This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
It's almost hard to believe that there was a time in this country when there was a little corner drugstore in every town where the pharmacist knew your name and cared about your health. Remember Mr. Gower in It's a Wonderful Life? What happened to those days? There have been a lot of changes in health care, insurance, and medications since then, with the bottom line being the driving force behind most of it. Honestly, I've noticed some drastic changes in just the past 15 years since I've needed a daily prescription for thyroid disease. When I first started taking Synthroid, my doctor handed me a handwritten Rx that I took to my local Walgreens and had filled for 30 days. it cost less than $10. Today it's a computer-generated Rx that goes directly to some unknown warehouse pharmacy in another state and I wait to receive a 90-day supply by mail. I have no say in whether I get generic or name-brand. I don't know the pharmacist and he/she doesn't know me. I can't ask any questions about how to take the medications or what they might interact with. It also costs over 5 times what it cost 15 years ago. Yes, over 5 times the cost for the same medication!
I recently read this Associated Press article about Walgreens and Express Script and it gives a behind-the-scenes look at some of the problems I've mentioned. It explains why some costs have risen and why it's almost impossible to just do business with your local pharmacist. As with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages, but I know that a monopoly is never good. Express Script seems to be trying to achieve a medication monopoly by way of forcing the mail order option with many insurance plans.
What is Walgreens doing to help their customers who would prefer to deal with their local pharmacist? They have something called the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. For $10 per year, your family can receive prescription discounts at your local Walgreens store. Other benefits include: discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers, diabetic supplies, and bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.
You can learn more by visiting them on Walgreens on Facebook and Walgreens on Twitter.
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