HOT DOG, I'm USEFUL! :lol:

Okay....MOST insurance companies will allow an eight day window for refills. I've only encountered one insurance that regularly makes people use up ALL the med before a refill. Unless it's something like Viagra, or expensive migraine meds, where the insuarance will limit it to __ pills every 30 days on the dot.

On Insulin...you should maybe mention to the pharmacy staff that you use it more often sometimes. Even IF the directions are as specific as "Inject ___ units ___ times a day" any pharmacist would realize that with diabetes 'stuff happens' and sometimes you HAVE to use more. The only time I EVER submit to an insurance company that someone on insulin is getting a thirty day supply is if they are getting three or more vials of it.

Your pharmacy CAN help you out to a degree, especially with the 'day supply' submitted to an insurance. While we can't really 'KNOWINGLY' fudge it (putting in a 15-day supply for some Percocet that should last 30 days for instance) we can be flexable on things like insulin, inhalers, etc.

But whoever mentioned trouble stockpiling pain meds....er...well, yeah. Unless your doctor us willing to risk potential trouble with 'The Man' by ordering a pharmacy to fill it.

Your doctor can help you out with some things, but if it's something like a thyroid medicine where you likely have refills for up to a year at a time...he shouldn't HAVE to, unless your pharmacist is just thick.

Being a proud member here, I'd see the need of stockpiling some things. But, it's not like I can wear 'Preparedness-Minded Certified Pharmacy Technician' on my badge, who can know? And I guess that some people who are wanting to do it don't want to advertise it to us either...bah. I hate the stigma associated with what amounts to COMMON SENSE and being prepared sometimes...

More on insurance....SOME...maybe less than half...of companies have provisions for vacation supplies and lost medicine early refills. I wouldn't COUNT on it, but just FYI. Let's see, that's all I can think of on the subject for now, but ALWAYS let me know if something comes up where an opinion of a 'pharmacy insider' would be of use! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />