I went to Costco to renew my 90-day supply of thyroid meds and found out my new insurance company (Blue Cross Blue Shield, in case anyone wonders) won’t allow 90-day supplies except via mail (not email, not online but actual, paper- and stamp-based USPS mail).

The problem is that I will be in Brazil when the 30 days expire, so would not have enough to last the trip. The helpful Costco pharmacist said I could “go off insurance” for the week’s supply I would need to get me back home again.

“How much?”

“$6.12 co-pay for the 30 days and an additional $5.89 for the 7 days of off-insurance pills.”

“Ok”, I said, “how much would it be to just go totally off insurance and pay for the full 90 days?”

“$16.12, if you can afford it” (I must have looked rather haggard that day).

Fine. I went off insurance, bought the meds myself, saved almost $3.00 AND was able to get a full 90-day supply.

WTF?