It's All in the Fine Print

Okay. I admit it. I take sleeping pills. Generics. Tiny doses. Not every night. I am about out and the bottle from Walgreens says I have two more refills available before the end of the year. Yesterday, August 30, I called their automated prescription number and ordered a refill for pickup today.

This morning, I got a recorded message from them that they needed a “preauthorization” for the drug before they could fill the prescription. I called as asked what that was all about and was told that Medco wanted it “preauthorized” even though it was a standing prescription that had been dispensed and paid for twice in the past. She also told me it usually took five to seven days to have the form processed before I would be able to get my refill. I asked who I could call in the middle of the night when I was out of pills and couldn’t get back to sleep. She didn’t blink and told me to call Medco.

Getting through the Medco automated “How may I help you?” voice at the beginning of the call took me about four times repeating “customer service” before I was referred to an “agent.” I went through the history with this person. She looked up my file and said that the sleeping pill was only authorized (regular use) for no more than 60 pills in 90 days. If I needed to take them daily and have them pay, I would have to have a “preauthorization form” filled out by my physician and faxed back to them. I asked for the history of my filling the prescription for this drug.

“Well, you ordered one 30-day supply on June 1 and another in July.” I countered with this was now August 31 and that 90 days had transpired since June 1. I was told that since the order had been placed when it was (i.e., yesterday) it was under 90 days insofar as they were concerned and the form was required. I asked her who I could call in the middle of the night when I was out of pills and couldn’t get back to sleep. Long pause at the other end of the line.

Over Your Credit Limit

I just got a notice from American Express that they are: (1) “raising your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on purchases and cash advances,” (2) “raising the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on any balances that have a penalty rate because of a late payment,” and (3) “increasing the late fee.”

However, they also say: “We are pleased to let you know that we will not charge you a fee if you go over your credit limit.”

Now, the whole idea of going over one’s credit limit seems like a strange thing. The credit card industry seems to have been treating such limits like the police do with speed limits: you can exceed them as long as it’s not by whopping amounts. Now, like the police who don’t ticket you for going, say, 64 mph in a 60 mph zone, the credit card companies are letting you off.

I’m a bit old fashioned when it comes to credit card limits (not speed limits, though). If you have a $2,500 limit, I guess I think any charges over that should be declined by the credit card company. And how high can you go? We know 70 mph in a 60 zone will get you a ticket if a cop clocks you. But how many hundreds of dollars can one go over a limit? Or is it a percentage of the limit so that someone with a $10,000 limit can violate it to a greater extent than the person with a $2,500 limit?

American Express ends their notice by saying: “Don’t forget, it’s still important to keep your balance under your credit limit.”

Oh, in case you didn’t know: “Please remember you can avoid late fees by paying on time.” Well, who woulda thunk?

What About This Don't You Understand?

I bring a canvas boat bag to the grocery store. In the store, I make a conscious decision about what to put in a plastic or paper bag and what not (e.g., onions-no, asparagus-yes).

When I get to the checkout line, if there is a bagger, I always say: "If I didn't put something in a bag, I don't want you to." And, assuming I know what'll fit into my huge boat bag, I then say: "Put it all in this bag. It'll fit. I don't care how heavy it is."

Today was fairly typical. I made both statements and the gentleman who was bagging acknowledged what I said. Than, as he was bagging, he started to put some veggies that I had not put into a bag into one. So, I repeated my first request. Then, as he was finishing, he started to put the last three items into a new shopping bag instead of my boat bag. Again, I told him those items would easily fit into my bag. He put them in and told me: "But it'll be heavy."

Can You See Straight?

I went to the eye doctor for my annual checkup today. Over the past year and longer, I have noticed that even though my contact lenses are both meant for distance, my right eye has changed so much that, using the old prescription for it, I can do without reading glasses for the computer, the iPhone, menus, etc. A couple of years ago, recognizing how my eyesight had changed, the doctor gave me a new prescription for the glasses I wear when my contacts are out.

So, fast forward to today. Again we looked at the distance vision in my left eye and close-up vision in the right with the contacts in. However, when the doctor looked at my eyes with my lenses on (and then confirmed when he took the lenses out), I had somehow switched lenses so the left lens was in the right eye and vice versa.

Now, you'd think that he'd tell me to reverse them again. Nope. They fit fine where they are. My vision is good. No need to change anything except their records to switch what lens is for what eye.