauseous to just an ordinary headache)for four flipping days and finally I called the doctor. He thought my headache was caused by a sinus infection and called in a prescription to our local Walgreen's and I got a sorry from the pharmacists aide.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Try an independent pharmacy

They'll probably care about you a little bit more.

[goddess40]

4. I wish I could but I'd have to pay the entire $115 out of pocket

before the insurance companies dictated where we could buy our medication we went to a locally owned pharmacy, but we can't do that anymore unless we pay the entire bill.

($115 for 5 pills)

[rockymountaindem]

5. That really sucks, for both of you

Of course, I'm not surprised. Big corporations only want to deal with other big corporations.

[RB TexLa]

8. The insurance company doesn't dictate where you can and can't buy something

They dictate what they will pay pharmacies. Some of the pharmacies have better deals on medications than others because of what they are able to negotiate. You are free to buy your medication from any properly licensed pharmacy in your state or state your doctor has the right to prescribe medication, baring restrictions on out of state prescriptions.

[rockymountaindem]

10. And let me tell you

what they usually pay pharmacies is a pittance.

[RB TexLa]

12. Then the pharmacy doesn't have to sign on as a provider

[rockymountaindem]

20. Except they all do it

If a pharmacy doesn't sign on with companies that reimburse, say, $2 over cost, then they're not going to have anybody to do business with.

[Jackpine Radical]

14. In many instances, they dictate WHETHER they will pay a given pharmacy.

If the pharmacy you want to use isn't on the approved provider list, you will pay the whole tab, like the OP says.

[RB TexLa]

15. But that doesn't dictate where someone can purchase medications

[Jackpine Radical]

21. Only a perversely literal reading of Goddess40's post

would suggest that was what she meant.

[goddess40]

16. If I want the insurance company to pay I have to go where they dictate

you can play with the wording but it's the same thing. I could go somewhere else but it's on my own, additional, dime.

[MADem]

2. Call the doctor. Have the prescription called in to another pharmacy. Then

write a note to Walgreen's corporate offices, telling them Fuck You Very Much, or words to that effect.

That is unacceptable.

[iamjoy]

3. I've Been There

It was a few years ago. Eckerd didn't have the medicine I needed to counter act effects of chemotherapy. But, did they tell me before I made a trip to the store? No.

But, I'm not sure that aspect would be any better if we were on a single payer system.

Hope your headache gets better.

[emilyg]

6. I've learned to call pharmacy before i make trip.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. Check out Sicko.

It might make you feel better by comparison.
You might also have an uncontrollable urge to move out of country. :shrug: MKJ

[Coexist]

9. I had the same thing

it sucked. The Walk-in clinic didn't give me an rx though, so I had to suffer through it with only Tavist-D for comfort.

Did I mention that it sucked?

[ohioliberal]

11. I had a similar thing happen to me today at Meijers

they called and said my script was ready, so when I picked it up they said that would be $50.00, I said, what! they said it was to early to fill the one script until tomorrow so my insurance would pick it up, I told them then why did you fill it today, or why didn't you call me and tell me that. I've only been filling my scripts here for 5 years, duh!

[GeorgeGist]

13. Your first mistake ...

was allowing your 'doctor' to diagnose you over the phone.

[goddess40]

17. normally I'd agree with you

but this is a semi-reoccurring aliment and it doesn't hurt that I live with a nurse.

[Paulie]

18. Did the Doc say no substitutions?

I had a similar problem with a script. Doc picked an old antibiotic, Keflex, by brand name and no substitutions. So they didn't have it, it was late on friday, and I wanted the script that day, so I drove 15 miles to get it from another. They had plenty of the generic cefalexin in stock.

[goddess40]

22. it wasn't offered and I wasn't in the mood to argue

nor was my brain up to thinking beyond the moment.

I'm exhausted from battling this stupid headache, it does feel a little better today but lack of sleep isn't helping.

[Igel]

19. It's happened to me--not Walgreens, but a different chain.

They were always able to get whatever it was by the next morning.

On the other hand, it wasn't like I was in pain, and could survive just fine until the next morning.

Haven't found the local pharmacies to be all that helpful, to be honest.

[Mugu]

23. It sounds like the pharmacy could learn a thing or two from the photo center.

My local Walgreens has called me several times as well as emailing me to let me know that there was a problem with my order or their printer. Never gotten better service anywhere and I only print a small number of photos.

Regards, Mugu