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susandennisI got an email from Humana about changes to next year's coverage. It's an annual thing. But, I read it cause surprises in health insurance are rarely pleasant.
1st. good news. the eye doctor and lung doctor are going to cost me $30 a visit instead of $40. Ok. But then, I see there will be no drug deductible!!! That is not at all unpleasant.
Then I see COPD Inhaler Assistance Program. $10 a month for an inhaler.
This year, I cut myself back to 1 puff a day instead of the two prescribed. So my inhaler costs were $100 for the deductible and then $300 for 6 months. Then I it the Medicare donut hole where all drug coverage stops (it picks back up again in a few thousand dollars but by then...). That's why I cut my use in half. Because this inhaler without coverage is $400 a month. At full dose that would have cost me a total of $2100.
The assistance program would mean that instead of having half an inhaler for $400. I could have full inhaler for $120 total for the year. Even I sucked at math, which I do not, I can see that's a winner winner chicken dinner.
So I broke down and called Humana. You get a bot.
Bot: you can say anything, why are you calling
me: COPD Inhaler Assistance Program
Bot: you want help logging your medication?
me: Information about the COPD Inhaler Assistance Program
Bot: you want help finding a provider?
me: PERSON. Customer Service! Talk to a Person!
Note to self, bot probably is not set to react to volume.
Finally I got a person who, if they do not now live in the deep south of the united states, sure learned to talk there. I told her I wanted information about the COPD Inhaler Assistance Program.
Human: What information you can has about it?
me: I'd like to know how to sign up for it.
Human: [After a long silence] You have to call a different number. You want that number to call?
me: Yes please
Human: [After a long silence] Ok, I has number. I can tell you. When you are ready. You tell me.
It was painful.
I called the number and after two rings "Hi I'm Nicole, Humana pharmacy tech, How can I help you today?" Seriously, it was like Jeckel and Hyde of Humana.
Turns out I'm too close to the edge of the donut hole (not surprising) now but I should call back early in January and they'll sign me up. AND my current inhaler is on the list!!
I just checked my stash and I have enough to get me through January at two puffs a day. EXCELLENT!!!
Oh and, blue cookies taste just like non-blue cookies. They look weird because they have brown edges but the taste fine and dandy.
1st. good news. the eye doctor and lung doctor are going to cost me $30 a visit instead of $40. Ok. But then, I see there will be no drug deductible!!! That is not at all unpleasant.
Then I see COPD Inhaler Assistance Program. $10 a month for an inhaler.
This year, I cut myself back to 1 puff a day instead of the two prescribed. So my inhaler costs were $100 for the deductible and then $300 for 6 months. Then I it the Medicare donut hole where all drug coverage stops (it picks back up again in a few thousand dollars but by then...). That's why I cut my use in half. Because this inhaler without coverage is $400 a month. At full dose that would have cost me a total of $2100.
The assistance program would mean that instead of having half an inhaler for $400. I could have full inhaler for $120 total for the year. Even I sucked at math, which I do not, I can see that's a winner winner chicken dinner.
So I broke down and called Humana. You get a bot.
Bot: you can say anything, why are you calling
me: COPD Inhaler Assistance Program
Bot: you want help logging your medication?
me: Information about the COPD Inhaler Assistance Program
Bot: you want help finding a provider?
me: PERSON. Customer Service! Talk to a Person!
Note to self, bot probably is not set to react to volume.
Finally I got a person who, if they do not now live in the deep south of the united states, sure learned to talk there. I told her I wanted information about the COPD Inhaler Assistance Program.
Human: What information you can has about it?
me: I'd like to know how to sign up for it.
Human: [After a long silence] You have to call a different number. You want that number to call?
me: Yes please
Human: [After a long silence] Ok, I has number. I can tell you. When you are ready. You tell me.
It was painful.
I called the number and after two rings "Hi I'm Nicole, Humana pharmacy tech, How can I help you today?" Seriously, it was like Jeckel and Hyde of Humana.
Turns out I'm too close to the edge of the donut hole (not surprising) now but I should call back early in January and they'll sign me up. AND my current inhaler is on the list!!
I just checked my stash and I have enough to get me through January at two puffs a day. EXCELLENT!!!
Oh and, blue cookies taste just like non-blue cookies. They look weird because they have brown edges but the taste fine and dandy.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-23 09:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-23 09:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-23 09:10 pm (UTC)This is such excellent news!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-24 02:58 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-24 05:07 am (UTC)We live in a world controlled by bots.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-24 06:22 am (UTC)LOL.
Nor to swearing, in my experience. I'm not a big user of swear words, but conversations with bots usually produce quite a crop.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-25 03:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-25 03:13 am (UTC)