Kroger Pharmacy Prescription Medicines Review

I recently had an offer I couldn't refuse.  Kroger's offered a $25.00 gift card for transferring your prescription to their pharmacy and since my insurance company was no longer paying for the prescription it seemed like a good idea and a nice way to save money.  So, as I always do, on a Sunday one day a month I head to the Kroger Pharmacy to get my Yaz refill.  Now let me explain, yes, I wait until the last minute, because after trying several times to get my refills early, I was told the FDA is apparently worried that I may sell this drug on the black market or possibly overdose on birth control so they only refill it every so many days.

Stopping in the Kroger Pharmacy, I do the transfer process which was actually quite easy, since I took everything with me. However, they tell me they don't have my birth control, they are out of stock, and should have it tomorrow.  Ok, I think sure, it's just one day after all, not great, but I could wait and make it up. I asked for a generic alternative and they tell me that they don't have that available either.  So, I really don't have much choice. 

Monday, I drive up to the Kroger Pharmacy drive thru. They don't have my prescription. 

Tuesday, I drive up to the Kroger Pharmacy drive thru. They still don't have their "shipment" needless to say I am panicking! They take my telephone number and tell me they will call when it comes in.  Now this is news I DON'T want to hear. 

Wednesday, after no phone call, I drive up to the drive thru Kroger Pharmacy window. They actually have my prescription. I grab it and take the whole thing -- nah, I am joking but I did need to make a call to my doctor to determine what to do (even though I have used birth control in some way, shape or form, for over 20 years and was pretty sure I knew what to do).  

Now don't get me wrong.  The prescription price at Kroger Pharmacy was $10.00 less than it was at Walgreen's.  I can also still get it from just about anywhere that has a Kroger's which is good for when I am traveling.  I will really enjoy using my $25.00 gift card, which is actually loaded onto my Kroger card so I don't even have a chance to lose the card. 

These are all good things, but they really have to do better about having medicines in stock. I mean what if it was medicine for diabetes- like my father has? Then you would have no choice but go somewhere else.  And they didn't even keep the generic version in stock, now that is disappointing too. 

Will I return to Kroger Pharmacy?  Probably, but that whole catch 22 of only being able to renew my prescription every so many days, my insurance no longer pays for my prescription medicine for birth control and that they didn't have it in stock does not bode well for me being a repeat customer for very long. I will still shop for someplace that has it not only at a great price, but in stock. I mean what good is birth control if you can't stay on schedule? 

And, riddle me this Batman, why is it that my insurance can pay for a high risk pregnancy but not for my birth control to prevent pregnancy?  Why can't I get my prescription when I want to, and lastly, why don't they have it in stock it is after all one of the most often prescribed methods of birth control.