No wonder health insurance costs are high...

Can someone please explain to me a valid reason why my doctor needs to see me each and every time I need to refill my migraine prescription?

Total number of pills within a pack = 8
Dosage recommended....take 1. If the pain does not diminish, take a 2nd an hour later.

That allows me 4 - 5 migraines (not counting migraines that span two days) before I have to trot my ass up to her office, sit in the waiting room for 45 - 60 minutes because they're always overbooked and running late, pay my $30 co-pay for the office visit, tell her my migraines haven't increased in frequency or duration, then finally drive to the pharmacy to pay my $50 (there's no generic) co-pay. While my cost is offset by insurance - I'm sure CIGNA would like to pay for only 1 office visit per year (at her $125 charge for a 5 minute visit)...not the 3-4 visits each year for the sole purpose of putting extra dollars in her pocket.

Do other people have to deal with this? Why do I always pick the wrong doctors????

Oh, and another thing - migraines always strike at the worst times....when you're out of pills and on a weekend when there's no WAY the pharmacy can reach your doctor. The worst part of this latest adventure is that I just refilled the meds in January. No, I haven't had a migraine since then (until yesterday) - I just can't find that refill...it's lost somewhere, probably on a business trip. Today, the doc's out of town - so I have to wait until she calls in to see if I'm lucky enough for her to grant my wish for some frickin relief. If not, I'm going to the urgent care center after work - which I'm sure CIGNA will just love.

Let's hope the bitchy nurse who hung up on me, not once but twice, doesn't note my crabby tone in my chart - or I'm doomed.

Edited to Add: My doc allowed the refill...but I have to see her Friday morning. First appointment of the morning, so I don't want to HEAR that you can't take me on time. You can bet that I will bring a printout of this blog as a reminder for that much needed explanation.