I am getting tired of the indifference and poor treatment of the middle class who are unable to afford even just their medications.
I was in Walgreens to fill a prescription tonight.
My regular pharmacist, located in a little out of the way, hole in the wall, blink and you miss it store was on vacation so it was either Walgreens or Rite Aid.
I hate going to these big chain places, too conveyer belt-ish, get them in, get them out for me, I like to be able to ask the pharmacist questions and not feel rushed, but I was in pain from dental surgery and didn't want to wait for the blessed relief of Vicodin until Monday.
As I waited in the teeny tiny waiting area, a woman came to pick up her prescription. She was middle-aged, in her 50's, maybe early 60's, too young for Medicare, dressed nicely, just your average American type. Yet she was shocked at what her prescription would cost: $193.20. And from what I could overhear (I tried not to evesdrop, but this was a really small space and it was unavoidable) she had insurance and a prescription discount plan. She also kept saying that she'd asked her doc for the generic to avoid this drama, they said it was the generic, she asked for the "other" generic, in vain, yet this was the only generic. She emphasized her discount plan and insurance and they said that had only knocked $20.00 off the price of her generic meds. She eventually had to just hand the bag back and walk out without her meds.
I get angry at scenes like this becuase she wasn't trying to buy something frivolous. She wasn't buying a new car or a flat screen TV or fancy perfume, she was trying to get her meds. For what condition I will never know, but the look on her face spoke volumes to me. It was that distinct "should I buy this and not get groceries/pay rent/pay utilities look" or go without my meds for a little white longer?
Being uninsured/uninsurable and hanging by a financial thread myself I could not have helped her at all, and you bet the way too cheerful ladies behind the counter would forget her the instant she left.
I can't forget her at all. I can't forget someone being turned away for anything medical just because they don't have the money - she had insurance so she's supposed to be set right?
I had to vent.