1

Wrong medication - $$$ instead of generic
Before you leave, check your meds for correctness, or expect another trip to the pharmacy. Sometimes, they will give you the patented drug, when the generic is clearly specified. Yes, you must rip out all those annoying staples.

2

Not all prescriptions filled (can they not read?)
Before you leave, check your meds for correctness, or expect another trip to the pharmacy. Yes, you must rip out all those d@mned staples. Where is my fluocinonide? Another trip.

3

Pricing changes every time
You must bring your pricing history, or prepare to be blind sided EVERY time.

4

Rude phone calls to pickup my prescriptions
Where do they find these guys? Snooty, persnickety bearers of bad tidings.
"If you don't pick up you prescription right away, we are going to put it back in stock". Hey, Festus. I don't live to serve you. There are a number of reasons why people don't rush to make a special trip to suit Walgreen's whims. Remote residence, transportation issues, awaiting another shortly forthcoming prescription, doctor added prescription but has not yet informed patient, etc., etc. I'm done with these poor performers.

In addition, when Walgreen's calls, their caller ID says "Private Caller." NOBODY answers calls from "Private Caller", "Toll Free Call", "Out of Area", or blank, due to telemarketers. So why does Walgreen's hide their identity? For some reason, they are too paranoid to identify themselves. ALL LEGITIMATE CALLERS IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.

5

Wholly inadequate online drug pricing list
You must enter your ZIP code - if you live in the wrong place, you pay more! Zip code-based pricing - what a joke! I would love to tap into that data base, and publish an online map. No open-kimono here.



Note that Walgreens NEVER gives the non-club price. Why would that be?
Because their pricing is exorbitant? YES!
It also makes it impossible to measure your savings.
Cute trick.

The price for diltiazem above is INCORRECT!
You cannot trust the numbers they show you.

6

Failed to honor their club membership agreement
First, I signed up with the Walgreen's Prescription Savings Club.
Later on, I signed up for Medicare, but I did NOT sign up for Part D, since I was happy with the Walgreen's Prescription Savings Club.

On Dec. 20, 2011, when I inquired as to why all the prices were so much higher, the 20-something clerk told me that I was INELIGIBLE for the Walgreen's Club, because I had Medicare - not Part D, mind you, just Medicare. I asked, "Why are you telling me this now? Why wasn't I informed earlier?" "You're being informed now."

Had I not questioned him then, I STILL wouldn't know I had been secretly, preemptively, unilaterally dismissed from the plan. WHAT THE HE|| KIND OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THAT! Just dump 'em and ignore 'em. That's what kind.

Where the he|| is my Prescription Savings Club membership $20 fee refund? They took my money, but refused to honor their agreement.

What is the bottom line? IF YOU HAVE MEDICARE, YOU ARE SCREWED WITH WALGREEN'S - you will pay top dollar for all your drugs, since you are ineligible for their Prescription Savings Club.

General Terms of Use
(No change in first 3 paragraphs)

The Prescription Savings Club
The Prescription Savings Club is a discounted prescription buying program for individuals who have no prescription drug coverage, or insufficient drug coverage. Members are entitled to discounts on cash prices for select medications included in the Savings Club Formulary.



(paragraph split for ease of comparison)




Members shall pay a yearly fee of $20 for individuals and $35 for families. Family price includes spouse and dependents under the age of 23. Cards for other adult family members, such as parents or grandparents, will cost an additional $20 per person. Persons receiving benefits from a publicly funded health care program are ineligible for the Prescription Savings Club program. By enrolling in the club, you are affirming that you are not a recipient of benefits from a publicly funded program. The Prescription Savings Club is not insurance or an insurance benefit, nor is it intended as a substitute for insurance.

(9 more paragraphs)

General Terms of Use
(No change in first 3 paragraphs)

The Prescription Savings Club
The Prescription Savings Club is a discounted prescription buying program for individuals who have no prescription drug coverage, or insufficient drug coverage. Members are entitled to discounts on cash prices at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations for select medications included in the Prescription Savings Club Formulary. The Formulary offers select medications in all classes of drugs currently available on the market. In addition, members receive discounts on cash prices at Walgreens locations for seasonal flu vaccinations and nebulizer devices and related supplies.

