Last week I went for my six-month check-up. My labs had good as well as bad news. The good news is my glucose levels were normal, the not so good was that my cholesterol was high but not outrageously high that she would consider putting me back on Statins.
In between visits I have to keep track of my daily blood pressure readings which sometimes are normal and other times not so much even though I take two daily doses of my medication. High blood pressure runs in both sides of my family so I am resigned to the idea that I will have to be on BP medication for the rest of my life.
I have mentioned in prior blog posts that even though HEB has lower grocery prices than Walmart, Del Rio has had a population explosion and it is always packed. I much prefer to shop at Walmart and avoid the crowds. With that in mind, I changed my pharmacy preference to the latter.
When I went to pick-up my medication I got a shock. The clerk said it would be $145.87, I told her there had to be a mistake as I paid $16,30 for the same medication and quantity at HEB. She sent me to another line where they confirmed the amount saying that my medication was not in the $10 or $20 dollar formulary.
Went to HEB where it was in their affordable formulary and while it had gone up since the last refill it only cost me $20.60. Anytime I can save $125.27 I will gladly brave the crowds and you will not hear a peep out of me.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Terlingua Dreams
Governors Landing Campground - Lake Amistad - Del Rio, Texas
They are there to make money. I wonder how many people have always figured Walmart was "always" the cheapest & just shop there?
ReplyDeleteNot being on those Statins is a good thing!
In Del Rio we do not have much competition but having lived in Houston most of my adult life I know that while Walmart may have "lure bargains" the majority of their prices are on the high side.
DeleteI suppose people would rather go to one store and get all their shopping over and done with but not this gal. I love checking out prices at different stores and the high that comes from finding a true bargain (again this is only possible in a city where there is competition).
Statins nearly killed me. Be carefullllllllll!
ReplyDeleteI know several individuals whose consumption of Statins was detrimental to their health. I was lucky that when I was taking them I did not suffer any ill side effects.
DeleteI decided a long time ago that I would not go on Statins again.
Walmart's generic list is short. One of my medications is on it, the other isn't. So I go fo Walmart the one, Costco for the other.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years ago I had no problem having both Walmart and HEB print me out a list of their generic formularies. This time the drug technician seemed reluctant to do so. I did not press him as I knew I would probably buy my blood pressure medicine at HEB.
DeleteYou are lucky to have a Costco in your town.
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ReplyDeletego to goodrx.com and see if that can help
Deletethe difference in prices are amazing
Thanks for that link. It showed that for my area HEB Grocery had the lowest price...exactly where I bought it.
DeleteGood job, Ss!
DeleteIn regards to finding the least expensive medication on a health insurance plan, I asked a Walgreens pharmacist I trust about a strategy. She suggested that, rather than shopping individual pharmacies, to contact the insurance plan, state the medications of interest, and request a list of pharmacies in your area and the price the insurance plan has contracted with the pharmacy. Sounded like a good idea. I'm not using any expensive meds now but the next time I'm prescribed one, I'm going to try out this approach. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Hachita, it seems your Walgreens pharmacist outlined a good strategy. Unfortunately, I do not have health insurance.
DeleteIn Del Rio we only have three places to fill our prescriptions...HEB, Walmart and CVS.
What a price difference that was! Glad you went back to the other place. This is such and outrage already.
ReplyDeleteI can not believe the price difference either JO. One would think with Walmart's buying power their medication would be if not lower at least equitable in price to HEB (a grocery store in Texas).
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