Non-US readers, yes you may take this as trifling comedy.
Last night I was surprised to discover a gently weeping sore on a delicate area of my skin. Ask not the location details, let's move on. Never having experienced such a thing before, I arrived at Doctor UrgentCare's office today in due course. Due course meaning after trying to convince my new ACA insurer that "<BigMedicalCompany TownFarAway>" cannot possibly named as my primary care physician because it's not a person's name. Doctor UrgentCare identified the sore as a fungal infection and duly transmitted a prescription to my pharmacy of choice.
At the pharmacy, Pharmacy Tech informed me that my insurance company doesn't cover the prescribed item, but I can buy it directly. "How much is it?" Clouds part, thunder rolls. "$418." My eyebrows rise above the clouds.
I feel ever so wise for having hustled to the pharmacy, because the time was 15 minutes prior to the closing time of UrgentCare Office. Having noted Dr. UrgentCare's name, miraculously I got her on the phone before closing. Astonished at the price, she responded that "any antifungal powder should do" and advised having the pharmacy just sell me some over the counter. Just as miraculously in my eyes, Pharmacy Tech promptly called Pharmacist into the case, and Pharmacist quickly walked me to aisle where exactly one antifungal powder was for sale. Price: $5.98 plus tax, aka $6.47... a savings of over 98%.
Badass? Maybe not, really. But I guess one of the skills needed in USA right now is how to overcome the craziness of medical pricing, such as $418 charges for $6 items.
Stories and comments welcome.