Government Extortion

[millergrovesue]

I have historically bought my medications from local pharmacies because I like the convenience, because I like the pharmacy staff and can have questions answered immediately, and I because like supporting local businesses. I pay a small copay with the remainder being covered by Medicare and Tricare. Bob has used Tricare's Express Scripts for a few years. Express Scripts has hounded me to sign up with them but I've resisted for the above reasons and because I despise being hounded and do not respond positively to it.

Well the gov. is getting the last say. As of now "Tricare For Life Pharmacy Pilot" - whatever the hell that means - requires medications to be supplied through them. If I opt out I will be required to pay 100% of the cost of the medication. This majorly pisses me off!!! It removes my choice as to where I purchase and puts more pressure on small businesses. I've been convinced for years that the gov. wants to run all private pharmacies out of business. This is simply further proof of the truth of my thinking.

Wish I could tell them where to put their mandate but I can't afford to foot the entire bill myself. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[grouchy]

Our beloved President is trying to help you darlin'.

[millergrovesue]

Our beloved President is trying to help you darlin'.

I'd like to prescribe a few meds for him!

[planosteve]

I believe that Big Pharma pretty much controls the whole medical industry.

[Sangersteve]

Sometime back I posted about the new "Pharmacy Machines" being built for the VA, My buddies who have a machine shop are building parts for it.

The machine is basically a giant pharmacy run by 1 or 2 people,(not sure you even have to have a pharmacist present) all they have to do is stock it and type in the info for the scrip.The machine dispenses, labels and caps.

So the VA is going to be able to decrease labor costs, and in turn they can strip you of choice because they save money.

[millergrovesue]

Sometime back I posted about the new "Pharmacy Machines" being built for the VA, My buddies who have a machine shop are building parts for it.

The machine is basically a giant pharmacy run by 1 or 2 people,(not sure you even have to have a pharmacist present) all they have to do is stock it and type in the info for the scrip.The machine dispenses, labels and caps.

So the VA is going to be able to decrease labor costs, and in turn they can strip you of choice because they save money.

I didn't know about the machines. Creepy and so very prone to screwups.

I signed up today. Typically, couldn't complete the online version so had to call the "patient advocates" (makes me choke). Got passed through 3 women, who were individually lacking personality or sense of humor, and spent about an hour on the phone. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[ann jusko]

I qualify for VA Rxs but I know a hell of a lot better than to even consider it. We do have 2 insurances for drugs so I know I'm better off keeping away from VA. I still pay $140+ a month for one Rx but I'll hit catastrophic soon so it'll be "almost free" as they say in Mexico. I'm waiting for them to develop a generic. However, the generics right now are only about $10 cheaper than the original. Not so much a big savings!

[millergrovesue]

I qualify for VA Rxs but I know a hell of a lot better than to even consider it. We do have 2 insurances for drugs so I know I'm better off keeping away from VA. I still pay $140+ a month for one Rx but I'll hit catastrophic soon so it'll be "almost free" as they say in Mexico. I'm waiting for them to develop a generic. However, the generics right now are only about $10 cheaper than the original. Not so much a big savings!

Since Bob was career military we had/have no other choice................well except Bob could go the VA route but chose not to. It's literally Tricare For Life for us.

[truep]

If you or your husband are Military retired, you can get your prescriptions filled at any Army, Navy, or Military base that has a pharmacy. In most cases, there is no cost.
I think there is one at the joint reserve base in Ft. Worth or the VA hospital. My Mom and Brother are on Tricare and they get theirs at a Navy Pharmacy about a mile from where they live!

[millergrovesue]

If you or your husband are Military retired, you can get your prescriptions filled at any Army, Navy, or Military base that has a pharmacy. In most cases, there is no cost.
I think there is one at the joint reserve base in Ft. Worth or the VA hospital. My Mom and Brother are on Tricare and they get theirs at a Navy Pharmacy about a mile from where they live!

That's wonderfully convenient for them.

I still miss many things about being close to a base, especially the BX and the commissary.

We live at least 2 hours from the nearest military pharmacy. Neither of us has been on a base since the early 2000s. They are all too danged far away.

My BIL lives in Austin and gets his from the VA in Round Rock. He says that is a wonderful facility.