For those of you who live outside the US, this may not make much sense to you and I do apologize if you don't finish reading this, but do try because it is absolute insanity.

I want to pick up mom's pills. They cost approx $50-$60 depending. I wait in line. My turn. I give the name and the clerk says that will be $165.00! My reaction? Well, you know what that was. Clerk does not know why. Go to the other window, they can tell you.

Ok. Now I'm in line. Wait, and wait and wait. Oh, finally ,my turn. Pills cost so much more because insurance company wants copy of new card. New card is in car with mom. I go get card, return to counter, sorry you need to go to the end of the line. You got it WAIT and wait and wait.

OK it is my turn, again. Here is the card. Well, seems the insurance has been cancelled. No, I reply it has not. Well, does mom have spouse? No Mom has daughter. Has mom changed jobs? No Mom is 83. Did mom get new card in mail? NO!!!Finally insurane company is called.

Insurance company plays the 100 question game for at least 10 minutes only to respond "what is the problem". Insurance is fine, where did you see that it was cancelled?

Ok, so pharmacy shows insurance cancelled and cash is required to pay for meds at 3x the cost. No, that is not right. Insurance is in force so meds are covered. But computer says insurance is cancelled. I begin to tremble, seat and clench my teeth. But I take a few deep breathes and try again.

Finally the clerk notices that a wrong code?? was entered by other clerk. All is set, meds are $53.00. Now, just go to that other window and they will get the meds for you. I've been in that line already. Sorry, you need to go back to that line.

Ok, other line. Customer at counter, but clerk has no clue how to help. I am fuming, the line behind me is growing by leaps and bounds. This clerk is dumb as a rock. She has the computer tied up with transaction she can't figure out. Takes her 10 minutes to even ask for help. Now help arrives, register tied up and she calls me over. Now I know what is coming---I tell her mom's name--she can't find the meds. I advise her she has had the meds on the counter earlier but I left due to problem. I should have kept my mouth shut. That just made this worse. IF she knew her alphabet she could have found the meds.

OK She gets the meds, I pay--and everything is fine.

BUT now I need to get my meds. I knew this was a bad idea before it ever started, but I needed them. I had "4" meds to pick up. She got 1, put it down--looks at her computer screen, turns to get the next med, but someone was putting meds in the space and they shut the draw when done-----now she has to start looking again FROM THE BEGINNING. She did this with every med, every time till I thought I was going to simply drop to the floor in a puddle. Finally, I get all 4 meds into a bag.

I slide my card through the machine, hit enter and the power goes out in the entire store. Well, this clerk screamed so loud and scared me so bed I wet myself. I decided right then that---- me, the meds and my wet pants were leaving paid or not.

I was there over a hour, stood in 4 lines, mom's waiting in the car and I peed my pants. Now ask me Herc, are you feeling a little STRESSED?

Well.... all I can say is that just shows another inadequate US system. Funny... kind off... sorry Herc, but it was. I do empathise with you though. I can see and understand why it caused you so much stress from the nonsense.

So when are US citizens going to revolt against their own Government for better conditions?

Oh Anthony the reason I posted this IS because it is so funny and insane. I would give anything to have seen the look on my face through all of this. It was a little difficult to write and get the true sense of humor into it.

OMG Herc.........ROTFLMAO...Sorry but I went through something similar a few months ago with an elderly friend of mine. Thought I would lose my mind between the frigging insurance, and the pharmacy......EXCEPT it took 3 days to get it straightened out, and this man is diabetic!!!!!!!!!

The sheer incompetence! It's astounding. I'm very sorry that you peed your pants though. That part really sucks, I know cause I've been there. But I can totally relate to everything you went through... oh well, at least it's over now.

Take it easy Herc! Morgan

do you have to go to that particular pharmacy or can you go to another one in town with employees who have higher IQ's?
I would have called the store manager and had some people fired. That dumbasarock clerk would have been my first victim.

Herc,

Really sorry that you had to deal with all of this. Amazing what computers can screw up when wrong codes are entered and people aren't properly trained.

Hope this evening goes better for you. BTW-Every person I talked to today said the same thing...today was just a rough day all around.

Lisa

You know Anthony, I'm really getting tired of your put downs to the US. Yeah we have our problems and are quite aware of them, thank you. But in the same vein, I have Australian friends that bitch about the system over there. Nothing's perfect. Shit happens on any given day...get over it!

Lisa

Oh my that is quite the story Herc! It seems it was simply not your day to pick up your mother's medications! It is strange isn't it, how so many things can go wrong all at once. I hope your next purchase of medications goes much more smoothly.

Meh! Good on you for not totally raging off at someone... though sorry about the peeing yourself bit! But Good For You, deciding you're getting your meds wet pants, or not!

Good lordy... I am not as patient as you!