Pegasus Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 (edited) So, I'm on a medication and have plenty of authorized refills (doctor actually wrote the original script for 999 refills. ha!). With my last refill, the pharmacy either miscounted or I've lost several pills; they are teeny tiny and I know I've dropped a few. I've tried to have it refilled but the pharmacy says that it can't be refilled yet. . .I'm assuming for insurance reimbursement reasons. It is NOT a pain medication or another a drug that could be abused or sold. I took my last one tonight. Haven't been able to talk to the pharmacist as they just route calls through an automated system and I haven't been able to go to the store in person yet. Guess I'll make the trip tomorrow. Any ideas on how this is usually handled? Can I pay out of pocket for a few pills to bridge to the date the insurance will pay for a refill? Thanks. Edited July 22, 2017 by Pegasus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Do you know how early you are on the refill? Mine will refill within a few days of needing new ones. What kind of an impact will there be if you miss a couple of days? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 If this is a long term med then ask how soon it can be refilled and each time refill it on the earliest date so you always end up with a week or so buffer of meds for times when there are holidays, vacations, etc 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Usually they'll let you pay, sometimes they can fill a couple days early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 It depends on the med. My husband was once out of town and forgot his meds, his doctor was able to get him a weeks worth to get by but I think he paid out of pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okra Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I think you can also pay out of pocket for just a few pills if you need them. For instance you might just need four pills and usually they can work that. You might need to pay out of pocket though for how ever many you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 (edited) My pharmacy gives me a few to tide me over until the next refill, then takes them off that refill count. So they might give me five today, and when they refill give me 25 (when the normal prescription is 30). I pay when I get the larger refill. ETA: I've only had to do this with very cheap meds, so YMMV. Edited July 22, 2017 by wonderchica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 My pharmacy has called the insurance to ask for a vacation override to refill prescriptions early when that has happened here. Perhaps your insurance will allow the same thing. If this is a class 2 narcotic, though, it will be much harder to refill early, if not impossible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 We've gotten an insurance waiver for stuff like this. The pharmacy should handle that for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debi21 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I might be wrong, but my understanding is for my insurance (and I think many/most/all?) they will refill at 90% of days. That is written oddly. What I mean is, for a 31 day prescription, 10% is 3 days, so they will refill in whole at 28 days. I am on a permanent, required-to-live medication and am in constant fear of running out, so I always refill just those few days early. Eventually it gives you a little stash of spare. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 After this is settled, ask your doctor for a one-time prescription for the same medication and fill that outside of the normal cycle so you have a buffer. Important not only for these situations, but vacations, natural disasters, etc. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 When this happened to us, the pharmacist concluded that they had probably miscounted and they just gave us a freebie and advised me, next time, to ask them to count it out a second time. Didn't even run it through insurance. I can't help you this time if your pharmacist is being unreasonable about this, but you can ask them next time to recount it for you very carefully. Also, if this is actually a controlled medicine, then they're not being unreasonable, they're following sensible guidelines and possibly the law. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Hope the pharmacist can help Pegasus!! Keeping my fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 If the other suggestions don't help, one time I had to get a separate, one month prescription from my doctor to fill in until the regular prescription could kick in. It was more than I needed, of course, but then I had extras for a long time so I could have emergency stashes in different places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted July 22, 2017 Author Share Posted July 22, 2017 (edited) Thanks, everyone! I will post an update once I have talked to the pharmacy today. The med is not a controlled substance so I'm hopeful they'll be able to help me out. It's a very old med but not cheap, unfortunately, when I looked up the full retail price. Repercussions for skipping days until the next insurance refill are unknown. Maybe nothing, maybe significant symptoms. It's a long term maintenance med that reduces the risk of the condition occurring again. Edited to add: I also appreciate the tips on how to prevent this from happening again. Edited July 22, 2017 by Pegasus 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valley Girl Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 (edited) If the pharmacist can't help, call your doctor. He/she may be able to write a script for you. Or, better yet, they might have samples they can give you to tide you over. ETA: I realize it's Saturday. Some offices may have limited Saturday hours (our pediatrician does, for instance). Or maybe there's something else that can be done. You certainly can't be the first patient to run into this problem. Good luck! Edited July 22, 2017 by Reluctant Homeschooler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 unless the bottle spilled, or someone else is using the rx, the pharmacy probably miscounted - I had that happen to me once. (I was super ticked off - plus they charged me for how many were said to be in the bottle - even though there were at least 10 fewer.) usually they can refill up to 10 days before the rx runs out. or at least call to have it refilled at that time. I would call your dr and tell them what happened and if they can write you a new rx that has a couple weeks worth of rx so you can get to the next rx date with ease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusyMom5 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 My DD is on a Rx, and we live an hour away and only go to town once a week or so. I've had to explain a few times that I need a refill early bc I won't be in town for 10 days. Usually there is no problem. If they won't override it, then have the Dr. Call in another Rx so you have some extra. I like to keep some in my purse in case DD forgets to take it some mirning, or we leave early and it isn't quite tome to take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted July 22, 2017 Author Share Posted July 22, 2017 All turned out well. Once I was able to talk directly to the pharmacist, she filled the prescription while I waited! She said that the automatic system (which is what you get if you call in a re-fill), has set guidelines of how soon a script can be refilled. However, she was able to check against my insurance, which turned out to be more flexible. *whew* Yes, I do still need to follow up with my doctor to get either some samples or a small second prescription so that I can have a cushion of time between refills if needed. I got home and counted the pills. Got the full 30 this time, at least. Thanks. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I have my routine prescriptions filled through a mail order service, each refill is for 90 days. The refills are sent out about two weeks before I need the next one, (also, it is cheaper with my insurance to do mail order) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I have my routine prescriptions filled through a mail order service, each refill is for 90 days. The refills are sent out about two weeks before I need the next one, (also, it is cheaper with my insurance to do mail order) My dh is on several lifetime meds. We tried mail order, but they kept messing up. After multiple attempts with the mail order service that our insurance company wanted us to use, we refused. Now we pick up the prescriptions in person every month. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Thanks, everyone! I will post an update once I have talked to the pharmacy today. The med is not a controlled substance so I'm hopeful they'll be able to help me out. It's a very old med but not cheap, unfortunately, when I looked up the full retail price. Repercussions for skipping days until the next insurance refill are unknown. Maybe nothing, maybe significant symptoms. It's a long term maintenance med that reduces the risk of the condition occurring again. Edited to add: I also appreciate the tips on how to prevent this from happening again. I would start using a pill box to reduce the risk of dropping pills. If they give you an early refill, it'll probably be a one time gift, so you'll need to stop hemoraging pills. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 you'll need to stop hemoraging pills. I love blunt advice. Thanks! :laugh: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.