Caught between doc appts with no prescription, HELP!

browneyedsquirrel

Okay so I graduated from my university and started working full time, got my med insurance all set up and whatnot, life was going well.

Until I found out that my yearly exam (Gyn) would not be in time to refill my birth control prescription before it ran out.

I thought I had one more month, went to refill last night, found out I was mistaken.

Neither doc, old or new, will give me a one month prescription to hold me over til my appt (which is the first week of June).

I need it this Friday though or I'll be all off schedule and whatnot.

Do I have any options?

I'm sure there's all manner of reason to why neither of them can issue me a one month layover prescription, but seriously, come on. It's birth control, not a anti-depressant or codeine or something. *frustration*



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LavaKnight

I'm don't have much experience with this, but could you go to a free clinic and ask a doctor there for a 1 month prescription?

bowen

browneyedsquirrel wrote: »

Okay so I graduated from my university and started working full time, got my med insurance all set up and whatnot, life was going well.

Until I found out that my yearly exam (Gyn) would not be in time to refill my birth control prescription before it ran out.

I thought I had one more month, went to refill last night, found out I was mistaken.

Neither doc, old or new, will give me a one month prescription to hold me over til my appt (which is the first week of June).

I need it this Friday though or I'll be all off schedule and whatnot.

Do I have any options?

I'm sure there's all manner of reason to why neither of them can issue me a one month layover prescription, but seriously, come on. It's birth control, not a anti-depressant or codeine or something. *frustration*



I

I've heard this before. I realize that they want you to go and try to use this as like a lien to basically ensure you get there.

I'd call them back and make it perfectly clear that you're not using it to skip out on an appointment but that you just need a 1 month extension. I know my girlfriend uses hers for period regulation because of a 6-month long period, could this be a possible case for you? If so, argue that they're possibly causing you harm by denying it.

If they won't give it to you, I suggest finding a new clinic and doctor, because that's just ridiculous. (I don't think there's any laws governing giving birth control without getting the exam before hand, especially if you have one and intend to go). Free clinics and planned parenthood might be able to give you the 1 month or maybe even the full year supply.

Sort of reminds me of that whole story with the lady who blew a gasket because her doctor wouldn't renew her birth control and had to go on emergency contraceptive and claimed it was an abortion.

BetelguesePDX

Call planned parenthood and see if they can help you. Also many city/county health departments are great in giving out contraception. That may be another resource to investigate.

If all else fails, gotta rely on condoms

DeShadowC

Plus its ridiculous that they can't get you an earlier appointment, or an extension. My g/f's doctor was booked up a month farther in advance and as such they just extended her prescription since they couldn't see her sooner.

Trowizilla

Planned Parenthood will generally help you out. Last time I was there, I didn't even need to see a doctor, just a nurse practitioner to talk about health risks, and I walked out with three months of birth control for $27, no pharmacy necessary. They're amazing.

Regina Fong

Also recommending Planned Parenthood, or any of the various free/low cost VD clinics that might be in your area.

browneyedsquirrel

as luck would have it, I asked some friends and found I have a girlfriend who has the same prescription as I do.

She's being so kind as to lend me a month until I can get my prescription. Woo!


But it's good to know I did have options if all else failed. Go Planned Parenthood!


Thanks for the advice! Feel free to lock.

Nataneko

glad to know you find a solution, just adding that you could have asked your pharmacist. I don't know if it's common practice but I was in a similar situation and my pharmacist extended my pill precription until my appointment.

The Cat

Just to clarify, was it the case that the docs wouldn't give you a month's worth of BC paid for by your insurance, or was it that they wouldn't give you it at all? Because you could have just paid full price for that month's worth, surely? Or got a year's prescription early? I would chuck such a tanty if my doc said 'no pill' because of paperwork. I actually can't imagine any reason it would happen here, which is why I ask if its an insurance thing.

I mean, what if your house burnt down three months before you needed a new yearly prescription and all your pills got burnt up? Their behaviour doesn't make sense...

bowen

The Cat wrote: »

Just to clarify, was it the case that the docs wouldn't give you a month's worth of BC paid for by your insurance, or was it that they wouldn't give you it at all? Because you could have just paid full price for that month's worth, surely? Or got a year's prescription early? I would chuck such a tanty if my doc said 'no pill' because of paperwork. I actually can't imagine any reason it would happen here, which is why I ask if its an insurance thing.

I mean, what if your house burnt down three months before you needed a new yearly prescription and all your pills got burnt up? Their behaviour doesn't make sense...

It's quite a common practice here in the US, doctors hate giving out extra pills just because insurance companies throw a hissy when they find out.

But yeah, I agree completely, drop the doctor if they said "No pills because we didn't do your exam yet." It won't hurt them, but it sends the message this isn't a good thing to do to a patient.

I also recommend not taking your friends prescription, at all. There might be something subtle that you can't tell between the two, and it may not be necessarily good for your health. (Har har, only the doctor could tell you that)