What do you think of Walmarts Drug program???

[mypov 0]

Okay so if you haven't heard of Walmart's new generic drug program here's the deal- some of the most common prescription generic drugs (300 of them) are now being sold at Walmart for 4$ for a 30 day supply. When I first heard about this I wondered how all those "little pharmacies" are going to compete- or will it put them out of buisiness as well....

HOWEVER my husband adn I have been without insurance for 2 years now. He's been working construction and we couldn't qualify for individual insurance because of weight and health problems. Well, now he's got a new job that offers insurance but it is 25% of our monthly income!!!

So today, as I looked at my budget and realized our cash flow is pathetic thanks to Christmas this month, and desperately needing to refill two of my meds, I called my pharmacy to ask if they could offer me a lower price. They said no and quoted me $189.99 for the two medications. So I went to walmart and battled the lines and traffic and left with the meds for $8. That certainly helped me out this month.

What do you think of their new program? What consequence do you see coming from it (good or bad)? And WHEN is our whole messed up health system going to be FIXED!?!?!?

Thoughts?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=546834

[Carlene 12]

I am in favor of anything that saves the consumer money on drugs. The drug companies are making a killing. It's just obscene, what they charge for some of these - and I'm not talking Viagra, I mean things people really need.

Protonix is hugely expensive, and it works better than some of the older ones, but who can afford it?

My Boniva IV is $500 for a single dose. Then I have to pay the doctor to administer it.

Anytime I get a script for an antibiotic, it seems like it is at least $100.

If we didn't have insurance that pays a big part of our drug bills, I don't know what we would do.

[piercedqt78 658]

My daughter has a viral rash and her cream was $290, for the generic. I am lucky to have insurance, and it cost me $5, but if I didn't have insurance we would have had to seriously cut Christmas back. I know that the system is totally messed up, I for one and glad that Wal-mart is finally doing something to give back instead of take, take, take. ~Mandy

[beachgirl 2]

I agree. My pcp prescribed me Lunesta last week because since getting my band I can't sleep at night. I went to get it filled and mind you we pay those idiots at Anthem BC/BS 619.00 per month as we're self employed, and they said Anthem doesn't cover this and it's 165.00 per month. I told them to just forget it and I would just use tylenol pm. It's ridiculous.

[54Shirley 105]

Okay so if you haven't heard of Walmart's new generic drug program here's the deal- some of the most common prescription generic drugs (300 of them) are now being sold at Walmart for 4$ for a 30 day supply. When I first heard about this I wondered how all those "little pharmacies" are going to compete- or will it put them out of buisiness as well....

HOWEVER my husband adn I have been without insurance for 2 years now. He's been working construction and we couldn't qualify for individual insurance because of weight and health problems. Well, now he's got a new job that offers insurance but it is 25% of our monthly income!!!

So today, as I looked at my budget and realized our cash flow is pathetic thanks to Christmas this month, and desperately needing to refill two of my meds, I called my pharmacy to ask if they could offer me a lower price. They said no and quoted me $189.99 for the two medications. So I went to walmart and battled the lines and traffic and left with the meds for $8. That certainly helped me out this month.

What do you think of their new program? What consequence do you see coming from it (good or bad)? And WHEN is our whole messed up health system going to be FIXED!?!?!?

Thoughts?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=546834

I appreciate the info.. I downloaded, and printed the info. for me and my husband. I am going to pass it on to some seniors that it will help out.

So thanks again. Shirley...

[skyeblu79 0]

I am not a Walmart fan, but I am glad that it's helping people out. I am sure it is helping Walmart out too, since they will probably have more people using their pharmacy, which means more people probably stopping to buy other stuff in other parts of the store.

I am trying to make a point of not shopping @ Walmart. Thank goodness for Target.

Maybe next Walmart can increase their employee pay and have better working conditions.

