I used to think going to DMV was the worst possible trip a person could take. I’m now thinking that might be the second worst – when comparted to going to the pharmacy to pick up meds.
This a typical visit for me. The Robo call says I have a prescription ready. Good. Got to keep that blood pressure under control. There are two other customers ahead of me. It normally takes me two minutes to give my name, my birthday, wait till they pluck the bag off the rack, flash them my credit card and I’m gone.
Others take longer. Like the older gentleman at the front of the line who is one battery short in his hearing aid.
“What’s your birthday?”
“Today? Today is Wednesday.”
“No. When were you born?”
“I’m not bored. I like coming to get my meds.”
Through some sort of sign language and signals, it was finally revealed the date of the gentleman’s birth and they located his medications.
Then, the bad news.
“Should I take this at night or in the morning? I take Proceptamine in the morning and I don’t want that to make my bowels clog up again. What if I take them in the middle of the day?”
Oh sh..! My prescription may expire before I get to the front of the line.
The kind and patient pharmacist carefully and very loudly explains the pros and cons of taking the Proceptamine in the afternoon, along with certain laxatives, and after 15 minutes, the drugs are dispensed and the gentleman leaves.
Please, Lord, let this next person go through quickly.
It’s an older lady, but the meds are quickly found. That’s good. Then the really bad news.
“I thought my co-pay was 80%, but you’re charging me the full amount. Last year, it was July 1 before I met my deductible. Could you call Mutual of Omaha and see what’s wrong?”
Mutual of Omaha was most understanding and put a representative on the line, but they didn’t budge on the co-pay. The old lady continued to argue her case.
“I’m going to call Medicare and complain!” she threatened
This was becoming a Purgatory here on earth.
Approximately a half hour after I got in line, I reached the front, gave my name and date of birth.
“Oh, sorry Mr. Brewer. We just ran out of Lisinopril. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”
If I didn’t need my blood pressure meds before my trip to the pharmacy, I sure did now.