I take three prescription drugs. When I notice I'm getting low...usually less than one weeks worth in the bottle, I call in a refill. This past week, I called in a refill and was told that the insurance company wouldn't pay because I was premature with my refill request. I have an entire year's worth of refills left on this prescription. They are THAT controlling to point I can't be proactive and in a timeframe that's good for me in obtaining my next month's allotment. Sheesh!!! I'm glad I'm not leaving for a two week vacation. My options would be to do without or pay full price.

Just another example of how insurance companies rule the world.

that is odd, haven't heard of that, MsGilmore normally calls in when a week left as well, never had an issue. Have you tried the 90-day mail service option, or does your insurance not allow that? We do that for one of her prescriptions and it cuts costs greatly...

I'm worried about that problem myself. I leave for two weeks at the end of June, and I'm going to need refills during my trip. I've called too early before and couldn't get a refill, but I didn't know if it was the insurance or Walgreens making the decision. I could see if I was getting a bunch of oxycontin, but I don't think there's a real risk of my selling lipitor on the black market.

Swiggles - happened here, too. Yes, they are that controlling. It's more important that they do that on potentially addictive drugs, but I'm no longer surprised by much of anything anymore....

I'm not sure the industry-correct term, but they do "vacation accommodation" refills - they'll give you some or all of the next refill early depending on how long you're gone. I had to get one back when I used to take Allegra.

I think the Dr. just has to give the okay to the pharmacy.

This is actually going to happen to me next week. I will be out of state and my prescription will need to be refilled while I am gone. I called Walgreens, and they told me I could walk into any pharmacy down there (they looked them up and there are loads of them). I just couldn't call it in..I had to show up in person.

I've run into this problem, as well. I like to plan ahead and get my prescriptions refilled a bit early. I was turned down because it was "too early". The Walgreens employee told me it was the insurance company, so I called Blue Cross. They told me 5 days ahead is the maximum "early". So, 7 days ahead is too early.

If you're going to be on vacation, maybe transfer the prescription to a nationwide chain pharmacy before you go so you can get it filled where you will be? Or ask your doctor if he/she has samples or can write you a supplemental prescription to tide you over. Good luck! Freaking control-freak insurance companies! Grrrr.

My insurance company's new trick is having the doctor call them after ever other refill or so, to "verify" that the prescription is necessary. (And to "remind them of other, less expensive -and possibly non-prescription - alternatives, while they have the doctor on the phone.)

It took a few WEEKS to get them to approve my daughter's asthma medicine, but when I got them on the phone and threatened to sue them if she so much as started wheezing, suddenly it was approved. Go figure.

I HATE insurance companies right now.

well, once Obamacare is put in place, all these troubles will go away. You'll be able to get what you want, when you want, and without having to pay a dime! I can hardly wait!!!

You can get 3 month supply via mail order from most insurance companies, and if you go with a larger pharmacy like Walgrens, CVS, Kroger, etc., many will do a partial fill and give you a few pills if you need them before your insurance will let you fill the prescription. If you are going on vacation when you'll need it filled, they can contact your insurance company, tell them that, and have them give you a vacation waiver.

Want to know why you have to go through all this? Because people used to always fill as many prescriptions as they could before cancelling their insurance so they could get as many pills as they could and pay as little as they could for insurance. People would also get a script for something they didn't need, and sell it to people who didn't have insurance. This makes that less likely.

Long story short, yeah, you can only fill your medication prescriptions 5-7 days (depending on the insurance company) before you are due. If for some reason that is a hardship, whether you've lost a few pills, or won't be able to come in during the time you need them, the major pharmacies and insurance companies have ways to help you.

Won't work for me. I need an international pharmacy. Going to Ireland. If Walgreen/Blue Cross won't cooperate, I guess I'll ask the doctor, but that will be a $30 co-pay. LOL

Actually, no matter what pharmacy you use, you can have your prescription transfered to another pharmacy without a problem. Let's say you use Three Corners Drug Store in Nowheresville, Montana, and you're vacationing in Florida. You can go to any drug store there with your prescription bottle and they can use the information on it to contact your drug store (assuming they are open) and get the information to transfer the prescription to their store. You then have to transfer any remaining refills back to your regular store if you aren't with a nationwide chain the next time you fill it. On the other hand, if you use say Walmart or Walgreens to fill your prescription, you don't have to bring anything but your name, the name of the drug, and an ID to the store. They can help you get it at any of their locations easily. (They still do all the transfering, but they do it internally so you don't notice).

Mind you, there are special rules for certain classes of restricted drugs/narcotics.

Either get a 3 month supply, or a vacation waiver from your insurance company. Ireland is not cooperative with filling prescriptions from US doctors.

Kaiser makes it easy and my refill date is printed on teh label. It wasn't always though, and once I tried to refill by bc pills and was told i'd have to pay full price or wait a week. Hehe...what costs more? Pills or babies?

there's always abstinence...

Rhythm method?

Then I do not want to hear of any married men complaining that their wives "aren't interested."

DIY.

The doc called in a Rx for my pregnant wife. It is an antinausea medicine. She went to pick up the meds and they did not fill it because they required the doctor call in to the insurance company to justify the medicine.

It has been a week and still no Rx...

Not to sound snippy but....this is just the thing I would love to do on vacation. How frustrating!!!

duh, that's what the upcoming Okie Weekend is for!!!

So Okie's kill the mood? Or does being one's own grandfather do that?

This happened to me when I was going on a two week vacation. I called the Dr.'s office and explained it to his assistant. They told me I could stop by and pick up a supply of samples they had to tide me over and I didn't have to pay the co-pay since I didn't have to see the doctor. Call and ask.

Won't work if you're on a 10 backpacking trip or a car camping tour where you're not really sure where you're gonna be on any given day....and even then, not typically in a town with national drugstore chains.

sounds like you just need to change your vacation plans to a plush resort on Miami Beach - they have all the national chains there!