MS Maze

And the saga continues. Month #3 on my new insurance and still trying to get my MS medications without completely loosing my grip.

Month #1 proved to be a nightmare of phone calls, emails and the threat of my head exploding. Mind you, I was not asking for anything special. Just what my insurance policy promises — a one month supply of MS meds at my maximum out-of-pocket of $500 per script per month for Tier 4 drugs. It is what I signed up for and what I pay for, but find so difficult to get.

Month #2 was only slightly improved. Lots of apologies from the insurance company, but the bottom line was that the only pharmacy they allow me to use can’t access my insurance information properly and insists on charging me several hundred dollars more. More phone calls… you know the drill.

Month #3 has arrived and I felt very hopeful. An insurance company customer service representative actually contacted me first. She wanted to assure me that they would expedite this month’s refill, while making it as easy on me as possible. She told me that she was going to contact the pharmacy immediately and override the system. All I needed to do was call the pharmacy and give them the okay to ship. I thanked her profusely and happily hung up the phone. At least this month I won’t have to beg for what is rightfully mine! Now we’re getting somewhere!

I waited two hours, giving them time to finish their task, and called the pharmacy. Voice mail. Wait… wait… wait. Finally, a human being. We went through the process, playing twenty questions, and then I inquired as to the charges. Uh oh. $280 over. The pharmacy claimed that they have not gotten a phone call from my insurance company since last month’s fiasco. Great.

So, back on the phone to the insurance company. Voice mail system. Wait… wait… wait. I asked for the customer service rep who called me earlier and ended up in yet another voice mail system. I called back and asked for the rep I spoke to last month and, naturally, got voice mail.

Now into Friday evening, I guess I will face the hassle on Monday. Deep breaths, and I shall try not to loose my grip.

Oh, what a pleasure it would be to inform the insurance company that they do not meet my standards and I will bring my business elsewhere! Oh, yeah. I can’t. This is the only insurance company in my state that will give me any coverage at all… and only because it is required to by state law.

Equally wonderful would be the opportunity to choose another pharmacy, one whose representatives treat me with dignity and must court my business. But, again, this is the one and only pharmacy I am allowed to deal with.

It’s a great system we’ve got here.