Well, I wish I would have done a little research, but here I am $80 short so far.
I just lost my job on August 15th, and knowing that I would soon be in dire straits, I decided to try, and get a little help with my Lexapro. So I googled a website, and filled out the information, and called the 800 number on September 2.
I spoke with Michael, and told him my situation. I told him that I hopefully would be employed soon again, but just needed a little help until then. He agreed, and said, "You will probably need your Rx for 90 days, until you find a job, and your insurance kicks in, right? I agreed, "Yes!" He said this would be just the program for me then. He then asked me for the same information that I had just provided online, plus my physician's information and dosage. (I just thought he was verifying what I had entered. . .right???) He gave me a six digit account number to write down.
I told him that my Rx will be $140 per month without insurance. He asked me what it had been with insurance, and I answered, "$30." He then presented me with an offer, "How would you like to continue to get your Rx for $30 per month." "Is that possible?" I asked.
He, then, stated that Select Benefits would need a $50 application fee, and the first month's $30. I gave him my bank (EEEKK!) information when he asked for it, knowing I had enough still to cover that, and he stated that they would take $30 out once per month, and I would get my information packet on Friday or so. I would just need to take it to my doctor to fill out, and mail it back. I asked him if this Rx is coming from Canada . . . knowing my dr. will not go for anything that is not FDA approved. He assured me that it was coming straight out of Austin, Texas . . . stated, "in fact, the lady beside me is processing orders!" Awww . . . . I thought . . . being a former social worker myself . . . this must be a quaint little organization just out to help people who have taken an unfortunate hit." He told me that it would take about 5-6 weeks to get the Rx after they receive the package back, and suggested that I buy my Rx by the week until then . . . (By the way . . . thank you for the good suggestion.)
It came on Saturday. I glanced over it . .EWWWW . . . tax forms, check off lists, application, and the promised doctor's form, of course. I actually took it out this morning . . . looked closer at all the fine print . 12 month committment! . . No . . this is not for me . . . plus they have the wrong dosage written on the form that the doctor has to sign . I call the number at the top of the form to cancel. . Forest Pharmaceuticals . no . they did not take my banking account information . no they do not charge anything . just print form offline, and have the doctor fill out his part, and mail it in.
So I called the patient advocate number in the pack. The first time . . . I got a fast busy signal . . . (Ohhhh noooo!!!) So I called the original number. I did not get Michael this time, but someone named Jim, who sounded like a snake oil salesman . .I told him I wanted to cancel, and He kept saying, "You don't wanna go and do that! Whay would you wanna go, and do that?!" I demanded that I get to speak to someone who can cancel this right now . . . I just no longer wanted it when I actually saw what all was involved. He exclaimed, "We're certified!!!
Well He could not help me with canceling, and referred me back to the patient advocate line. This time, I got someone . . . and had to leave my phone number, and the last four digits of my SS# . . . geez . . . I don't rememeber giving that out to Michael. Well several hours later Deanna . . Deannie . . someone by one of those names . . returns my call. She wanted to know why I was canceling. I told her that I no longer needed this program, and there was too much paperwork involved, and I did not feel could going through with it. She told me just to mail the package back. I asked her if I would get a refund, and she said, That will be up to the board of directors.
I tried to explain my plight, but she was talking over me . . . and it was turning into a full blown p-----g contest. I wanted to explain that I had not received anything, and Michael had explain that the $80 was for the $50 application fee, and $30 for the first month's Rx. She snarled back that the whole $80 was for processing my information, and there was no fee for the Rx. I told her that I hadn't even mailed her the forms back, so she could process them. She stated that I would need to put everything in writing, and mail the packet back. "I've filled some of it out," I whined. "White it out!" She snapped. (Talk about an advocate . . . with an advocate like this one . . . who needs enemies???") She asked me if there was anything else??? I told her no, dejectedly.
And now I have called Brad, and left him a couple of messages . . . I have not seen him offer anyone here a refund . . . so it is kind of hopeless, but I am not quite at the end of my strategies yet . . . this may get ugly by the time I am through . . . I hope not.
I appreciate all of your prayers out there . . . someone needs to stop this, before the elderly and disabled people get taken advantage of.
Nina
Hickory, North Carolina
U.S.A.