$1.19

I had my left knee replaced in 2015.  The surgery went well and I have no regrets from having the procedure completed.  One life-long change  is the requirement to take a large dose of an antibiotic  prior to each dental appointment.  The drug that my doctor chose is Amoxicillin. I must take it one hour before my dental procedure.  The purpose of the requirement is to help avoid a potential infection in the  replaced knee.  I’m having my teeth cleaned next week so my doctor called in a prescription to our pharmacy of choice.

Ruth and I drove to Jackson to pick up the script and as I got out of the car I said, “I’m going to check to see if they have the shingles vaccine.  My doctor told me that I should get it during my “wellness visit” last month.  If they do, I’m gonna get it.”

She looked at me and said, “Ok, I’ll see if I can get mine updated too.”  She got out of the car and we both walked in.

We walked back to the prescription “pick up counter” where they informed me that my  script was ready and I owed $1.19.  I asked if they had the shingles vaccine available and was informed that they didn’t, but they did have a waiting list.  “Please put us on it.”

“Ok.”

I paid cash for the script, and as they were retrieving my change, a seven foot receipt full of coupons and “deals” spit out of the register.  Ruth grabbed it and started to peruse the deals as the attendant counted out my eighty-nine cents in change.

I noted a sign advertising flu shots, and since we both needed one, I asked it we could get one as long as we were there.

“Sure. You just have to step over to that counter.”  She motioned to her right.

We were greeted by a second attendant who asked Ruth for her birthdate so she could look up her account.  Ruth complied and after three dozen key strokes on the computer the attendant said, “Your plan doesn’t cover flu shots.”

Ruth was quick to ask, “How much are they if we pay for them?”

“$67.00”

Then I asked, “See if my plan covers them.”   I rattled off my birthdate and handed her my insurance card.

Two dozen key strokes later she said, “Yes.”

“She’s on my plan, so please recheck.  We should both be covered.”

It turned out that we were and all we had to do was sign a couple of papers. After signing, we received another ream of register paper with coupons and deals.

We were told that we’d have to wait about ten minutes and they would page us when our vaccines were ready.  Ruth reviewed the newest coupons, handed me one,  and told me to retrieve the item while she looked for others.

She picked  up several before we were called to receive our injections.  They were painless.  We made one final stop to check out with Ruth’s purchases and, once again, received a stream of coupons and discounts.

When we returned home I reviewed our purchases and savings.  We cashed in $30.00 in coupons on our initial bill of $73.00.   Counting our two “free” flu shots, we spent $43.00 to receive $207.00 in goods and services.   We still have $71.00 worth of “valuable coupons” to redeem and only have to spend $256.00 to redeem them.

If we take advantage of everything, we’ll save $101.00 and our out of pocket will be $235.00.  We’ll have an assortment of patches and ointments, a couple of candy bars, polishes and pads, several cosmetic items, some feminine care products, and something called “whipped body cream” which may be worth further inspection.

The thing is I went to pick up a $1.19 prescription.  When we were finished I had spent 40 times that, have the potential to spend 195 times more , and three trees died.