The membership fee is $20 for individuals and $35 for families. Family price includes spouse and dependents under the age of 23. Cards for other adult family members, such as parents or grandparents, will cost an additional $20 per person. Persons receiving benefits from Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state health care programs are ineligible for membership in the Prescription Savings Club program. By enrolling in the Club you are affirming that you are not a recipient of benefits from a federal or state health care program. The Prescription Savings Club is not insurance or an insurance benefit, nor is it intended as a substitute for insurance.

(12 more paragraphs)

Note that there is NO MENTION of Medicare whatsoever.

Note also that Medicare is NOT a "publicly funded program". It is funded BY PARTICIPANTS.

Walgreens FAILED to inform me of this change in their T. & C.s. Instead, they simply dropped me, without informing me of ANYTHING.

Note that this does not JUST apply to Medicare Part D, but to ANY Medicare enrollment whatsoever.

What makes this even MORE interesting, from the SAME PAGE, we have -

"Why are Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE recipients excluded?
Federal and state statutes prohibit persons enrolled in a publicly funded health care program to participate in this program."
NAME THE STATUTES! HOW ABOUT JUST ONE?

"Is my membership automatically cancelled if I enroll in a Medicare program?
No. However, please inform your Walgreens pharmacist immediately after you have enrolled in a publicly funded insurance program like Medicare. When you renew your membership annually, you will be asked to attest that you are not receiving benefits from a publicly funded health care program."

This statements above are found at http://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/psc/psc_questions_page.jsp#substitute

So which info is correct?
More BS. Totally inconsistent.

Once again, Medicare is NOT a "publicly funded health care program."
It is funded by the participants. I have paid in FAR MORE MONEY than the cost of my benefits. No "public funds" involved.

Don't just believe me - Google walgreens pharmacy sucks, and prepare to read for a while. Of particular note are the comments of former Walgreen's pharmacy employees. Quite an eye-opener.

I think they are too d@mned big, just like the top 5 banks. They have become arrogant and unresponsive. Vote with your feet, and check out some alternatives. You could become a much happier camper, by getting cheaper prescriptions with far less hassle and BS.

Pharmacy
Chain

Walgreens
CVS
Rite Aid
Walmart
Kroger
Target
--- ---
Costco

Number
of Stores

5,274
6,288
4,608
3,646
1,156
1,011
--- ---
   323

Updated
# of Stores

8,210
7,182
4,703

Alexa
US Rank

181
344
1,361
20
1,427
30
---
103

30

100

70

80

70

Pharmacy
Chain

Discount
Program ?

Drug Prices
Listed Online ?

Note

1

Walgreens

8,210

Yes, for
400 generics PDF
(Prescription Savings Club)
Annual fee - $20
90 days - $12

Some
generics

Over 8,000 drugs
Over 400 generics (5%)
Diltiazem 240 ER has been dropped, along with others.

2

CVS

7,182

No

No

CVS/pharmacy accepts ALL major Medicare prescription drug plans.

3

Rite Aid

4,703

Yes, 675 in
500 generics PDF
(Rx Savings Program)
Annual fee - none
90 days - $16
20% other generics
15% brand names

No

Since retail list prices are NOT given, 20% and 15% have NO meaning.

Medicare makes you ineligible for stated discounts.

4

Costco

323

No

Some prices
423 drugs

MOST insurance is NOT accepted. Medicare Part D is only accepted with Aetna and Envision.

These retail thieves will NOT list the cash price of their drugs online.
Why? The whole drug business is based upon price gouging, and pricing obfuscation.
They do NOT want you to be able to compare prices, so that you CAN'T see how high they are.
They won't even show you the price, until AFTER you buy it.

Do you know of ANY business that REFUSES to show you their pricing up front?
NO! Only the price-gouging retail drug industry.
They resort to silence, deception and trickery to get you to buy from them.

I find this repugnant. Avoiding price publishing smells like pricing collusion.

Medicare Part D offers 7% savings on generics, and 50% savings on Brand name drugs.

30

80 - 740

50

140

70

150

Disclaimer
The author is not a doctor.
The opinions stated on this page are those of the author.
The sole purpose of this page is to encourage further research on your part.
Thank you very much for your time.