I filled a new prescription yesterday at the grocery store I shop at, Fry’s. Fry’s had sent me a coupon whereupon they will give me $20 worth of free groceries (they put $20 on my frequent-shopper card) for every new prescription I fill there, up to three times. So I did, and they did. My copay for the Rx was $25, which I paid cash for.
Now, at work I have a Medical Reimbursement Plan, which means that everything I pay for out of pocket that is medical-related, I am paid back for by my employer, up to $1500 a year. This includes copays of any kind, including prescriptions.
In your opinion, is it unethical of me to take the Fry’s free $20 in groceries PLUS turn in my receipt and get my $25 back for my copay?
I say it is ethical, and that whatever deal Fry’s wants to give me for filling my Rx there has nothing to do with work or whatever work wants to give me for being employed there. Also I feel that a struggling single parent in this economy should be able to squeeze any nickel she can out of the world if it’s legal and moral, and I feel that it is both. The majority of my coworkers feel the same way- that there is nothing wrong with it. There are two people that say it’s “double dipping”, but I don’t see anything to be dipping twice from.
You aren’t misleading anyone, you are following all the rules, no one is being hurt by your actions, and if this means you come out a bit ahead in the game, then Yay for you.
Fry’s isn’t reimbursing you. They are trying to entice you into/reward you for using their pharmacy.
Your receipt shows you paid $25, and that’s what you submit for reimbursement. I’d be willing to bet that they chose to give you $20 on the frequent shopper card rather than a $20 discount on your meds for that very reason.
My rule of thumb is, if you have to ask ‘is this ethical’, most times it isn’t.
However, you are fine IMO with this. Like freckafree says, Fry’s is doing this to try to get you to come back to their store - it’s not the same as $20 cash or $20 off the price of meds, 'cause you can only spend the $20 off at Fry’s.
If my employer pays my official travel for my job, I have the right to keep any frequent flyer points earned for my personal use and benefit. It’s legal and ethical. My employer is the American People.
So if Congress thinks my promo perks for my government travel are mine to earn/use as I see fit, on your dime, your prescription dilemma isn’t anything at all.
Well, good. I was all prepared to defend my position and even get pissy about it if necessary. Wow- a subject we all agree on, so far.
One of the two people who thinks it’s “cheating” is my direct supervisor, but she did state that it was just her personal opinion and she would not make a stink about it. I felt like I had to tell her up front about it when I handed in my receipt, as I figured she’d look at it and think I was trying to get away with something if I didn’t say something about it. I know her too well.
The thing to remember here is that Fry’s isn’t giving you that coupon because they want to do something nice for you. They’re giving you that coupon on the assumption that, when you redeem it, you’re going to be spending quite a bit more than $20 on your shopping. Fry’s would rather you spend $80 on groceries at their store, than $100 on groceries at a competitor, and that’s what that coupon is for. Whether or not you’re paying for your prescription out of pocket doesn’t matter to them one way or the other. They just want to make sure that you give them your money, and not anyone else.
If you still feels qualms about it, when you pick up your pills, mention to the pharmacist how lucky you are that your company pays for your meds. That way, both parties in the interaction are fully informed about the nature of the transaction. I’m pretty sure you’ll still get the coupon, regardless.
The conditions for Fry’s discount don’t say “unless you’ve got medical expenses reimbursements;” the conditions for getting medical expenses reimbursed don’t include “unless you’re getting coupons for being a good customer of your pharmacist’s.” The two benefits do not preclude each other.
Perfectly ethical. As others have pointed out, Fry’s is giving you a $20 gift certificate to get your prescription filled there in order to get you to do your grocery shopping there. It has nothing to do with what you’re paying for the prescription, or what sort of reimbursement you’re getting for it elsewhere.
A friend of mine had a good deal going for a while (and may still be getting it, for all I know). One of the local stores (I can’t remember if it was CVS or Jewel) had coupons in their weekly ads for a similar deal to yours: a gift card for having a new prescription filled. His son is autistic, and one of his medications is on the “controlled substances” list, which means the doctor has to write him a new prescription for it every month. This means every thirty days my friend has to go to the doctor’s office, pick up the prescription, and get it filled. So when he takes it to the store, he has one of these coupons with him so he gets a gift certificate too.
Think of it this way. I doubt that you’d have any qualms if your prescription drug insurance covered the whole amount without a copay, but you still used the coupon.
That’s the whole point of the HRA account - your employer is giving you money to cover your expenses above and beyond the coverage they’re buying for you. It’s probably cheaper for them than buying you 100% coverage, but it gets you to the same place, plus it’s an easy way for them to help attract and retain talent.
And if you’re really uncomfortable about it, go ahead and mention it at Fry’s. They won’t give a damn. They’re still getting the same amount of money, whether it’s from you or your insurance company or your employer.
Fry’s is still being paid for the prescription. If by some mechanic they weren’t then I would say differently, but as described I would say you are on safe ethical grounds.