DRUG *TAX*!!!!!!

[yvette]

ARRRRARGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! OK I know its here in MA. What about other states????

I just picked up a prescription. Its bad enough I'm on health insurance that is on a tier-system. This means that there are diffent prices for differnet drugs, depending what *tier* they're on

Those on the generric tier are $5, middle of the road is $10 - 15 and drugs that are name brand can be as much as $30.

I picked up and Rx that was $30 and I had to pay $1.30 in so called tax!!!! this is OUTRAGEOUS like its not bad enough I'm getting screwed paying for insurance and high drugs costs!!! Now I have to pay for *taxes* on the drugs too!!! Walgreens and CVS are implementing these new taxing policies.

This is really too much! Anybody know what can be done to fight back!?!?!

[Michelle in KC]

OK, ok. I know it burns your butt, but I just consider this one more reason for you to move to KC with me. [img]smile.gif[/img] {{{{{Yvette}}}}} Love ya bunches. Michelle. <img src="graemlins/kissing.gif" border="0" alt="[kissing]" />

[Teri]

HUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are saying that 2 of the drug/pharmacy companies (which in my opinion are forming a monoply, but no one's listened to my opinion since I was 3) My City had been fighting tooth and nail to keep CVS OFF the rest of our street corners, at great expense to the city but it's my city dollars I see well spent because with just CVS, what choices does that leave me? I now drive an extra 15 minutes to pick up my drugs because of the pigs that fill my rx's at CVS and now they are starting to tax too <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[cussing]" />
How in the name of God can they do this? aren't there laws!!!! Or, becaue they have raised the taxes on us disgusing smokers so high that the states have to find another way to suck that missing money from the people???????
I have been under the impression for about 52 years that we live in a 'free' country. It's bad enough that when you buy something it's already been taxes a zillion times, it's bad enough that states (Michigan in particular) stated the state lottery YEARS ago with the ONLY intent for the money to go to the upgrading of our schools, DUHA If anyone lives in Michigan they know that's a full out LIE!!!!!!!!!!
The greatest thing about alot of political things is that so many of us don't get out and vote (which in this case I'm sure it wouldn't have mattered, but avoiding those 2 drug chains will)because we are always hoping to feel well enough on that day. This year I'm filiing for an absentee ballot. I refuse illnes to keep me from voting one more time in my life

Y~have you written your attorney generals office to see what's up with this CRAP?????????????????

[pegster]

First of all you need to know if this isa true state tax? if not then this is a gimmick to earn a "fill your RX fee that they have decided to do not a state tax and if they are caling it a TAX and implying that it is a state law they are on the edge of misinformation that could get them in big trouble..for instance if safeway if you have that store there doesnt have the taz then it isnt a state law..for instatance when we have gasoline tax it goes to the state for road reconstruction etc..I would march into walgreens or who ever is doing this and ask..right out is this a new state tax?..I it is then you need to get ahold of the TV or NEWSPAPER in your area and tell them your story..I can seeit now "walgreens add tax too the ill and elderly to line their pockets" sorry for typos my fingers or some of thtem go numb after the car wreck I had...Its the week end but I am going to call after monday..a holliday for most and ask..which states or places are doing this.
If this is a true state tax then I would call not write your state rep and or the govener and then write a letter to the bush administration...who keeps talking about lowering costs so that everyone can aford meds..

the only other legal thing that you can do with out getting into liable or slander issues is do an inforational picket..I learned this from my brother-in law...If you cant stand for very long then get a lawn chair and a big sign that ONLY has info on it..you cant say wal....s is trying to line their pockets etc but you can say on a picket sign the exact truth..walgreens is charging an extra fee called a tax for perscriptions that other pharmacies are not.. That simple no malice but just info..If nothing else a TV or new pper person is bound to see you or a few others or the manager of the store..you must be out on the side walk that is public property and not on their property

we ordered a burger on our trip to tahoe and we had to pay a TAKE OUT TAX of 30 cents..this isnt a state law its just something they want to do to defray the cost of bags etc instead of making their pices higher..its big bucks..They increase profits by millions that way because of volume. Let me know what state ..I guess I can look at your profile..hugs peggy itm on a rant today or what

[Jean12]

The *drug tax* is a Massachusetts thing that just started becasue our state has gotten themselves into such a fiscal mess that the only way they can even begin to bail themselves out is to start taxing for medications *prescription only* they already tax over the counter. They don't call us Taxachusetts for nothing!!!

There has been a huge controversy because our legislaturers are trying to tell us that our pharmacies can absorb the cost and they don't have to pass it on to the consumer so it isn't really a tax. They say it is a *fee*. I personally get my prescriptions at a small independent pharmacy that has been family owned for years. I like doing business with a local family and I am not just a number in their computer. When I'm having a problem with meds they are there to deal with me at any time of day or night and they deliver both prescriptions and OTC drugs too. The only people who at TAXED are those of us with insurance or no insurance. Anyone who is on state aid does not get assessed the fee.......for obvious reasons.

I'm in a similar position as you. We are also in a plan that is similar to a tier structure. I have had medications that still cost me $50 out of pocket (that was besides what insurance paid). Filling an average of 8 prescriptions a month with an out of pocket cost of approx. $250 a month I don't want to pay an extra $1.30 per prescription. (Don't worry folks, we're supposed to feel better because in July we will only have to pay 65 cents per prescription). It burns me because the reason this is happening is because of fiscal irresponsibility on the part of the Massachusetts Government.

What I am doing to help fight this is to ask my drs. to give me my prescriptions in 90 day alotments. I have to pay more upfront(which I can afford to do) but the state only collects $1.30 from me instead of $3.90. Some of my costliers prescriptions I may have filled via mail order. I don't want to do this to my pharmacist, but I may have to. In any case the state will get as little from me as they can until they start to accept responsibility for the postion we are in.

Remember that "gift" we got last year when there was a surplus in the state coffers? Now those of us who have prescriptions filled are paying to put money back into the treasury for the "gift" they gave us last year. <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[banghead]" />

[auntiedeb]

I livein Medway Ma and I go to CVS and each prescriptions cost me 1.30 in taxes. I pay 90.00 for my ditopran xl. Come on give me a break. I am going to ask at work at Walmart Pharmacy if they are charging this tax thing. I dont think it is fair. I agree with all of you. Deb

[cherislp]

A) Do you have an option for a different insurance plan? I am huessing no, I was on one of those for awhile and it stunk.

V) Does your employer have aany kind of medical payment plan where you give so much of your salary in before taxes and then give in your recepits to get refunded thereby not paying after tax dollars for meds? Doesn't erase sales tax but might help.

[yvette]

Hi there! hi
thanks for the good ideas. This actually has nothing to do with Inusurance plans or sales tax.

As another ICer from Massachusetts mentioned, Massachusetts really dug itself into a hole when it comes to the state's financial well being.

SO the pharmacies were getting taxed, (as far as I know its not even really "tax"--I'm not too wellread on this whole thing) so they thought it would be OK to pass that along to the consumer--well we people n Mass. must have put up a real stink to have these huge companies take notice. And they now know we're not gonna take this crap! wink

[Patrice]

I guess dumping all your meds into the Boston Harbor would be a bad idea, huh? The boston pill party?

[auntiedeb]

I know that CVS has stopped doing the drug tax in MA. Thank God. Yes, throwing my pills in the boston harbor wouldn't be a good idea. I have a few things I would like to throw in there. LOL. The tea party I loved tea parties when I was a little girl. Thanks for the smiles