Death Panel?

The blood pressure medication which I have been taking for
several years and which worked really well always cost me $50
for three months supply (My copay). In January Express Scripts
notified us that the copay was now going to be $125 for the
same amount. This is pretty much the flat retail price in
Canada for the medication.

Earlier this week, I submitted an order for this medication
and yesterday, my doctor called me at work and informed me
that Express Scripts had called him, said they no longer
wanted to pay for my prescribed medication at all and told him
to prescribe something else. So I guess I am going on ANOTHER
quest to find a medication which will work. Unfortunately,
there is no generic equivalent.

Doc, in a cheery, apologetic comment offered that the first
medication we will try is available from Wal-Mart for $10 for
three months and that way I wouldn't even have to bother with
Express Scripts and that's OK I guess, but they are still
collecting premiums from our VEBA so I'm sure their
disappointment will be muted.

Just for informational purposes, Express Scripts profits
increased 37% in 2009 with their CEO and other upper
management scoring double bonuses for exceeding profit
targets; the CEO making almost 11 million bucks.