jm192
Footballguy
Had a weird experience, and just thought I'd pass it along in case anyone else is in the same situation.
Because neither my wife nor I had regularly taken medicine, we signed up for the high deductible plan with the HSA. It has no insurance coverage for prescriptions. You pay 100% out of pocket up to a certain point--and it's a high point. I've had to start taking a medication that is expensive but not to the point it's worth paying for the lower deductible plan. The first few times it was $50 at CVS. Then I went back for a refill the 3rd time and it was 95$. I asked the lady about the price difference and she said she could apply a coupon to get it down to 67$, but that's the best they could do there.
I'm familiar with GoodRx but honestly just didn't think about it. I googled prices for the medication and GoodRx popped up. The prices were better. I decided the next time I had to refill it, I would give the Good Rx stuff a shot. Apparently the big chain pharmacies have a contract negotiated with them and are even required to accept it.
Wal-Mart had the best price. I asked my doctor to send it there. He called it in. Wal-Mart called me to ask for some personal info that he didn't provide: Address and insurance info. i explained the insurance situation She told me they would have it ready in a bit. I get there, wait in line and am told they don't have the medicine. They now have to order it. That's entirely possible. Honestly, telling someone that we'd have it ready before checking to make sure we actually have it is something I've been guilty of in my life.
I guess the thing that gives me pause in this instance is google. I was reading about why pharmacies hate GoodRx. I read on Reddit that some pharmacies will say they don't have the medication to avoid filling it when GoodRx is involved because they money on some of those transactions depending on the medication. I couldn't help but wonder. But it's entirely possible this was just an honest mistake.
I have it sent to CVS again. They've never NOT had the medicine. They send me a text saying it's ready. I walk in with Good Rx on my phone. When it's my turn in line, I ask the lady about it. She tells me "Oh, there's already a discount card on there for you." I look at the price. 93$. I got it for 67$ after a discount card last time. And I had to ask why the cost had gone up 45$ to get to that point. Now you've applied a discount card and the price is 26$ higher than last time? The Good Rx price is 51$.
I've dealt with a lot of customer service Reps and learned that the majority of cases they hope you won't question what they say. This "I've already put a discount card on there for you" feels like a tactic. "Maybe he won't question it." And I think a more shy person probably says "Oh, Ok." But I ask again if she can use it. "It will be 10-15 minutes." I've got 10-15 minutes for 40$. 5 minutes later she calls me back up there, I pay the 51$.
This isn't meant to be an "all pharmacies are bad" post. I don't think my local CVS represents all CVS. I'm not even certain Wal-Mart was doing what I'm wondering if they're doing. There are a lot of great pharmacists and pharmacies out there. They're probably even in the majority. But since this happened the first time I tried to use it, I thought I'd share the story in case anyone else ever runs into it.
Because neither my wife nor I had regularly taken medicine, we signed up for the high deductible plan with the HSA. It has no insurance coverage for prescriptions. You pay 100% out of pocket up to a certain point--and it's a high point. I've had to start taking a medication that is expensive but not to the point it's worth paying for the lower deductible plan. The first few times it was $50 at CVS. Then I went back for a refill the 3rd time and it was 95$. I asked the lady about the price difference and she said she could apply a coupon to get it down to 67$, but that's the best they could do there.
I'm familiar with GoodRx but honestly just didn't think about it. I googled prices for the medication and GoodRx popped up. The prices were better. I decided the next time I had to refill it, I would give the Good Rx stuff a shot. Apparently the big chain pharmacies have a contract negotiated with them and are even required to accept it.
Wal-Mart had the best price. I asked my doctor to send it there. He called it in. Wal-Mart called me to ask for some personal info that he didn't provide: Address and insurance info. i explained the insurance situation She told me they would have it ready in a bit. I get there, wait in line and am told they don't have the medicine. They now have to order it. That's entirely possible. Honestly, telling someone that we'd have it ready before checking to make sure we actually have it is something I've been guilty of in my life.
I guess the thing that gives me pause in this instance is google. I was reading about why pharmacies hate GoodRx. I read on Reddit that some pharmacies will say they don't have the medication to avoid filling it when GoodRx is involved because they money on some of those transactions depending on the medication. I couldn't help but wonder. But it's entirely possible this was just an honest mistake.
I have it sent to CVS again. They've never NOT had the medicine. They send me a text saying it's ready. I walk in with Good Rx on my phone. When it's my turn in line, I ask the lady about it. She tells me "Oh, there's already a discount card on there for you." I look at the price. 93$. I got it for 67$ after a discount card last time. And I had to ask why the cost had gone up 45$ to get to that point. Now you've applied a discount card and the price is 26$ higher than last time? The Good Rx price is 51$.
I've dealt with a lot of customer service Reps and learned that the majority of cases they hope you won't question what they say. This "I've already put a discount card on there for you" feels like a tactic. "Maybe he won't question it." And I think a more shy person probably says "Oh, Ok." But I ask again if she can use it. "It will be 10-15 minutes." I've got 10-15 minutes for 40$. 5 minutes later she calls me back up there, I pay the 51$.
This isn't meant to be an "all pharmacies are bad" post. I don't think my local CVS represents all CVS. I'm not even certain Wal-Mart was doing what I'm wondering if they're doing. There are a lot of great pharmacists and pharmacies out there. They're probably even in the majority. But since this happened the first time I tried to use it, I thought I'd share the story in case anyone else ever runs into it.
Last edited by a moderator:
