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Jun. 7th, 2018
So, I have phone phobia. I used to consider it mild, but these days it's a real problem. Here is an example.
This afternoon, I finally got myself to make a phone call to refill my Enbrel. This is my main medicine for RA, which I take once a week. I'm out and due to take my next dose on Saturday, so, I know I am running late on this.
I had to leave my apartment and stand outside to make the call, due to cell phone reception. Then I had to wait on hold for about 5 minutes.
When I finally spoke to someone she said that Thursday is the last day they can mail out refrigerated products and it's too late to send it now. So it will get sent on Monday. Can I come pick it up tomorrow?" I ask, as the specialty pharmacy is in town and I have a car.
"Your insurance locks you into the mail order system, and we don't have an option for pick up," she said. Even though this would save them money by not having to pay FedEx. There is also no online re-order system. You have to call. So, fuck me I guess.
I feel bad about myself when stuff like this happens: I feel irresponsible for not calling sooner. I feel like there is something wrong with me that I can't seem to make a simple phone call. But-- if there were an online form, I could do it in 2 seconds. And driving to pick up the med (before they changed the system) was not usually a problem for me unless I was very ill.
The medicine comes in a fairly large, styrofoam shipping box with ice packs and bubble wrap inside. My last one, I returned to a random pharmacy after taking my med out. But I imagine that most people throw all this material away. It's hard for me to imagine how the insurance company is possibly saving money with this system. My own health care is suffering because of it. I *also* don't get the interaction with a pharmacist that I would get if I picked up the med myself.
What a fucked up system.
This afternoon, I finally got myself to make a phone call to refill my Enbrel. This is my main medicine for RA, which I take once a week. I'm out and due to take my next dose on Saturday, so, I know I am running late on this.
I had to leave my apartment and stand outside to make the call, due to cell phone reception. Then I had to wait on hold for about 5 minutes.
When I finally spoke to someone she said that Thursday is the last day they can mail out refrigerated products and it's too late to send it now. So it will get sent on Monday. Can I come pick it up tomorrow?" I ask, as the specialty pharmacy is in town and I have a car.
"Your insurance locks you into the mail order system, and we don't have an option for pick up," she said. Even though this would save them money by not having to pay FedEx. There is also no online re-order system. You have to call. So, fuck me I guess.
I feel bad about myself when stuff like this happens: I feel irresponsible for not calling sooner. I feel like there is something wrong with me that I can't seem to make a simple phone call. But-- if there were an online form, I could do it in 2 seconds. And driving to pick up the med (before they changed the system) was not usually a problem for me unless I was very ill.
The medicine comes in a fairly large, styrofoam shipping box with ice packs and bubble wrap inside. My last one, I returned to a random pharmacy after taking my med out. But I imagine that most people throw all this material away. It's hard for me to imagine how the insurance company is possibly saving money with this system. My own health care is suffering because of it. I *also* don't get the interaction with a pharmacist that I would get if I picked up the med myself.
What a fucked up system.