Recently I had two occasions wherein I had to deal with insurance matters.
First, I called the VA Charlotte Hall clinic to see about getting my Doctor there to approve a refill for some blood pressure medication that I take. I am on the last of the three refills that the Doc had approved for me several months ago, so I now need her to issue me a new script for any future refills.
Over the phone, I was informed by the receptionist at Charlotte Hall that I had to contact their Medical Advice folks in D.C. and was given that phone number.
I called that number and a recording informed me that they were extremely busy at this time but if I left a phone number someone would call me back. I did so. They never called.
After no one called me back that day, I tried again the next morning and got the same non-responsive result.
Next day I then decided to try and negotiate my way thru the VA website to see if I could do this request online. After poking around for several minutes, I learned that I had to apply to become a Premium Member in order to make internet inquiries for prescription assistance. (If I were simply refilling an active prescription online it would have worked smoothly. But because I needed a Doctor’s ok to get another refill, it got complicated.)
To apply to become a Premium Member, I was instructed to download and complete the application form and mail it to them. I did so and mailed the form into them. I am currently awaiting approval in order to use the internet process. They noted that if I did not hear anything back from them within 20 days of my application then I should follow up.
Meanwhile, I tried the Medical Advice phone line again and finally got thru to someone named Laverne. She entered my request into their system and informed me that I should be getting it soon. Good news is I got 80 some days of pills left to see if this works. But frankly, I will be pleasantly surprised if it does so.
My second insurance encounter was the polar opposite regarding processing and completion.
Driving down to Buzzy’s Country Store last Thursday a week ago, a pebble flew up and cracked my windshield. Friday morning I stopped in A&M Glass shop in Great Mills where Ron Armsworthy and Heather checked it out and set up an appointment for them to replace it.
After talking to them, I then called my State Farm insurance rep Josh Mesh. He had someone who handles window replacements for them call me a few minutes later to take all my info. The rep informed me that she would call Heather and take care of everything paperwork-wise.
On the following Wednesday, I dropped my truck off at A&M and later that morning I retrieved it with a new window shield. No muss, no fuss and no deductible since it is covered under my insurance plan.
All of which led me to ponder – why shouldn’t getting my blood pressure meds refilled be as simple?
P.S. I still haven’t received any notification from the VA indicating that my script was or will be refilled. Got my fingers crossed however.