Read on Twitter
being Type 1 means that I am constantly battling with my insurance and CVS to get access to the medicine I need to live. here's just a liiiiiiittle peek of what that's like, illustrated by the last two days. yep, THREAD TIME:
last week I ordered a refill of my pen needles (what I use to take insulin injections). normally I get 4 boxes, a 90 day supply.
what shows up? 1 box, not even a full month's supply. (each box has 100 needles, and i use 4 a day at minimum)
what shows up? 1 box, not even a full month's supply. (each box has 100 needles, and i use 4 a day at minimum)
I call CVS, and after arguing with them for a while, they admit it was a "glitch," that the RX went through as a 30 day supply rather than 90, and let me know if I can come into the store, they'll give me the other 3 boxes.
I just need to pay another $25, because the 30 day supply copay is $25 but the 90 is $50. (that's why i get all my prescriptions as a 90 day supply—it's a big time and money saver.)
okay! great. thanks Glenda at CVS, you're actually a real one for helping me with that.
okay! great. thanks Glenda at CVS, you're actually a real one for helping me with that.
only thing is, my closest CVS in brooklyn is a 35 minute walk from my apartment. why do I use CVS then? my insurance company, Aetna, owns CVS, and requires that I get all my chronic prescriptions filled there, otherwise I get no coverage. seems illegal to me, idk!
because it's far, i've been having my RXs delivered, but insulin is difficult to ship because it has to be refrigerated. since I have to go to the store anyway, i figure i'll get my two insulin prescriptions refilled while I'm there. i'm feeling good at this point!
the pharmacist rings up my prescriptions, and I notice that the Fiasp, my fast-acting insulin, is $125. normally it's $75. Glenda, who already helped me with the needle issue, says I need to call Aetna about it, I don't want to bug her further so I leave
I get outside and realize not only was my insulin $50 more than usual, I also was only given 1 box of pens, and normally I get 3. I get on the phone with Aetna, the rep says my Fiasp previously cost $75 because of a coupon, which is now expired, and $125 is just my copay now
this is AFTER they stopped covering Humalog (for which I used to pay $50 for a 90 day supply) a year ago. Fiasp and Novolog are now the only fast-acting insulins they cover at all, and they both cost $125. cool!!! Aetna says I have to ask CVS why I only got 1 box instead of 3.
this shit happens all the time. it is a new fresh hell every time I go to CVS. will my copays have gone up exorbitantly for some indiscernible reason? will I receive less medication even though I'm paying the same (or more, like today!!) for it?? who knows!!
the worst part is that, I'm lucky! this is not as bad as it is for so many diabetics who pay over $300 a MONTH for insulin. and, I have enough bandwith to fight with Aetna and CVS to make it right. I left CVS with a $175 bill this morning, which sucks! but not worst case
so while I'm frustrated by my own experience, I'm even more frustrated that our healthcare system makes it THIS HARD for diabetics (and other chronically ill folks) to get the medication they need to LIVE.
fuck Aetna. fuck CVS. fuck for-profit healthcare. insulin should be FREE. fin.
