Walmart Prescription Prices: Be Careful What You Wish For

Walmart has a program whereby one can get numerous generic prescriptions for $4.00 and many generic 90 day supplies for $9.00. I am all for saving money on prescriptions as I take about eight blood pressure pill per day, plus many other items for which I mute the T. V. when they speak of side-effects.

It has come to my attention that this needs to be analyzed further. I use Walmart pharmacy almost exclusively, and like so many people enthralled by the greeter, I tend to take a buggy. They seem to have plenty handy and why not...I mean just in case I run into something for which I may need a buggy on the way to the pharmacy. Okay, okay...I'll come clean. I have very rarely dropped off my prescription when it would be less than 45 minutes to an hour before my meds are ready. Let's see, what shall I do in the interim? Sit on two wire benches that leave grill marks on your tush, or roam the store. I believe I shall roam the store as so many people awaiting getting prescriptions filled do on a regular basis.

I would not remotely suggest that this is all part of the greater plan; but, I will concede there is a possibility this has something to do with lowering prescription prices. Those people in Benton, Arkansas don't have multiple put-our-heads-together meetings for nothing. I meander down the aisle to find amazingly low prices on Elmo and starter fluid. Alas! Electronics! I am amazed at the decreased price and increased functionality of notebook computers. (I still wonder why they switched from laptop to notebook; I'd rather have a lap anytime...you can buy a notebook...but try buying a lap without the suffix dance attached to it).

I am telling my age, but I remember when a five megabyte hard drive was three times bigger than a three hundred gigabyte drive. Three hundred gig's is a lot of storage...today. When they go over the gig limit, what will they call it? Jurassic? Just a thought. My trusty watch that I bought at Walmart tells me it's getting close to my turn at the pharmacy, so I meander past the starter fluid and add a can to my buggy; yes, I even add Elmo because of my unborn granddaughter.

I tell the lady my name and she checks the computer. She wants to know my birth date (I think she's gonna send me a card!). She finds my prescriptions and I am embarrassed by the size of the bag. She gives me the total after I give her my street address. I tell her they have cut my prescription bill by 1/3. I see her cutting her eyes at Elmo. I pay for my prescriptions there and my other items at a checkout station (not one of those do it yourself gizmo's).

When I get to the car, I have my bill from my old pharmacy and my new Walmart bill. I compare prices, adding in Elmo and the Starter fluid. Did I tell you Walmart has this new $4.00 price on many generic....