You know what really frosts my flakes?
Turning 65 and discovering that Medicare comes with more rules than a homeowners association.
When I turned 65, I was self-employed and didn’t have employer-provided health insurance. So, like millions of other Americans, I enrolled in Medicare rather than risk penalties for enrolling later.
Then, there is prescription drug coverage.
Technically, Medicare Part D is optional. But, if you go too long without qualifying prescription coverage and decide to enroll later, Medicare can slap you with a late-enrollment penalty that follows you for as long as you have Part D.
That’s government-speak for “You don’t HAVE to buy it. We just make it increasingly expensive if you don’t.”
So, I pay a monthly premium for prescription drug coverage.
Recently, I had 13 pills left from a 90-day prescription. The problem was I was leaving in three days for a 30-day trip.
Obviously, I needed a refill.
But, the pharmacy told me it was too soon for insurance to pay for it. Fine. I’ll pay cash.
Two days later, I get a message saying my prescription is ready for pickup.
Wonderful!
I drive to the pharmacy only to discover that insurance WILL pay for the prescription. But, there’s just one little problem.
I have to come back tomorrow.
Apparently, today is dangerously early for the insurance company to pay for my medicine. But tomorrow? COME ON DOWN!
Maybe they’re hoping I die overnight so they can save a few bucks.
Now I have a choice. I can pay a monthly premium for prescription insurance AND pay cash for the prescription sitting three feet away from me.
Or, I can drive home, wait 24 hours, drive all the way back to the pharmacy and pick up the exact same bottle of pills for free.
Nothing about the prescription changes, nor does anything change about my health or the little pills I need.
The only thing that changes is the date on the calendar.
And somehow THAT determines whether the insurance company will pay for medicine I need.
I’m Grandpa Grumpy, and I’m old enough to remember when getting a prescription filled didn’t require understanding federal regulations, insurance formularies and the timing of moon phases.
What’s next? Will seasoned citizens have to consult a tide table before submitting a prescription to a pharmacy?