Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

Harlan Levy. Courtesy photo

By Harlan Levy

I had an incredible consumer experience last week. Unbelievable, actually. Definitely unique.

On Tuesday I asked one of my doctors to send a prescription for 30 pills that I needed to my local Walgreens, knowing my insurer ConnectiCare doesn’t cover them. On Thursday I drove to the pharmacy to pick them up. When the pharmacist showed me the bill I nearly plotzed: $$653.92!

“You’ve got to be kidding!” I sputtered. “$20 a pill???”

I stood at the counter in shock. “OK,” I told him and, with a sigh I tapped my credit card chip on the payment screen, muttering angrily as I stormed out of the store.

Sitting in my car I decided to call discount digital drugstore Marley Drug, which I had used previously. Yes, they had the pills – at $10 per pill, the representative told me. I immediately called my doctor and asked him to send in the prescription. Then I reentered the store, intending to try to return the pills and get a refund.

To my surprise, the pharmacist said, “Sorry. When you leave, you cannot return a prescription.”

“You’ve got to be kidding!!” I loudly complained.

“Nope. That’s the law,” he said, and I stormed off.

Driving home it suddenly occurred to me that I should obviously return to Walgreens and, of course as a consumer reporter, at least file an appeal with the manager, as hopeless as it might be.

I quickly turned around and drove back and asked to speak to the pharmacy manager, Dr. S, a sunny young (to me) woman with a doctorate in pharmacy, who’s managed that pharmacy since 2005.

I told her the story, complaining about the exorbitant price. “I need to take three at a time,” I told her. “That’s $60 every time!”

She listened sympathetically and said that maybe she could find a discount program for me.

After a few minutes she said she had found one and would call me when I could check out again.

Would I get a refund? Would the discount be just a few bucks?

With those questions on my mind I sat down and waited to be summoned to the checkout counter, vaguely hopeful. $30 or $40 off would be something, I thought.

The counter clerk then called my name, and I stepped up. The bill was $23.52! And, she said, you get a $630 refund. “What??? Huuhh??” I blurted. “$23.52 total for the 30 pills? That’s 80 cents a pill!”

“Yup,” she said. Dr. S then chimed in, adding that I could come in tomorrow and get 30 more for the same price, and I could get 11 refills at the same price before Feb. 19, 2027!

“Holy s___!” I exclaimed. “Thank you so much Dr. S! You saved me $630!”

The next day I returned with the copy of the prescription after first buying a gift-wrapped $15 bottle of wine, a nice Sauvignon Blanc.

Yes, Dr. S said, she likes white wine. She thanked me and refilled my prescription – for $23.90, up 38 cents.

I did not complain!

Who knew there are possible discounts on prescriptions – if you ask. And who knew that once you leave a pharmacy you can’t return a prescription?

Now you know!

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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