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

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: $630.92!

“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.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.