That dreaded day has arrived.
When picking up prescriptions, no one is entitled to receive any kind of points or miles for any rewards program anymore.
Was it this time last year that they went through this whole debacle? Or was it the year prior?
Nonetheless, when they first brought up this idea, there was so much public outrage that they canceled the plan.... well, postponed is a more accurate word.
THIS time, it was silent. They quietly removed it so that by the time people noticed, it was already gone.
I, for one, disagree with the decision... but I am in no position of authority to really question it. When they first discussed this I sent letters and emails to MPs and the College of Physicians, asking them to reconsider, as many other people did, and it seemed to work. To my dismay, it had only worked to postpone the date so that people forgot about it - until it was too late. This time it was done so silently that the public outrage didn't ramp up.
Damn.
Of course, for those of us who have our prescriptions mostly covered by insurance companies, it sucks by all means, but it is not a huge deal. It is unfortunate and I disagree with it, but many of my medications are covered.
For those who have to pay astronomical prices for their prescriptions - like Diabetics for example - or people who are not covered to be on Biologics (TNF-blockers), this is more than frustrating. It is bad enough that some people have to pay over 4k every six weeks for a medication that helps them to survive - that helps them function at a relatively productive level - but then to take away that little glimmer of hope of getting a couple hundred airmiles?
I think that is just downright mean.
I understand the thought process behind this movement. If people can get really great rewards then a fraction of people will abuse the system and push for prescriptions they do not need.
I get that.
Weed out the abusers. That makes sense.
But let's be honest here. The Airmiles or Optimum Points programs are not as good as they used to be. Sure, maybe I can get $30 of free groceries every three months... or if I am patient and store up points for five years (only 5 years since they brought in the expiry rule), maybe it could pay for one domestic flight. Maybe. But let's be realistic... the rewards were simply a nice perk every few weeks. Get some money off of fuel here, order a few gift cards there, pay the bulk of a flight once every few years... Were they really losing that much money?
And if we are going to dive in a little deeper, frankly those rewards programs can encourage people to stay on schedule with their medications.
I hated every second of being on Lupron. It was doing what it was supposed to, but also doing a hell of a lot more than it was supposed to. The side effects were brutal, the pain of the injection was super intense, and it made me vomit - all the time. But I feared the effects of stopping, and I looked forward to getting Airmiles for this expensive medication... so every month, without fail, I would go in and get this injection.
Think about medications for psychological disorders. Most people know that these drugs are not fun. They have side effects that are awful and, quite often, the patient him-/her-self does not realize the good the medication is doing. Is it possible that these patients had more incentive to continue their medications if they got another reward for being on these prescriptions? Like.... points programs, perhaps?
Plus, it isn't like these huge retailer pharmacies forget to keep track of medications...
Every single time I get mine, they let me know if I am early or late ordering these prescriptions, and all of that information get sent to the College of Physicians. With many medications, they won't dispense any if you are too early - it's policy.
So if they don't dispense early, if they keep track of what medications patients routinely pick up, if the rewards programs are giving patients incentives to take their necessary medications on schedule, if they are not losing money, and if they can weed out the patients who are picking up unnecessary prescriptions, then why remove the programs??
Oh! So the smaller pharmacies don't feel left out.
Ah.
Hey - I am all for small businesses thriving. I get that it is competitive when it doesn't feel like it should be.
But taking away another positive thing in the life of one who is chronically ill is probably not the best way to drum up business.
Is there a smaller pharmacy more geographically convenient that I *could* pick up prescriptions? Absolutely.
I will not take my business there.
They helped remove something that was a once-in-a-while positive perk of being chronically ill and having to be on crappy (although life-saving) medications for the rest of my life.
There is my rant.
It will be a non-issue in a while when everyone has gotten used to it... but today, I am thoroughly disappointed.