A few days ago I went to the neighborhood pharmacy to fill some prescriptions for my mom, who has recently been sent home from rehab after a fall. This store is a pharmacy and nothing else. The only thing they sell is medicine and medical supplies. I appreciate that when I go there they recognize me and know who my mom is and ask about her. If needed, they deliver her medication to her.
On this day there was a problem. When the pharmacist tried to get insurance approval online for my mom's prescriptions, he was met with several rejection codes. Unable to figure out what they meant, he got on the phone to seek assistance from the insurance company. Keep in mind that my mom is a senior citizen whose coverage is provided by the federal government. As I stood eavesdropping (what else was there for me to do?) I overheard something like this:
" . . . got these rejection codes . . . there's no key to tell me what they mean . . . 14 . . . 8 . . . 12 . . . if you provided some sort of key I wouldn't have to call you about this . . . you're telling me you don't know what they mean either? . . . . [to his assistant] See, this is why we don't want the government taking over the whole thing . . . . [to me] This will probably take a while. Why don't I call you or you can check back with us later?"
The initial cost quoted for the presciptions was over $300. It took until the next day for things to get sorted out and my mom to get properly charged for her prescriptions (her portion ended up being only around $25). Since my mom fell early in January, this was the first time she had tried to get prescriptions filled this calendar year. I am thinking that is probably why she had so much trouble and am anticipating that this won't happen again, at least not until next year. But that may be wishful thinking.
Just think. If the government takes over the entire health care system, all of us will be able to enjoy the same streamlined, efficient medical care that my mom now receives. I can't wait . . . .
2 comments:
It'll be like the IRS on steroids! No! On psychotropic meds! No! On blood thinners! No! On all of the above, and smeared with Vaseline to make everything more "clear and transparent"! hahahahaha
I need a drink.
Sign me up. I need more confusion in my life.l\
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