I get my meds at Wegman's, and have a Giant within 1 mile - looks like i'm OK.

Since I have AARP Part D, I went to website and found this on their website:

UnitedHealthcare is bringing cost-savings opportunities to members of its stand-alone Part D plans in 2013 with the creation of a preferred pharmacy network that includes some of the most well-known and respected retailers: Walgreens, Kroger, Target, Safeway, Publix, Stop & Shop, Hy-Vee, H-E-B, Hannaford, Wegmans, Giant, Duane Reade, Fred Meyer, Smith�s, Fry�s, Vons, Sweetbay and many other retailers.

We are still trying to get DH's meds from CVS for the prices SilverScript shows on their "Price a Drug" website. We used those costs as a guide when deciding which plan to join in November. I can understand a little increase as of January 1, but this is not 'little'.

At least SilverScript now shows DH is really a member -- and it's really HIM, not the other member with the same first and last names (different middle initial) and same date of birth. We spent hours on hold trying to get that fixed before we left for Maui.

The SilverScript website says one med should be $71.63 on their Choice Plan whether we buy it at home in Illinois or here on Maui. CVS on Maui charged $77.63 for it. We refused the second med. CVS Maui wanted $243 for that; website says $205. Calling SilverScript resulted in a price of $226. Gah!

Standing in line with DH at CVS was a Canadian. He had to show his passport, but his meds were 'free' -- paid under his national health plan. He doesn't have to spend hours choosing a new drug plan every year or go through the hassles we've just encountered. His government also negotiates lower drug pricing.

"'By filling your prescriptions at a preferred retail pharmacy, you will get the lowest copays on your Tier 1 through Tier 4 drugs. For instance, you can save 40% or more on Tier 1 drugs when you fill your prescriptions at a preferred retail pharmacy compared with other in network pharmacies.' (That last phrase was not a typo. I'm not sure what they're saying.)"

I know that sounds confusing, but what it means is this (I'll try to explain it better than they did):

Each heath insurance plan has "in network" doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. As long as you go to a doctor, hospital, or pharmacy that is part of their network, you will get a better price and the insurance will cover a greater portion than if you went to a doctor, hospital, or pharmacy that is not part of their network (these are referred to as "out of network" providers).

Additionally, specific doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are designated as "preferred." That is, the insurance carrier prefers that you use one of the preferred doctors, hospitals, or pharmacies; and you should, too, because the preferred providers will cost you less than other nonpreferred in-network providers.

Was that clear as mud?

In other words, you could get a prescription filled at any one of three pharmacies. Pharmacy A is an out-of-network pharmacy, so you'll have to pay $87.50 to get the prescription filled. If you go to Pharmacy B, which is an in-network pharmacy, you'll only have to pay $65 for the same prescription. But if you go to Pharmacy C, a preferred in-network pharmacy, you'll pay less than at Pharmacy A or Pharmacy B, an it might even be as much as 40% less than at Pharmacy B (so you might only have to pay $39).

My Medicare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield secondary are paid for as part of my retirement package. Prescriptions are through CVS Caremark. In California there are CVS pharmacies everywhere. Here in Iowa I would have to drive 30 miles to Des Moines to get them at CVS so I have to use a CVS Mail Order facility. It is such a hassle but I get a 90 day supply for the same co-pay as a 30 day supply. My highest co-pay is $40.

Lindsey, it's good to know someone understands all this stuff! Thanks for explaining.

Linda, the AARP rep on the phone mentioned their mail-order service. She said I could get the same low price as if I bought from a preferred pharmacy. Because I don't take any regular meds I wasn't interested, but I told a friend (who takes six) about it.

I saw that ACMoore e-mail. I have shopped there in the past (not recently, tho), so I'm not in the rewards program, but I also thought it was a stupid, do-nothing change. You can bet somebody there got a raise for that idea!

Concerning the meds, is AARP perhaps trying to move people to mail-order prescriptions? Aetna sure does.

The problem with mail order prescriptions as I see it is if your mail doesn't get picked up for several hours from your mail box, what would the heat or freezing weather do to it.

We have the additional problem in this state as neither Walmart, Sam's Club Target, Kmart cannot have pharmacy's because of a state law. A pharmacy must be individual owned, not corporate or by a chain company. Yes they have been fighting this for years and it keeps getting voted down. We do have a CVS, but it is on the other side of town, away from all the medical centers, No Walgreen, and I would not use them anyway --bad experience in AZ-- I do like my local pharmacy and really don't want to change. I do resent any plan that tells me where I have to have my prescription thru a preferred drugstore, because in our area there are none for any of the plans others have listed.

That's really crappy, Marie. I wonder how that state law came about. Probably started by a mom & pop pharmacy.

Good point, MaryGaily. My mailbox can get awfully cold!

Years ago I refused to do mail order or go to one of the big chain drug stores. I appreciated the local, family-owned and operated pharmacy -- and I wondered how it could survive. Well, it didn't! Now nobody 'knows' you or cares if your order is correct. They don't 'need' your business. I would never have experienced this recent SilverScript/CVS frustration or been pushed to 'mail order' meds.

WAlMart and other 'big boxes' have wiped out local stores. They've convinced people that Made in China and Cheap are what we need.

Sorry for the rant, but I miss my local pharmacy, hardware store, stationary store, etc. We have to drive miles to get to 'big boxes'. (I see that the Macy's is closing in downtown Honolulu too.)

chisue - I am Canadian and I can assure you our drugs are NOT free! I am going to assume that the Cdn. in line was 65 or older - otherwise our provincial health case does not cover the cost of prescriptions (and note, each province has a different plan). If the drugs a senior Canadian takes are offered in generic form, then that is what they have to take - or pay the difference between the cost of the generic and the brand name. Many people are allergic to the non-medicinal ingredients in the generic meds - I have one prescription - other than my HRT - and I have to have the name brand. I was incorrectly given the generic brand once and didn't check - and I had a very bad reaction - I was allergic to 5 of the 6 fillers. People who are under 65 have their prescriptions covered by office plans or purchased plans. My husband's office plan has a deductible of $1,250 which is pretty darned high for people who hardly have any prescriptions. Premiums are high - 2 people are classified as "family" - I would prefer a separate category for a couple for obvious reasons. I have had to see a doctor when out of the country. I had to pay for the doctor's visit - in cash - and then buy the meds where I was and then go through our provincial health care system for partial reimbursement of the doctor's visit and then the office plan for reimbursement of the cost of the drugs - a lot of paperwork - plus I needed permission to see a doctor. We do not receive any vision or dental coverage under our provincial health care plans - and we pay very high taxes and fees while at the same time prices are rising, and services are being cut. Is our system better than that in the U.S. for the average Joe - yes. Is it what many Americans think - absolutely NOT! There are many Cdns. who have had to pay for medical care in the U.S. at their own cost because the wait would have been over a year to see a specialist. I am not trying to start an argument here - I was just pointing out that all is not as it seems.

Eccentric - thanks for the information. I've heard some of this before but some info was new. I really don't see an easy fix to any of this medical payment stuff. In the end, I think we will all go broke over it no matter which country we live in.