Action at the WalMart Pharmacy

"Hello. Could you give me a price for filling this prescription using my insurance?"

"No. We only give the cash price."

"But why would I need the cash price if I am using insurance?"

"Well, I think it would give you an idea of what it would cost with insurance."

"It would not. How do you figure that?"

"OK.  But I'd have to run it through to find out the price."

"Right."

"But that will take time."

"Right."

"Alright then.  Come back in 15 or 20 minutes."

"Cool. See you back after while then.  Thanks."


I walk away but turn back to see her and her buddy looking at me and laughing. 

30 Minutes later:

"Did you get a price on that drug?"

"The doctor has to sign a authorization for it."

"What does that mean to me?  Isn't the prescription itself a signed authorization?"

"No.  We have to call him.  Then he has to fax us an authorization form. And then we have to fax that to the insurance company."

"But how much will it cost for the prescription?"

"Oh, we don't know that.  We don't have an idea until they get the authorization form from the doctor to the insurance company and then they look at it."

"So then, I just call you later for the price?"

"Well, you could do that if you want to but we have no way of knowing when we will know anything."

"But.  Well.  I mean.  So.  Uh.  How would I know anything?  Do you call me?"

"Oh no! We don't call you.  See, we have no way of knowing anything. Plus, we don't know when we would know it."

"So then, how would I know anything?"

"Oh!  You might call us later.  Like tomorrow or later in the week."