Pill Games

I returned two empty medicine bottles to my local pharmacy for refills today and I was informed that my prescriptions were only good for a year and that, as of last month, the year was up. What this means is that I've got to call my primary health care provider tomorrow to get the prescriptions renewed. (The pharmacist said that he had already placed a call to my doctor but, as I have learned in many instances of my life, it's almost essential to follow-up.)

One of two things is going to happen: (1) The doctor may rewrite the prescriptions and send it to my pharmacist electronically and that will be it. (2) The other more likely thing to happen is that the doctor will fuss at me for not setting up an appointment in the last six months and force me to come in for a face-to-face before the new prescriptions are written. This means that I'll have to miss a day of work to take care of this matter. I also could be told that the doctor is booked until September-something... which means that I won't be able to get my medicine until then.

People laugh but, this is the reality for many people caught up in the current HMO game. I don't expect the worst case scenario to happen but, it is not impossible or improbable. I guess you can tell that I am more than just a little annoyed at a situation that is 80% my fault. I also realize that, in wake of the recent death of one "King of Pop", that doctors and pharmacists are watching their backs more than ever.

However, I do need my medicine and I am in a bit of a quandry here. If, by chance, I can't get any satisfaction tomorrow, does anybody know of any herbs I can use in the meanwhile to fight off allergies and slightly high blood pressure?

I joke here but, I am one of the few Americans blessed to have health insurance. There are many who are not insured. Nearly 16% of Americans (47 million people) are uninsured. And, according to a story in USAToday, the people without health insurance aren't just the poor – they are all of us. Medical bills are the cause of more than half of all personal bankruptcies in the United States.

The fact that millions lack access to quality, affordable health insurance is easily the biggest domestic crisis facing our nation. I advise anyone reading this to convince congress to support President Obama's call for health care reform. By that, I mean, you should email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. your congress person. President Obama's plans are to ensure health plans do not discriminate on the basis of pre-existing conditions, expand access to the government's own insurance program, lower the cost on existing plans, and give you the ability to keep your coverage if you switch jobs or become self-employed.

None of this will help me with my problems but, it will help those of you who can't get any medicine at all because you're not covered. As for me, there is no current legislation for laziness and just plain old "lunchboxophobia", as Funkadelic used to say. Funkadelic (a lot of you probably never heard of them)... proof positive that I really need my pills. They'll keep my mind sharp and I'll stop referring to old funk bands and stay current. Until tomorrow!