Close Enough Right?

My son's school called this morning, and the nurse had this long winded monologue about looking at my son's health records and finding that with his asthma inhaler, he did not have the outer box from the pharmacy that had his name and prescription label.

"Is Carson in the office now?" I asked, this started the monologue over again, although this time she added that without the outer box they would not be able to give him his inhaler. Again, I asked, "is he in your office, does he need his inhaler now?" She replied no, he is not in the office I just have to bring in the pharmacy box.

O.K. I get it, I need to bring in the pharmacy box. So I called the pharmacy and his prescription was out of date by 7 days. I called the pediatric lung specialist to make an appointment and the doctor is doing hospital rounds for the month, but I could make an appointment with the physician assistant in November.

This was not going to work. I luckily have the ability to call my now retired dad, who is a doctor, and explained my dilemma and asked if he would call in the prescription for Carson's inhalers. Funny enough, I have 2 brand new inhalers that have not even been opened, just don't have the outer box, so I only need this prescription for the purpose of the outer box.

As I was rattling off the names of the 2 inhalers and the directions of 2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for cough, wheezing or shortness of breath, I even had the pharmacy phone number handy for him, I thought I really had it together.

Two minutes later he called me and said, "I need to clarify with you, it was Flovent you needed, not Flomax, right?" Yes I said not thinking anything of it. Well, he got a good laugh at my expense. Flomax is for an enlarged prostate and Flovent is a lung inhaler. Easy mistake right? Flomax, Flovent? Hopefully other stressed out mother's, trying to do this in the car while trying to drive to violin lesson and being interrupted by two crisis work calls could make the same mistake. Right????

Its Been Quiet

I hate to even say it, but the Mama Mia Maria house has been quiet the last few weeks. We recovered from the holiday and everyone is back to their school and work schedule.

The best news was my latest trip to the pharmacy for my 2 little asthmatics. We changed insurance carriers this month, and has that ever made a difference in our cost of medicine. We are lucky enough to be on a plan that has a 10% cost of any asthma medication.

To breakdown our cost:

• Flovent inhaler used to cost us $60 a month, now costs us roughly $9.
• Q Var inhaler cost $60 a month, now roughly $8.
• Singulair for both kids was running $70 a month, now is costing roughly $12 a month, per child.
• Albuterol inhalers (2 per refill) used to be $10, is now $1.80.

I used to be able to print out coupons for Singulair, but I must have used too many coupons and they have cut me off. Luckily $24 a month is a bigger saving then the coupons.

This new coverage is so much better on our bank account, not including the fact we pay $300 less per month and have a yearly deductable that is $3000, instead of $5000. I used to take my good health and health insurance for granted, now with two asthmatic children I am counting my blessings we have a better insurance coverage now.