# I pit Blue Cross, my pharmacy, and the health care system in general. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074 "2012-09-18T15:44:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/1 "2012-09-18T15:44:27Z")
Blue Cross are the ones really at fault here, but my pharmacy has me pretty upset also. I called last week to get a refill on a special order medicine that I have to get from a mail order pharmacy. They called back a day later to tell me that they couldn’t fill it because their computers show that I have two active insurance plans. Some background: A few years back, I worked for Blue Cross and was covered under their associates health plan. When I left employment there I kept it under Cobra and paid monthly for the policy. During that period I was self-employed. Eventually my Cobra eligibility ran out and I got a policy, again with Blue Cross, through the local Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, my doctor’s office has several times told me that their computer showed two active plans. The first time, I told them which plan to use and contacted Blue Cross to have the old plan removed from their computers which they said they would do. This has happened several time over the years and each time I contacted Blue Cross, each time they said that they would remove it, and each time they’ve failed to do so. I finally gave up, figuring that it wasn’t my problem. They’ve actually sent me a card once or twice and I shredded it. So now my pharmacy won’t fill the prescription and I’m back to banging my head against the immovable wall that is Blue Cross. I don’t know what the pharmacy’s problem is suddenly. They’ve filled the prescription for years and now suddenly they noticed the second policy? I just talked to a nice gentlemen at Blue Cross and explained the situation in full and he said that it would be taken care of. I wish I could believe that. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/2 "2012-09-18T16:37:18Z")
Think of it this way; many people in the US don’t even have one active insurance plan, so you should consider yourself lucky to have _two_. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/3 "2012-09-18T16:41:10Z")
Fuck man, seriously every other pit thread in the last month is started by you. I suggest a relaxing vacation with some pills or something to unwind. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/4 "2012-09-18T16:42:04Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Think of it this way; many people in the US don’t even have one active insurance plan, so you should consider yourself lucky to have _two_. Neither of which I can use, apparently. Even though I’m paying big money every month for one of them. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/5 "2012-09-18T16:43:07Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > Fuck man, seriously every other pit thread in the last month is started by you. I suggest a relaxing vacation with some pills or something to unwind. No one will sell me any pills. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/6 "2012-09-18T16:54:38Z")
What the heck is wrong with having two plans anyway? Some people are covered under their own plan and their spouse’s. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/7 "2012-09-18T16:57:38Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > What the heck is wrong with having two plans anyway? Some people are covered under their own plan and their spouse’s. Don’t ask me. I can’t figure it out and the pharmacy guy on the phone was distinctly unhelpful. I had a couple of other prescriptions filled at my local pharmacy recently with no issue. I hope this isn’t something that will suddenly be an issue everywhere. Maybe it’s something in the new health care laws and it just went into effect. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/8 "2012-09-18T17:47:49Z")
Wow! Blue Cross called back to confirm that the old policy has been removed. I called the pharmacy, they checked, and the prescription will be delivered tomorrow. Suddenly, after years, somebody did their job. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/9 "2012-09-18T18:00:29Z")
Pharm party at **davidm** ’s house! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/10 "2012-09-18T18:01:45Z")
Believe me, nobody would want to use this prescription to party. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/11 "2012-09-18T18:11:09Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Wow! Blue Cross called back to confirm that the old policy has been removed. I called the pharmacy, they checked, and the prescription will be delivered tomorrow. > > Suddenly, after years, somebody did their job. I’d still probably switch pharmacies. Like someone else said: lots of people have two policies, that’s hardly a reason not to dispense medicine. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/12 "2012-09-18T18:45:36Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I’d still probably switch pharmacies. If it’s like the situation my mother had to deal with recently, he may not have a choice. It’s either Medco mail order or pay full price at the local pharmacy. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/13 "2012-09-18T19:15:15Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I’d still probably switch pharmacies. Like someone else said: lots of people have two policies, that’s hardly a reason not to dispense medicine. I can’t switch pharmacies. My insurance requires that I use this pharmacy for this medication. Fortunately for me, the pharmacy is Caremark which is associated with CVS, so I can have it shipped to my local CVS, which is fortunate because it’s packed in ice in a big thermos carton and I wouldn’t want it sitting on my front step all day. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/14 "2012-09-18T19:25:49Z")
Yes, lots of people have two health insurance policies (perhaps one from their own employer and the second from the spouse’s employer) but I think normally one is designated as the primary. Perhaps in this case, it’s not clear which was primary. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/15 "2012-09-18T19:29:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Yes, lots of people have two health insurance policies (perhaps one from their own employer and the second from the spouse’s employer) but I think normally one is designated as the primary. Perhaps in this case, it’s not clear which was primary. Maybe that’s what the issue was, but if so, why wasn’t it an issue before now? When I asked them why it hadn’t mattered before now, they said that they hadn’t noticed it before. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/16 "2012-09-18T20:07:45Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Maybe that’s what the issue was, but if so, why wasn’t it an issue before now? > > When I asked them why it hadn’t mattered before now, they said that they hadn’t noticed it before. 😕 While BX is somewhat at fault here, your pharmacy is just being stupid. Next time anyone tells you that you have two accounts, tell them that your active one (whichever it is, use the name/number) is primary and if anything is left over you’ll pay and bill the secondary (which to you is the defunct BX plan). That should take care of that. With all of the cost cutting that is going on everywhere these days, insurance companies seem to be hiring the dumbest, most willing to work for nothing people they can find. I’ve been amazed at the number of times I’ve had to explain simple things to UHC reps like an active plan is always primary to a retirement plan, and since my husband is showing as active in their computer and my secondary is Medicare, guess which one should be prime? GAH. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/17 "2012-09-18T20:31:01Z")
I told them which one was the valid account and that they should just ignore the other one. It didn’t help. Getting this prescription refilled is like pulling teeth. “We can’t find a supplier”. “We need a new prescription because the only supplier we can find doesn’t provide it in the same amount”. “Oh, you have two plans so we refuse to fill it”. Every couple of refills I go through this shit. Sometimes it really isn’t their fault, but it’s a pain in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/18 "2012-09-18T21:23:04Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I told them which one was the valid account and that they should just ignore the other one. It didn’t help. > > Getting this prescription refilled is like pulling teeth. “We can’t find a supplier”. “We need a new prescription because the only supplier we can find doesn’t provide it in the same amount”. “Oh, you have two plans so we refuse to fill it”. Every couple of refills I go through this shit. Sometimes it really isn’t their fault, but it’s a pain in the ass. Sounds like your pharmacy is doing the same cost cutting that the insurance companies are. Or maybe it’s just CVS - I need to go down and talk to them about being overcharged $25 and I’ll be happy if I get someone who speaks English well enough that I can understand them…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-blue-cross-my-pharmacy-and-the-health-care-system-in-general/635074/19 "2012-09-18T21:27:11Z")
It’s unlikely that the pharmacy is at fault. IME it’s always the insurance company that denies coverage, or reduces the amount of meds you can get. The pharmacy is just the agent. Without approval from the insurance company, they won’t fill the scrip.