[54Shirley 105]

Even though we have Ins.. This will give everyone an idea, of how big the mark up on drugs really is. I wonder how all the other big pharmacies are going to compete against Wallmart??? We have a program in Michigan, that allows you to go to any Pharmacey, and enter in the drug, and get a price. This way you can compare. I went on line the other day researched 1 drug. Price$9.99, the Pharmacy next door $54.99. So if you are paying cash?

Bottom line is Research the price of every drug. It may help save you money. Shirley...

[skyeblu79 0]

Also, all Warmart stores aren't doing this...They have started with select stores.

I think other drug stores will still be able to compete, since this only for specific meds.

[bkwalling 0]

i think the little guys need competion such as Walmart gives the smaller pharmacy do rip you off sometimes

[skyeblu79 0]

i think the little guys need competion such as Walmart gives the smaller pharmacy do rip you off sometimes

Most of the smaller pharmacies probably can't afford to cut their prices low like Walmart can. I feel sorry for them. We only have like one old family owned pharmacy left here downtown.

[DrewsLou 3]

I personally think Wal-Mart is a 7th circle of hell and I refuse to step foot in that place. It's nice to hear they are doing something to help out the regular folk though. I can't help but wonder at what cost though? Big companies like Wallyworld don't do anything without getting something back.

[54Shirley 105]

Personally!!! I like the Wallmart Plus in Northern Mich.. You would have to see this to believe it.

Wallmart's in general is a junk store., but,, when it comes to prescription prices. I'm going to check this out. My co-pay for generic is $10.00 or $20.00 depending on the meds. Name Brand $40.00, We all have a few name brands in this house. So I will put my pride on the back burnner, and check this out.

The only state not covered "don't ask me why?" is North Dakota.

You can go to wallmart site, hit pharmacy, then enter your zip code, go.

That should tell you were one is near you if any. Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Shirley...

[Sunta 5]

Walmart is evil. I would never set foot in there in a million years.

That being said, I do not blame people like yourself at all for shopping there. I fully and completely understand that the finances (in this case lack of health insurance) make it impossible not to.

I appreciate the fact that you recognize that Walmart's program will put local, sustainable mom-and-pop shops out of business. At the same time, I don't want my comments to make you feel bad or guilty about shopping there.

When it comes down to it, we do what we have to do to survive.

I encourage everyone with health insurance, or who can otherwise afford to shop elsewhere, to do so.

Maybe you could use Walmart for your prescriptions but shop elsewhere for all of your other needs (?)

Even that would be helping. For example, don't pick up that toothpaste you need there just because you're there for medicine, but instead go down the street to the locally owned pharmacy.

The real issue is our country's healthcare system. Maybe if we get a Dem into office in 2008 we can find a small amount of relief...

[Wheetsin 714]

I hate Wal-Mart, but I'm glad to see someone doing something (at this point regardless of reason) about the ridiculous state of pharmaceutical companies.

This could be an entirely different R&R topic, but the state of patenting in order to preserve the profit from medical products is absurd (let's keep in mind that a lot of the basis for their products stem from federally funded projects). Absolutely absurd.

[skyeblu79 0]

Walmart is evil. I would never set foot in there in a million years.

That being said, I do not blame people like yourself at all for shopping there. I fully and completely understand that the finances (in this case lack of health insurance) make it impossible not to.

I appreciate the fact that you recognize that Walmart's program will put local, sustainable mom-and-pop shops out of business. At the same time, I don't want my comments to make you feel bad or guilty about shopping there.

When it comes down to it, we do what we have to do to survive.

I encourage everyone with health insurance, or who can otherwise afford to shop elsewhere, to do so.

Maybe you could use Walmart for your prescriptions but shop elsewhere for all of your other needs (?)

Even that would be helping. For example, don't pick up that toothpaste you need there just because you're there for medicine, but instead go down the street to the locally owned pharmacy.

The real issue is our country's healthcare system. Maybe if we get a Dem into office in 2008 we can find a small amount of relief...

Good points!!! That is so true!!