I experienced the " estimate only" issue this week for the first time. Frustrating! I called a new Dr's office to get the price for a test that was ordered so I could provide to my insurance company. They need the cost before they can tell me what my what my allowable will be. I think I'll start giving my Drs an '' estimate" of what I'll pay them. I work in healthcare, as a coder, so don't know if my employer is doing this but it's absurd and infuriating.
IDEA: What if manufacturer coupons weren't universally applied to all stores?
REALITY: Pharmacies don't universally accept the same coupons. For instance, GoodRx has different coupons for different pharmacies, some with VERY different prices. And for those to be applied, the prescription has to be re-billed and re-signed off by the pharmacist, typically taking around 20-30 minutes in my experience. More if you have to transfer scripts to a different pharmacy to get a better deal.
VIDEO CONCEPT: An customer takes her cart of groceries to the checkout line. After the cashier rings up all the groceries, the customer presents a few coupons. The cashier explains that for the coupons that can be applied at that store, she will have to get the new price and re-check her out. She'll have to wait about 20 minutes for that process to complete, and then she can get her groceries. For the coupons that aren't taken at that store, she'll have to go to different stores to get those coupons applied.
One other industry has lobbied successfully to avoid showing the entire amount due until you decide to purchase: commercial air travel in the United States. I don't know if the EU or other nations require disclosure of the full fare due prior to actual purchase. I've read the airlines have fought to avoid having to provide full cost of fare while you're looking at flights, etc. why make it easier to compare costs?
I experienced the " estimate only" issue this week for the first time. Frustrating! I called a new Dr's office to get the price for a test that was ordered so I could provide to my insurance company. They need the cost before they can tell me what my what my allowable will be. I think I'll start giving my Drs an '' estimate" of what I'll pay them. I work in healthcare, as a coder, so don't know if my employer is doing this but it's absurd and infuriating.
IDEA: What if manufacturer coupons weren't universally applied to all stores?
REALITY: Pharmacies don't universally accept the same coupons. For instance, GoodRx has different coupons for different pharmacies, some with VERY different prices. And for those to be applied, the prescription has to be re-billed and re-signed off by the pharmacist, typically taking around 20-30 minutes in my experience. More if you have to transfer scripts to a different pharmacy to get a better deal.
VIDEO CONCEPT: An customer takes her cart of groceries to the checkout line. After the cashier rings up all the groceries, the customer presents a few coupons. The cashier explains that for the coupons that can be applied at that store, she will have to get the new price and re-check her out. She'll have to wait about 20 minutes for that process to complete, and then she can get her groceries. For the coupons that aren't taken at that store, she'll have to go to different stores to get those coupons applied.
One other industry has lobbied successfully to avoid showing the entire amount due until you decide to purchase: commercial air travel in the United States. I don't know if the EU or other nations require disclosure of the full fare due prior to actual purchase. I've read the airlines have fought to avoid having to provide full cost of fare while you're looking at flights, etc. why make it easier to compare costs?
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The whole wellness industry is a satire unto itself. https://theysaidwhat.net/2021/05/07/wellsteps-were-the-stupidest-vendor-wellness360-hold-my-beer/
True! And you wrote the book on it!