So what do we do about the big issues? Medcos answer was not reassuring.

A friendly reminder popped up in my email that I needed to refill my prescriptions. All in all my mail order pharmacy does a good job at keeping track of when I need to purchase my medications. Of course they would be, but I do appreciate the small service of not having to constantly keep track.

But these are pre-pandemic times and we take medication on a regular basis in this family for a variety of conditions. A problem when you consider that there may be disruptions in delivery due to widespread absenteeism.

When Trucks Stop America Stops

So, when the reminder to reorder my medications hit my inbox I thought that I would take the opportunity to also ask what I could do to increase the medication that I have on-hand to cover me.

This really is a very serious issue when you realize that there are some medications that people take that even a days disruption can cause death. For me and mine, the list of meds are not that way but a disruption WILL cause serious discomfort. But also, I am VERY concerned about people who, at the moment, are not able to advocate on their own behalf on this issue. I am sure that they will, loudly, once they too become aware of the problem.

We also have to consider that if and when there are disruptions in delivery systems AND lack of medical facilities …. PEOPLE WILL DIE.

I asked Medco how I can obtain up to a years worth of medication in order to have it on-hand while being able to refill at the 6 month mark. I have been on these medications for years and years so I can also assume to be on them for years to come. My husband has been employed at the same company for 34 years so the fact that he may change jobs and thus change pharmacy companies also shouldn’t be a factor. Of course they did not ask this or examine this issue before they responded thusly.

To Catherine “jackie” Mitchell,

Thank you for your online inquiry. Through the Mail Order Service,
you can purchase up to a 90-day supply of most prescription
medications. You may purchase up to a 30-day supply through your
local participating retail pharmacy. Refills are allowed by your plan
after 75% of the medication is consumed. The calculation is based on
the total amount of medication dispensed in the last 180 days. There
may be limitations on some prescriptions, such as controlled
medications, subject to state and federal dispensing limitations.
Your plan does not allow to stockpile medications. As you did not
provide the name of the medication, we are unable to determine if it
is covered under your plan. To view drug coverage and pricing online,
please follow this link: www.medco.com Click on the “Price a
medication” link in the left hand menu and follow the online prompts.

Thank you for visiting medco.com. 

Xxxxx X.
eCSR Medco

Based on the above formula, we in this family will not have enough medication to cover us without some tricky manuevering with my daily intake now—which I have started to do. But that won’t be a solution for everyone. I can also purchase 30 days of medication on my own ($$$$ ouch) but even then I would not feel reassured, especially so if the medication was for a life threatening illness or disease.

No solution—sometimes I wonder if there really is one, but then I remember those on the lifesaving medications again. There has to be one. We either find a solution or many will die because a solution was not found in time.

I am not satisfied with this answer from Medco—not in the least. Time for some foot stomping because I want to know the solution. I feel an email campaign and some loud prodding in the making. I do not lay this only at the feet of Medco—-this is a much bigger problem than this one company alone. I suspect that it is an industry wide issue–and certainly a national one.

Surely there is a solution—there has to be one.

But I don’t know it.