Quote:
Originally Posted by BarryRX
I am going to defend Wal-Mart. First let me say that I am a recently retired pharmacist that spent the last 6 years working for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart was the first pharmacy chain to come out with $4 generics. The very large list of generics that they sell for $4 represents many of the most common generic drugs that are sold today. If, however, you are prescribed a generic drug that is not on their $4 list, I would strongly suggest that you ask how much it will cost and if you think the price is too high, then shop around. Wal-Marts pricing forced many other chains to follow suit and to substantially lower their generic pricing. As a Wal-Mart pharmacist I felt proud that they were the leaders in low priced generics that enabled people who once could not afford their meds every month to now be able to get them. I was also proud that the low prices helped people avoid the "doughnut hole." The manager of your Wal-Mart was probably telling you the truth when he said the other pharmacy had a special contract with your health plan. If you purchased the prescription on your health plan, I would recommend calling your health plan to find out why for the same drug you had different co-pays in different stores. The stores do not set the copay, the health plan does.
After I finished posting this, I came across another thread posted today under the heading "pharmacy ripoff". Here it is:
I was in a hurry and droped of 3 scripts at Walgreens for a cost just under $ 100. All of these have been transfered to Walmart for a cost of $ 10.00 each for 90 days. Walgreens also charged me $ 286.16 For 60 Celebrex. I just ordered 100 in Canada online for $56 ( generic) to try. US script would be $ 109 for 100 but I thought I would try the generic first. My brother filled a script at CVS 30 days for $ 32. Next he went to Walmart and got the refill for $4. Shoping at the corner drug stores is not a good choice.
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BarryRX: Before retiring I was on the insurance side of the issue you address above. And I am posting to vouch for what you have said. You may also have said that the RX contracts are continually changing and hence change the dynamics. What we can't know but speculate about is how ObamaCare whether repealed or not is going to change health care/Pharma business, etc in the future.