Drug Store Drama

Privacy isn’t the only concern at the pharmacy.

It’s not a difficult thing to refill a prescription, or at least it shouldn’t be. You call the automated voice mail refill system and pick it up when it’s ready.

Unless you discover upon returning home, that you didn’t get your usual medication. That’s what happened to me recently. Further inspection revealed that it was a generic. Up to that point, I hadn’t realized that a generic for this medication existed, so I did a little online research and discovered that it only became available within the last several months. You’d think they would mention switching your medication when they hand you the bag.

If you would assume, as I did, that a generic would cost less, you would be wrong. My out-of-pocket, just pennies shy of $102.00, was the same as it was five months ago when I last refilled this prescription. I called the pharmacy and was informed about the “rules.” If there is a generic available, and your doctor did not specifically order the brand name, they must substitute. Their hands are tied. That much I understood.

Inquiring as to why the generic cost the same as the brand name, I was told that “it’s the insurance companies… it takes them a long time to update their systems, so they continue to charge the brand name prices for awhile. At some point, it will get straightened out.” Even over the phone, I could hear the lack of conviction in her voice. I explained that I’ll happily welcome the generic when I get the generic price, so she told me that I could come back and switch it out for the brand name.

It may very well be that the generic works as well as the brand name drug, but now it was simply a matter principle. I couldn’t stomach the thought that I’m paying for a brand name, receiving a generic, and someone is pocketing the difference. But when I made my return trip to the pharmacy, I was told that the price of the brand name had risen, adding an additional twelve dollars to my co-pay. Hmmm… instead of a lower cost generic, how about we just raise the price on the brand name?

I guess from now on, each time I refill a prescription, I will have to bypass the easy-to-use automatic phone refill and speak directly to a pharmacist so that I can get a current quote on brand name versus generic.

This personal drug store drama is, admittedly, a minor irritant in the great state-of-health care debate. The fact is, I have multiple sclerosis and no access to group medical coverage, so I am all too familiar with the bigger picture.

On this particular day, my heart went out to the woman next to me in line, who had weightier problems. I’ll share that story next.

Read more: health policy

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ann P.

11:15AM PDT on Mar 9, 2009

In response to Debra, who suggests Walmart -- yes, I've looked into their list of $4.00 medications. Unfortunately, mine are not included.

However, it is a very substantial list of common medications and I suggest that everyone check to see if their medications are included. The list can be downloaded from the Walmart website.

Also, after writing this post, I was contacted by someone who suggests that the generic version of my medication will drop in price within six months and that it is normal for generics to cost as much as brand names for the first six months. Very helpful information.

send a green star

deborah c.

9:17AM PDT on Mar 9, 2009

Wow.That was quite a disturbing story.I am so sorry to here of your illness. I did not realize that they could simply "substitue" a drug (manufacturer) that you have come to trust, basically with your life, to another brand of which you have little or no knowledge of. I am on so many medications, that I have to get generic & even then, I am sometimes surprised to find a different color or shape of the medication, without any notification of the pharmacist.

P.S. Have you tried Walmart. They have a very large list of medications that are only $4.00 for a months supply. I am not sure if they are generic or not.

Kath W.

1:54AM PST on Mar 7, 2009

Oh my goodness - MS is a VERY serious disease or condition, whatever you want to call it, and shouldn't be belittled. But I do agree that almost every condition and disease that humans can have, can be improved or made worse by diet. Many things can be cured by diet, but I don't know about MS.

Jennifer R.

10:18AM PST on Mar 6, 2009

Multiple sclerosis can be helped by cutting out all artificial sweeteners, casein (dairy products), gluten, conventionally farmed foods and oxalates. The drug companies are not interested in a cure, they want you to be chronically ill so that they can keep selling you drugs that keep you able to function.

Theresa P.

9:34AM PST on Mar 6, 2009

I have heard that most of the medications we take are produced very cheaply in third world countries. I wish I could get that documented. The pills cost pennies each, so it seems pharmaceutical companies are getting rich off our medical problems. Physicians share the blame. So many are waaay to quick to pull out the prescription pad. And WE are to blame, too. We're all too happy to accept the Rx, when in many cases a lifestyle change would correct the problem. If anyone knows more about the production of prescription meds, please share.

Christy V.

7:46AM PST on Mar 6, 2009

How can someone stand eye to eye with you and tell you you're effectively being gouged due to a computer glitch? I would have protested and told them they best get off the computer and charge generic price.

Christine E.

7:02AM PST on Mar 6, 2009

I also had a similar fight with my` mothers repeat prescription for Parkinsons Disease I went as usual to collect them from the chemists and it wasn't until I arrived back and was unpacking them that we noticed they were different I returned to the chemists with them and he said a similar story that the usual ones she has been taking where expensive and because of the doctors "budget" he had to give the cheaper make! I returned to the doctor to ask that could he make another prescription naming the normal type of drug for the chemist and he refused now the chemist had told me I had a right to ask for the drug I wanted but the doctor still refused because it would be over his budget. My mother has been taking this drug for years with no trouble eventually back at the chemists I told him what the doctor had said and he looked it up and evidently the new maker of this drug was more expensive than the one she had always been prescribed! To solve the situation this time the chemist very kindly said he would change my mothers tablets but in doing so the ones that I handed back and we had not opened would have to be destroyed now that is what I call a waste of money and surely would effect the doctors budget!!

Kelly M.

6:33AM PST on Mar 6, 2009

I think that the health policy should have been changed years ago. It all started with the Nixon adminstration, they are the ones responsible for the health care problems we face today.They made the public think that we have a say in the matter ;when don't.Its really up to the insurence companies;whether some people get the correct care that they need. Whom ever is reading this should watch the docunmentary "Sicko" by Micheal Moore.It has some alarming facts in it. Its a must see movie.

THREE CAT H.

4:52AM PST on Mar 6, 2009

Sounds like i'm in the wrong line of work!