BUYER BEWARE! Price-gouged on meds, and OUTRAGED!

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Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

How can they get away with this?

Sams Club in Santa Fe NM charged me $626.00 for 90 days supply of Letrozole (generic for Femara). 

And that was the "DISCOUNTED" price because I have an upgraded membership -- their standard price was over $1000.00!

I about had a heart attack, and could only afford to fill for 44 pills at $301.00. My oncologist is in Santa Fe, and I figured Sams would be cheaper than my local small-town pharmacy...

But 5 years of $626 every 90 days is extremely daunting -- so I posted here this morning for cheaper suggestions.

Someone posted a RX coupon site, and there was a Sam's Club coupon -- 90 days would be only $46.60 plus the coupon ... so I called the Sams where I purchased, and was told that they won't honor the coupon in retrospect. However, they did say that they would match LOCAL competitors -- only in Santa Fe... not the Costco in Albuquerque (which is only 45 minutes away). I told them that I thought the price in their computer must be in error, since the "coupon" would give a discount of over $575... that just sounded crazy. They told me to call around, and call them back if I found a cheaper price... in Santa Fe.

CVS in Santa Fe charges $1304.00 !!!!!!!!!

Walgreens in Santa Fe charges $1280.00 !!!!

But then I called my local small-town pharmacy (here in the NM mountains) and they would only have charged me $69.80 for a 90-day supply! 

Costco (in Albuquerque) quoted me a price of only $25.00.

What a mistake I made in purchasing in Santa Fe!

This is CRAZY BS.

MY REASON FOR POSTING THIS IS TO WARN THE UNSUSPECTING: TAKE THE TIME TO COMPARISON SHOP -- CALL FOR PRESCRIPTION PRICES PRIOR TO PURCHASING YOUR MEDS.

And I strongly suggest calling nearby towns, too... don't just shop your city. (All the Santa Fe pharmacies I have called so far are quoting prices from $626 to $1304 -- while my local little-town pharmacy is only $69 and Albuquerque is only $25.)

What is up with this outrageous and disgusting rip-off of cancer patients?

This sort of usuary profit-taking should be illegal -- What can be done?

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Comments

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited November 2012

    I'm very proud of you my friend......Smile

    hugs♥

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  • mgreen
    mgreen Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2012

    Dear Linda, I just went through the same shock, when found out that local post-mastectomy shop ( Women's Health Boutique in Savannah, GA) charged me $ 480 for a set of $90 foam breast forms. I feel so stupid... I could get even better forms on Amazon for $ 45. But at the time of purchase I just had double mastectomy , started grueling chemo and,I guess, did think clearly.  

    Same advice to everybody- call for pricing, get quotes. There are some people around who would use your physical and mental conditions for their financial gain. If you are too sick -ask your family member or a friend to do it for you.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2012

    Thank you all for these smart shopping experiences!

    You may also want to check out the Tips to Lower Medicine Costs information that's part of the Paying for Your Care section on the main Breastcancer.org site. Scroll down to Medicine Assistance Programs to see links to companies and organizations that can help with access, co-pays and the cost of some of the expensive medicines so many rely on.

    • The Mods

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  • Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
    Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    OK -- I have calmed down now -- and must admidt that I have learned that I need to conserve my energy, and pick my battles. Taking on "the system" is just NOT how I am going to spend my energy right now. 

    I went to Costco (in Kansas City -- where I was, visiting my mother for Christmas).

    $18 bought me a 90-day supply. 

    I still plan to write an angry letter-to-the-editor of the Santa Fe newspaper -- those poor people living in that town are (in my estimation) being swindled. 

    IF I had energy/time -- I would have taken my Costco prescription to Sam's Club in Kansas City, to see if they would match the price. 

    IF Sam's in KC would have matched the price, I would have filled another prescription (or gotten it in writing) and taken THAT back to Sam's in Santa Fe to argue my case and attempt to get my $300 back that they over-charged me.

    But -- those are the things I would have done back when I had different priorities -- and more energy -- and could afford to dwell in anger and defiance. 

    Who I am NOW -- 7 weeks post BMX -- is someone who sees the value of getting as far from 'negatives' as possible -- instead choosing to surround myself with as much peace and joy as possible.

    "Being right' -- or even getting my wasted $300 back.... At this stage in my healing process -- I simply can't justify the effort.

    Hopefully this thread might help at least a few avoid the experience of being grossly over-charged.

    But the bastards will be bastards, and this woman isn't going to take that on right now.

    Comparison shop, Ladies -- It could save you thousands of dollars during the next year.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited December 2012

    Wow, that is outrageous price gouging. I am speechless!

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  • Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns
    Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2012

    Wow -- great idea. 

    I live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere - 40 miles west of Raton. 

    It is a 3.5 hour drive for me to get to Santa Fe -- which is part of the reason I have balked at proceeding. 

    I love your suggestion... but am completely unfamiliar with the TV station or the reporter -- as we have no TV out here on the ranch.

    I will be in Santa Fe on Jan 2 for PT -- and will spend the night -- (PT really takes it out of me, and I can't do the drive home same day).

    But that could be a great time for me to follow up with your suggestion.

    Any chance that you would be willing to PM me with more complete contact information? If not -- I understand -- we ALL have to decide where to direct our energies! Any help would be much appreciated, though -- I do hate it that cancer patients in Santa Fe are apparently paying extremely inflated prices! It is just SO unfair -- I really hate the drug companies -- and now hate the middle-men even more!

    Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... must not get the undies all bunched up over this again!

    Thanks -- Linda

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited December 2012

    SAMs club belongs to Walmart. I would be writing directly to the top of the tree in Bentonville, Ark. Too bad it isn't still Sam Walton. I doubt he would be happy with the way you were treated.

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